Alternative review of Subaru Legacy

A lot of people have a lot of time for Subaru's Legacy. Its space, rugged 4x4 mechanicals and sturdy build have carved it a place in the hearts of many loyal customers but, in the UK at least, there were never quite enough of them. Still, that could change. True, today's Legacy was launched only as a Tourer estate but it's bigger than before and isn't short on technology. Lots of people who need lots of space in their vehicles have turned to compact 4x4s and MPVs but I've always espoused the virtues of the big estate car. As a result, I feel predisposed to like the Legacy and closer inspection does little to turn me off the big Subaru. It has the basic elements of a standard medium range family car from a driver's and passenger's perspective but the extended load area tagged on the back opens a range of additional load-carrying possibilities. There's more depths of versatility opened-up by Subaru's trademark all-wheel-drive transmission that's standard on all models and the engine range is based around the charismatic boxer units we've come to love Subaru for. Initial signs are good.

This car is bigger than the old Legacy in every dimension. It adds on 35mm in length, 90mm in width and 80mm in height. These are significant increases and they're made all the more so by the car's design. The wheels are pushed right out to the corners of the body by a wheelbase that's 81mm up on that of the old model. This increases cabin space and produces a planted, aggressive stance. The car also has a generous boot of 416 cubic litres. With its added bulk, the Legacy has become a more imposing sight on the road. It looks lower and wider with muscular curves around the front end and the wheelarches. There's little in the design that we haven't seen before elsewhere but it all comes together to pleasing effect. Lots of work has also gone into enhancing the Legacy interior. Again, the approach is on the sober side but few family cars in the Legacy class really push the boat out where innovative cabin design is concerned. Enhanced materials, a multi-function display at the centre of the dash and an electronic parking brake with hill holder function all feature.

Providing the Legacy's power supply is a range of engines that isn't short on potency. The entry-level car uses a 2.5-litre Boxer unit with 170bhp and 230Nm of torque. It incorporates Subaru's i-Active Valve Lift System to adapt the combustion process according to the demands being placed upon the engine by the driver. It's Subaru's impressive boxer diesel engine that most Legacy customers will choose and they're unlikely to be disappointed by the 148bhp unit generating 350Nm of torque. Its economy is rated at 46.3mpg on the combined cycle with a CO2 emissions figure of 161g/km All Legacy models get Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive which is adapted according to the engine and gearbox options that are installed. The system distributes power in a 50:50 split between the front and rear wheels via a viscous coupling centre differential. If grip is in short supply at one axle, more power is diverted to the opposite one. On the more powerful range-topping models, Subaru's VTD Variable Torque Distribution system is installed which uses a planetary centre differential and a hydraulic transfer clutch to continuously adjust the amount of torque being applied to each wheel according to the driving conditions. This system routinely directs a greater proportion of the available power to the rear wheels for a more dynamic drive.

Subaru beat its head against the wall with the Legacy for a long time. Previous generations of the car operated in the niche between the Ford Mondeo's medium range family car market and the prestigious compact executive realm of the BMW 3 Series without ever making much headway. Today's model is a more focused proposition and buyers seeking a large family vehicle with the security of four-wheel-drive and genuine durability built in should give this Subaru a chance.

TOP 5 LEGACY DEALS

The results below show the top LEGACY deals on buyacar

Subaru Legacy 2.0D SE 5dr Diesel Sports Tourer
Price £25,609 Read Legacy Reviews	Save £1,446
Subaru Legacy 2.0i ES Nav 5dr Sports Tourer Special Edition
Price £21,081 Read Legacy Reviews	Save £894
Subaru Legacy 2.0D SE NavPlus 5dr Diesel Sports Tourer
Price £27,667 Read Legacy Reviews	Save £1,688
Subaru Legacy 2.5i SE 5dr Lineartronic Sports Tourer
Price £25,627 Read Legacy Reviews	Save £1,428
Subaru Legacy 2.0i ES Nav Lineartronic 5dr Sports Tourer Special Edition
Price £22,065 Read Legacy Reviews	Save £1,010
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