Subaru Legacy 2.0i (A) Review
03 Nov 2009|41,394 views
Like most people, my earliest memories of the Legacy came from watching Colin McRae piloting his first generation Legacy through the World Rally Championship stages. Having been the ‘it’ car for the Subaru World Rally Team from 1990 to 1993, the car performed admirably throughout its stint with the team.
Although the Legacy wasn’t competitive at first, with the help of Prodrive UK the car showed promise while under the guidance of Markku Alen. Finally in 1991, Markku brought the Legacy home to a third place finish in the Swedish Rally.
When 1992 came about, one of the best WRC drivers of all time, the one they named ‘Flying Scot’ climbed into the Legacy for the new season. Paired with team mate Ari Vatanen, both drivers, while being supported by Subaru, accomplished two second place finishes in that year.
Finally in the third and last year of the car’s participation in the WRC, the Legacy gave the team a third place finish in the Swedish Rally. Before bowing out to make way for the new Impreza, the car gave one last victory (the biggest yet) to the team in the Acropolis rally in Greece. Placing a one-two finish for the team.
The car went through two more generations before my favourite of the model line came around in 2003. The fourth generation Legacy was endowed with an aggressive front fascia and a taut slender body that managed to keep it abreast of the other Japanese mid-size sedans in the market.
Although the Legacy wasn’t competitive at first, with the help of Prodrive UK the car showed promise while under the guidance of Markku Alen. Finally in 1991, Markku brought the Legacy home to a third place finish in the Swedish Rally.
When 1992 came about, one of the best WRC drivers of all time, the one they named ‘Flying Scot’ climbed into the Legacy for the new season. Paired with team mate Ari Vatanen, both drivers, while being supported by Subaru, accomplished two second place finishes in that year.
Finally in the third and last year of the car’s participation in the WRC, the Legacy gave the team a third place finish in the Swedish Rally. Before bowing out to make way for the new Impreza, the car gave one last victory (the biggest yet) to the team in the Acropolis rally in Greece. Placing a one-two finish for the team.
The car went through two more generations before my favourite of the model line came around in 2003. The fourth generation Legacy was endowed with an aggressive front fascia and a taut slender body that managed to keep it abreast of the other Japanese mid-size sedans in the market.
 |
Design
In the latest generation, the Legacy has grown in size, interior dimensions and sophistication. The first thing you notice about the new car is the obvious increase in girth. The new front fascia possesses a rakish snout and a curved roofline that stretches all the way to its stunted bootlid. Along the sides you find the aggressively flared wheel wells that serve to provide a less slab sided profile for the Legacy.
 |
Adorning both flanks of the front fascia are headlamps enclosed within a chrome housing. I’m not sure if it’s an option but the car pictured in Subaru’s brochures possesses headlamps with a black housing which I feel gives the car a more distinguished appearance. Unlike the last few generations of the Legacy, this fifth generation have lost the frameless side windows that have been a long time tradition in the family.
In the rear you start to fully appreciate the car’s 50mm increase in width which is made further obvious by a lower roofline. But the increase in width has made the rear outline rather flat and forms an uncanny similarity to Nissan’s Teana.
Interior
The front passenger and driver seats are electrically adjustable. In the driver’s seat, you can adjust the driving position to your liking through the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Personally I found the driving seat very comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable but it makes sense considering the demographics this car is aimed at.
The interior trim and plastics feel well put together but be warned though, the silver trim is prone to scratches. Buttons on the centre console and stereo seem needlessly crammed together which might annoy owners with stubbier digits.
The controls for the electrically adjustable mirrors and electronic parking brake is located at the driver’s side dashboard closest to the door. You press on the button to activate the brake and pull to deactivate it. A much appreciated convenience against yanking the gearlever repetitively. Having an electronic parking brake is another indication of the desired clientele this car is aimed at. to the parking brakes is the hillhold assist, another useful and much appreciated feature in this car.
In the rear you start to fully appreciate the car’s 50mm increase in width which is made further obvious by a lower roofline. But the increase in width has made the rear outline rather flat and forms an uncanny similarity to Nissan’s Teana.
Interior
The front passenger and driver seats are electrically adjustable. In the driver’s seat, you can adjust the driving position to your liking through the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Personally I found the driving seat very comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable but it makes sense considering the demographics this car is aimed at.
The interior trim and plastics feel well put together but be warned though, the silver trim is prone to scratches. Buttons on the centre console and stereo seem needlessly crammed together which might annoy owners with stubbier digits.
The controls for the electrically adjustable mirrors and electronic parking brake is located at the driver’s side dashboard closest to the door. You press on the button to activate the brake and pull to deactivate it. A much appreciated convenience against yanking the gearlever repetitively. Having an electronic parking brake is another indication of the desired clientele this car is aimed at. to the parking brakes is the hillhold assist, another useful and much appreciated feature in this car.
As we all know, factory fitted audio systems are usually not up to par and fussy audiophiles tear them out the moment they leave the showroom. If you belong to that group, you might want to hold that thought. Subaru has fitted a six-speaker sound system in the Legacy which does most listening duties well.
Capable of handling your Lady Gaga tracks without much distortion for the bass beats, a six-CD changer system plus a ‘hide and seek’ AUX-in jack found deep in the centre armrest compartment ensures that you never run out of tunes on your drive up North.
Steering mounted controls means you get to skip through your music without taking your eyes off the road. It’s puzzling why most manufacturers don’t include this simple feature often enough in their line-up even though consumers always appreciate the safety and convenience of it. On the opposite side of the steering wheel are buttons for the car’s cruise control.
To call the rear seats spacious would be considered one of the greatest understatements I’ve made this year. I cannot stress how much a long limbed person like me can appreciate backseat roominess, especially on long road trips.
The space available in the rear is comparable if not slightly bigger than the Honda Accord. In fact the car wouldn’t be out of place for chauffeuring duties. The rear cabin air vents ensure that your distinguished guests (or kids) keep cool while under your charge.
Spaciousness continues into the rear boot with enough vacuum to swallow three to four golf bags with space leftover for a trip to the grocer’s. A trade off from having a box-like rear end.
Capable of handling your Lady Gaga tracks without much distortion for the bass beats, a six-CD changer system plus a ‘hide and seek’ AUX-in jack found deep in the centre armrest compartment ensures that you never run out of tunes on your drive up North.
Steering mounted controls means you get to skip through your music without taking your eyes off the road. It’s puzzling why most manufacturers don’t include this simple feature often enough in their line-up even though consumers always appreciate the safety and convenience of it. On the opposite side of the steering wheel are buttons for the car’s cruise control.
To call the rear seats spacious would be considered one of the greatest understatements I’ve made this year. I cannot stress how much a long limbed person like me can appreciate backseat roominess, especially on long road trips.
The space available in the rear is comparable if not slightly bigger than the Honda Accord. In fact the car wouldn’t be out of place for chauffeuring duties. The rear cabin air vents ensure that your distinguished guests (or kids) keep cool while under your charge.
Spaciousness continues into the rear boot with enough vacuum to swallow three to four golf bags with space leftover for a trip to the grocer’s. A trade off from having a box-like rear end.
 |
Driving it
Despite the size of it, the Legacy takes off quite easily on its 2.0-litre force-induced flat four powerplant that’s mated to a CVT tranny. Ok™I know the CVT pretty much removes the fun of changing gears and having those F1-style paddle shifts on the wheel doesn’t take back much of that fun either. But you have to remember that this latest Legacy is aimed at a crowd that has long outgrown the knee-jarring effects of swopping cogs.
That said, the car still delivers an impressive amount of power albeit in a more refined and linear fashion. Gears aside though, the car possesses impressive grip in the corners thanks to its rally developed All Wheel Drive system. A modest diameter steering wheel helps in tackling fast upcoming bends while a responsive and capable braking system slows things down when they get overwhelming.
Taking corners in swift fashion will cause a bout of body roll due to dampers tuned more towards the less enthusiastic side of driving. The ride however, is comfortable with minimum tyre or road noise intruding into the cabin.
Despite the size of it, the Legacy takes off quite easily on its 2.0-litre force-induced flat four powerplant that’s mated to a CVT tranny. Ok™I know the CVT pretty much removes the fun of changing gears and having those F1-style paddle shifts on the wheel doesn’t take back much of that fun either. But you have to remember that this latest Legacy is aimed at a crowd that has long outgrown the knee-jarring effects of swopping cogs.
That said, the car still delivers an impressive amount of power albeit in a more refined and linear fashion. Gears aside though, the car possesses impressive grip in the corners thanks to its rally developed All Wheel Drive system. A modest diameter steering wheel helps in tackling fast upcoming bends while a responsive and capable braking system slows things down when they get overwhelming.
Taking corners in swift fashion will cause a bout of body roll due to dampers tuned more towards the less enthusiastic side of driving. The ride however, is comfortable with minimum tyre or road noise intruding into the cabin.
Conclusion
When baby makes three, those WRX owners hoping to move into the Legacy and expecting the same amount of power but with a little more space and delicacy will be disappointed.
The styling and proportions in the new Legacy are aimed towards a senior crowd which instead makes them more suited for the fathers of those WRX owners.
Yes, the Legacy has grown up quite a bit but it will still draw crowds with its build quality, smooth delivery of its power from the flat four and incredible space available.
When baby makes three, those WRX owners hoping to move into the Legacy and expecting the same amount of power but with a little more space and delicacy will be disappointed.
The styling and proportions in the new Legacy are aimed towards a senior crowd which instead makes them more suited for the fathers of those WRX owners.
Yes, the Legacy has grown up quite a bit but it will still draw crowds with its build quality, smooth delivery of its power from the flat four and incredible space available.
Like most people, my earliest memories of the Legacy came from watching Colin McRae piloting his first generation Legacy through the World Rally Championship stages. Having been the ‘it’ car for the Subaru World Rally Team from 1990 to 1993, the car performed admirably throughout its stint with the team.
Although the Legacy wasn’t competitive at first, with the help of Prodrive UK the car showed promise while under the guidance of Markku Alen. Finally in 1991, Markku brought the Legacy home to a third place finish in the Swedish Rally.
When 1992 came about, one of the best WRC drivers of all time, the one they named ‘Flying Scot’ climbed into the Legacy for the new season. Paired with team mate Ari Vatanen, both drivers, while being supported by Subaru, accomplished two second place finishes in that year.
Finally in the third and last year of the car’s participation in the WRC, the Legacy gave the team a third place finish in the Swedish Rally. Before bowing out to make way for the new Impreza, the car gave one last victory (the biggest yet) to the team in the Acropolis rally in Greece. Placing a one-two finish for the team.
The car went through two more generations before my favourite of the model line came around in 2003. The fourth generation Legacy was endowed with an aggressive front fascia and a taut slender body that managed to keep it abreast of the other Japanese mid-size sedans in the market.
Although the Legacy wasn’t competitive at first, with the help of Prodrive UK the car showed promise while under the guidance of Markku Alen. Finally in 1991, Markku brought the Legacy home to a third place finish in the Swedish Rally.
When 1992 came about, one of the best WRC drivers of all time, the one they named ‘Flying Scot’ climbed into the Legacy for the new season. Paired with team mate Ari Vatanen, both drivers, while being supported by Subaru, accomplished two second place finishes in that year.
Finally in the third and last year of the car’s participation in the WRC, the Legacy gave the team a third place finish in the Swedish Rally. Before bowing out to make way for the new Impreza, the car gave one last victory (the biggest yet) to the team in the Acropolis rally in Greece. Placing a one-two finish for the team.
The car went through two more generations before my favourite of the model line came around in 2003. The fourth generation Legacy was endowed with an aggressive front fascia and a taut slender body that managed to keep it abreast of the other Japanese mid-size sedans in the market.
|
Design
In the latest generation, the Legacy has grown in size, interior dimensions and sophistication. The first thing you notice about the new car is the obvious increase in girth. The new front fascia possesses a rakish snout and a curved roofline that stretches all the way to its stunted bootlid. Along the sides you find the aggressively flared wheel wells that serve to provide a less slab sided profile for the Legacy.
|
Adorning both flanks of the front fascia are headlamps enclosed within a chrome housing. I’m not sure if it’s an option but the car pictured in Subaru’s brochures possesses headlamps with a black housing which I feel gives the car a more distinguished appearance. Unlike the last few generations of the Legacy, this fifth generation have lost the frameless side windows that have been a long time tradition in the family.
In the rear you start to fully appreciate the car’s 50mm increase in width which is made further obvious by a lower roofline. But the increase in width has made the rear outline rather flat and forms an uncanny similarity to Nissan’s Teana.
Interior
The front passenger and driver seats are electrically adjustable. In the driver’s seat, you can adjust the driving position to your liking through the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Personally I found the driving seat very comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable but it makes sense considering the demographics this car is aimed at.
The interior trim and plastics feel well put together but be warned though, the silver trim is prone to scratches. Buttons on the centre console and stereo seem needlessly crammed together which might annoy owners with stubbier digits.
The controls for the electrically adjustable mirrors and electronic parking brake is located at the driver’s side dashboard closest to the door. You press on the button to activate the brake and pull to deactivate it. A much appreciated convenience against yanking the gearlever repetitively. Having an electronic parking brake is another indication of the desired clientele this car is aimed at. to the parking brakes is the hillhold assist, another useful and much appreciated feature in this car.
In the rear you start to fully appreciate the car’s 50mm increase in width which is made further obvious by a lower roofline. But the increase in width has made the rear outline rather flat and forms an uncanny similarity to Nissan’s Teana.
Interior
The front passenger and driver seats are electrically adjustable. In the driver’s seat, you can adjust the driving position to your liking through the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Personally I found the driving seat very comfortable. Maybe a little too comfortable but it makes sense considering the demographics this car is aimed at.
The interior trim and plastics feel well put together but be warned though, the silver trim is prone to scratches. Buttons on the centre console and stereo seem needlessly crammed together which might annoy owners with stubbier digits.
The controls for the electrically adjustable mirrors and electronic parking brake is located at the driver’s side dashboard closest to the door. You press on the button to activate the brake and pull to deactivate it. A much appreciated convenience against yanking the gearlever repetitively. Having an electronic parking brake is another indication of the desired clientele this car is aimed at. to the parking brakes is the hillhold assist, another useful and much appreciated feature in this car.
As we all know, factory fitted audio systems are usually not up to par and fussy audiophiles tear them out the moment they leave the showroom. If you belong to that group, you might want to hold that thought. Subaru has fitted a six-speaker sound system in the Legacy which does most listening duties well.
Capable of handling your Lady Gaga tracks without much distortion for the bass beats, a six-CD changer system plus a ‘hide and seek’ AUX-in jack found deep in the centre armrest compartment ensures that you never run out of tunes on your drive up North.
Steering mounted controls means you get to skip through your music without taking your eyes off the road. It’s puzzling why most manufacturers don’t include this simple feature often enough in their line-up even though consumers always appreciate the safety and convenience of it. On the opposite side of the steering wheel are buttons for the car’s cruise control.
To call the rear seats spacious would be considered one of the greatest understatements I’ve made this year. I cannot stress how much a long limbed person like me can appreciate backseat roominess, especially on long road trips.
The space available in the rear is comparable if not slightly bigger than the Honda Accord. In fact the car wouldn’t be out of place for chauffeuring duties. The rear cabin air vents ensure that your distinguished guests (or kids) keep cool while under your charge.
Spaciousness continues into the rear boot with enough vacuum to swallow three to four golf bags with space leftover for a trip to the grocer’s. A trade off from having a box-like rear end.
Capable of handling your Lady Gaga tracks without much distortion for the bass beats, a six-CD changer system plus a ‘hide and seek’ AUX-in jack found deep in the centre armrest compartment ensures that you never run out of tunes on your drive up North.
Steering mounted controls means you get to skip through your music without taking your eyes off the road. It’s puzzling why most manufacturers don’t include this simple feature often enough in their line-up even though consumers always appreciate the safety and convenience of it. On the opposite side of the steering wheel are buttons for the car’s cruise control.
To call the rear seats spacious would be considered one of the greatest understatements I’ve made this year. I cannot stress how much a long limbed person like me can appreciate backseat roominess, especially on long road trips.
The space available in the rear is comparable if not slightly bigger than the Honda Accord. In fact the car wouldn’t be out of place for chauffeuring duties. The rear cabin air vents ensure that your distinguished guests (or kids) keep cool while under your charge.
Spaciousness continues into the rear boot with enough vacuum to swallow three to four golf bags with space leftover for a trip to the grocer’s. A trade off from having a box-like rear end.
|
Driving it
Despite the size of it, the Legacy takes off quite easily on its 2.0-litre force-induced flat four powerplant that’s mated to a CVT tranny. Ok™I know the CVT pretty much removes the fun of changing gears and having those F1-style paddle shifts on the wheel doesn’t take back much of that fun either. But you have to remember that this latest Legacy is aimed at a crowd that has long outgrown the knee-jarring effects of swopping cogs.
That said, the car still delivers an impressive amount of power albeit in a more refined and linear fashion. Gears aside though, the car possesses impressive grip in the corners thanks to its rally developed All Wheel Drive system. A modest diameter steering wheel helps in tackling fast upcoming bends while a responsive and capable braking system slows things down when they get overwhelming.
Taking corners in swift fashion will cause a bout of body roll due to dampers tuned more towards the less enthusiastic side of driving. The ride however, is comfortable with minimum tyre or road noise intruding into the cabin.
Despite the size of it, the Legacy takes off quite easily on its 2.0-litre force-induced flat four powerplant that’s mated to a CVT tranny. Ok™I know the CVT pretty much removes the fun of changing gears and having those F1-style paddle shifts on the wheel doesn’t take back much of that fun either. But you have to remember that this latest Legacy is aimed at a crowd that has long outgrown the knee-jarring effects of swopping cogs.
That said, the car still delivers an impressive amount of power albeit in a more refined and linear fashion. Gears aside though, the car possesses impressive grip in the corners thanks to its rally developed All Wheel Drive system. A modest diameter steering wheel helps in tackling fast upcoming bends while a responsive and capable braking system slows things down when they get overwhelming.
Taking corners in swift fashion will cause a bout of body roll due to dampers tuned more towards the less enthusiastic side of driving. The ride however, is comfortable with minimum tyre or road noise intruding into the cabin.
Conclusion
When baby makes three, those WRX owners hoping to move into the Legacy and expecting the same amount of power but with a little more space and delicacy will be disappointed.
The styling and proportions in the new Legacy are aimed towards a senior crowd which instead makes them more suited for the fathers of those WRX owners.
Yes, the Legacy has grown up quite a bit but it will still draw crowds with its build quality, smooth delivery of its power from the flat four and incredible space available.
When baby makes three, those WRX owners hoping to move into the Legacy and expecting the same amount of power but with a little more space and delicacy will be disappointed.
The styling and proportions in the new Legacy are aimed towards a senior crowd which instead makes them more suited for the fathers of those WRX owners.
Yes, the Legacy has grown up quite a bit but it will still draw crowds with its build quality, smooth delivery of its power from the flat four and incredible space available.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Car Information
Subaru Legacy 2.0i (A)
CAT B|Petrol|12.3km/L
Horsepower
112kW (150 bhp)
Torque
196 Nm
Acceleration
-
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Subaru Legacy
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