2010  Subaru Legacy 3.6R Premium

The Tee To Green D-R-I-V-E of the WEEK:

*The Subaru Legacy sedan has been completely re-designed for 2010

      D -  Drivability:  8.5

What I liked:  Most Subarus I have driven through the years have ranged from very good to excellent, so I was looking forward to the test drive of the re-designed Legacy.   The 2010 version did not disappoint.  Slightly larger than it's predecessor, the Legacy still provides a nice, roomy, comfortable ride.  All of the interior bells and whistles combine for a pleasant driving experience.  I would rank it in the middle of a very competitive class when it comes to the overall driving experience.  As I said, it was pleasurable, but not exceptional.  A 3.6L- 6 cyl power plant was quick in stop and go city driving and on the highway.  It also had enough get up and go for mountain driving.  The power steering combined with the 5-speed automatic transmission for a smooth, easy cornering ride.  A well designed and easy to read instrument and control panel added to the feel of a luxury vehicle. 

What I didn't like:  It's a small nit-picky thing, but my knuckle kept hitting the hazard button when I shifted forward into park.  Can you say "re-design?"  More importantly, though the ride was nice and comfortable, it did not have the same top level feel of other vehicles in the mid-size sedan category.  The ride felt a little loose at times (especially on the highway.)

       R -  Rideability:  9 

What I liked:  The Legacy is roomy enough for 5 adults.  I mentioned that the re-design created a slightly larger vehicle for 2010.  Where it shows up most is the backseat  It has one of the more roomy back seats in its class.  It also has one of the biggest trunks in it's category.  Definitely a plus.  5 Stars (out of 5) across the board in the government's safety ratings crash tests.  That includes a 5-star rollover rating.   Anti-lock brakes and 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, stability & traction control and front and side airbags are all standard.  This may be the "safest" vehicle in it's category.

What I didn't like:  Some looseness and wheel shake with the all wheel drive.  I think Subaru has some AWD bugs to work out in the legacy's re-design.  Some engine noise.  Some tire noise.

     I -  Image:         9

It's a Legacy and Subaru has had years and a generation to build up it's rep and brand name.   To those owners who are used to driving one of the nicest looking sedans on the road, Subaru's new flagship Legacy lives up to it's past.  In fact, I drew comments from people I didn't know who praised the look.  Personally, while I liked the way it looked, I didn't seen anything to make it stand out from the competition.  A nice car for young singles, young marrieds or young couples with kids.  It's a great second car and I think it works for grandpa and grandma as well.  A lot of owners who bought their first Legacy in the late 1980's might want to come back and try it again (if they ever left.)  It cuts across a lot of demographics, so I'm not sure who Subaru should target.  I liked this vehicle, but I wanted to like it more than I did.  Good, but not great.

    V -  Value:        8

The 2010 Legacy comes in a number of trims, all standard with AWD, starting with the 2.5i base model with manual transmission, at $20K.  The 2.5i Premium models with manual, 5-speed auto and CVT,  begin at $22K up to $28K.  (CVT is Continuously Variable Transmission which is drawing rave reviews and could be the wave of the future in the transmission world.)  You also get better gas mileage with CVT.  The test Legacy I drove, fully loaded, with Premium option package, had an MSRP of $29.9K.  I would not pay that much, even for one fully loaded.  If you can get a Premium model in the $20-$23K range with some nice upgrades, then go ahead.  Otherwise, check out the competition.

    E -  Economy:   7.5

The model I drove got 18mpg in the city.  25 on the highway.  It had the 5-speed automatic transmission.  Models with the CVT or the manual tranny will do a little better.  Frankly, I'm suprised Subaru can't do better.  No mid-sized sedan should get under 20 in city traffic.  While it's competitive with others in the category, you can top these numbers if you look around.

TOTAL:   42 (out of 50)

What it competes against:  The VW Passat, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Mazda 6 are other vehicles in this category.