Used 2021 Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy is a bit of an outlier among midsize sedans, but it is an excellent choice that deserves strong consideration. Savvy buyers and those living in cold-weather states have long been familiar with the Legacy and are enthusiastic proponents of this Subaru. It’s easy to see why.

Though the Legacy’s sales numbers pale compared to those of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima, the Subaru has the chops to take on those top-selling rivals. Fully revamped last year, the Legacy offers advantages its competitors simply can’t match. First is its value proposition. Starting under $23,000, the Legacy is less expensive than every other midsize sedan except for the Chevy Malibu, and it beats all others in resale value.

Then there’s the asset that really makes it a Subaru: all-wheel drive (AWD). While competitors like the Camry and Altima are now offering AWD as an option, the Legacy has had it built-in for decades. Yet even with its budget-friendly price, the Legacy includes a full suite of active safety systems and tech like Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. Higher-end models dressed in Nappa leather could pass for a premium car, and drivers craving extra oomph can get it with an optional turbocharged engine.

The Legacy may not have the familiarity or design pizzazz of some competitors, but it is a highly recommendable choice among midsize sedans.

Last year, Subaru took what was already a highly competent performer to the next level thanks to the addition of better insulation, a stiffer body, and greater use of laminated glass. This new Legacy not only handles better but also boasts a quieter and more compliant ride. While the basic suspension setup is the same across the range, there are some differences due to the two different engines and the CVTs that are matched to their respective outputs.

Getting behind the wheel of the Sport model is fairly representative of what most Legacy buyers can expect when opting for the normally aspirated 2.5-liter engine. The 182 horsepower is more than adequate for this 4-door sedan. Improvements to the CVT make its operation fairly unobtrusive unless you’re really pushing the vehicle hard, where you’ll get a bit of droning, especially when the engine is under load. However, all models have manual paddles to toggle through the eight steps on the CVT.

The Sport model has blacked-out trim elements and a rear spoiler to give it a more aggressive look backed up by the increased grip from the larger 18-inch wheels. The only other concession to the Sport moniker is the SI button on the steering wheel, which sharpens throttle response and gives this trim level a bit livelier response.

In addition to AWD, another inherent trait of Subarus is their use of a flat, or “boxer” engine. Without going into an engineering lesson, the basic thing to know is that this layout has the cylinders fire in a horizontal vs. vertical fashion, like a boxer’s fists. This type of engine can be mounted lower in the car, and that makes for a lower center of gravity. The result is a car that simply feels more stable. These kinds of engines can sound raspy, especially on startup, but once you drive a vehicle like the Subaru Legacy that employs this setup, you just kind of get the appeal and appreciate the engineering.

The Legacy XT models with the turbocharged engine make great use of its 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The CVT here is matched to the engine’s output, and in manual mode, it’s fun to flick through the eight ratios at your disposal. There’s plenty of spirited performance to be hand from this model, but at the same time, we couldn’t help being even more impressed by how quiet and composed the Legacy has become as a result of the redesign. It’s an affordable family sedan with all-wheel-drive grip that has a decidedly premium feel to it.

Although the exterior of the Subaru Legacy may not be a huge departure from previous models, the interior is. Brand loyalists and those new to Subaru will enjoy this cabin design touting an abundance of high-quality, soft-touch materials and a fresh, modern approach to the dash and controls. Base models are equipped with dual 7-inch touchscreens to handle most infotainment and vehicle controls, while all Premium trim and higher models have a larger, vertical tablet-style 11.6-inch touchscreen with high-definition graphics.

The touchscreen itself is fairly intuitive to use, and there are manual controls for things like audio volume and station select, while some other features like the heated seats are touch-only, which means you have to take your eyes off the road to find and use. Also, there are some vehicle functions, like being able to disable the engine stop/start feature, that are buried beneath several different menus. Still, the overall look and feel of the touchscreen are on par with others offered by more upscale manufacturers, such as Volvo. And if such a touch-based system is a turnoff, the base model offers a simplified but tech-forward system that has some hard buttons for common functions like media selection, apps, and home menu.

Riding on a 108.3-inch wheelbase, this latest Legacy is larger than the previous generation, offering a 1.4-inch gain in rear-seat legroom and over a cubic foot more space in the passenger cabin. The interior feels spacious and can comfortably seat up to five. The rear seat features a 60/40 split and, when folded down, offers a large load space easily accessed through the rear decklid, which has a larger opening and lower liftover. When the rear seats are down, the Legacy sedan has a load floor that nearly rivals its Outback wagon sibling.

While the platform and mechanicals have been revamped with this new-gen Legacy, its styling is more evolutionary. The proportions and shapes are similar to past Legacy models. The front design is a sleeker execution of the previous generation with a slightly wider and narrower grille opening with thinner, more tightly integrated headlight bezels.

Softer and rounder contour lines give the body sides a more flowing appearance, and the greenhouse retains a steep rake to the rear window. The 2021 Legacy looks fresh, but it lacks the visual excitement of the latest Honda Accord or even the interesting body contours of the Camry and Altima.

What the Legacy has going for it is a solid, understated shape that communicates familiarity. The design philosophy is one that eschews flash for a look that will wear well. Given the Legacy’s promise of all-wheel-drive surefootedness, it has an exterior design that is consistent with the vehicle’s function.

VERTICAL TOUCHSCREEN
The 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen has high-definition graphics, is fairly easy to use, and adds to the upscale aura of the Legacy’s interior. It is standard on all but base models.

TURBOCHARGED 2.4-LITER ENGINE
The turbo flat-4 makes 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque and is a great replacement for the previous flat-6. In addition to being responsive, it also delivers good fuel economy.

The 2021 Legacy lineup is quite broad, offering a choice of six trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, XT, and Touring XT.

Even the least-expensive Legacy base model has a nice feature set that includes keyless entry, dual 7-inch display system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, keyless entry, LED headlights that now turn in the direction you steer, all-wheel drive, and 4-speaker audio system with AM/FM/SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, dual USB inputs and auxiliary jack. Standard safety features include the EyeSight system with lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control, plus automatic high-beam assist.

Still, we think more buyers will be happy with a Premium trim or above. Moving up just one trim to Premium adds 10-way power driver’s seat, the slick 11.6-inch touchscreen display, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shift handle, two rear-seat USB charging ports, 6-speak audio system, and 4G LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi.

The Sport trim includes push-button start, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, two-tone interior upholstery, trunk spoiler, auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto-up/down on all windows, and SI-Drive mode.

The Legacy Limited includes leather upholstery, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, blind-spot monitoring with reverse automatic braking, power-adjust passenger seat, and heated rear seats.

The Legacy Limited XT gets the more powerful turbo engine, power moonroof, heated steering wheel, navigation, and DriverFocus that monitors for drowsy or distracted driving.

Finally, the loaded Subaru Legacy Touring XT model gets Nappa leather, heated and ventilated front seats, 180-degree front view monitor, and satin chrome-finished power-fold exterior mirrors. If you want a CD player, the Touring XT is the only model to include one standard.

Options vary by trim, but one we recommend is blind-spot monitoring on Premium and Sport models. Also available are navigation, wireless phone charger, and Rockford Fosgate audio. If you go with a base model, the alloy wheels are a nice touch and a good value at only $350.

The Subaru Legacy uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that has good power at 182 horses and great fuel economy of up to 35 mpg considering this Subie’s standard all-wheel drive. The former 6-cylinder engine was dropped last year in favor of a turbocharged 4-cylinder. That turbo engine in the XT models has a potent 260 horsepower and enables a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds. Both engines are connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a type of automatic with no set gears. As we noted in our driving impressions, both engines are of the flat or “boxer” variety.

2.5-liter flat-4
182 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
176 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35 mpg

2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4
260 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
277 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/32 mpg