Subaru’s Legacy and Outback never sold in numbers to rival the big-name family sedan competition, but it doesn’t mean the cars didn’t find a niche. The Outback, a raised wagon version of the Legacy, has become a favorite of suburban families and outdoorsy folks. Thanks to standard all-wheel drive, it’s especially popular as an SUV alternative in snowy climates. The Legacy sedan was particularly fun to drive, with an accomplished chassis that combined compliance with responsiveness, yielding something of a budget BMW. (Even now, I miss driving our basic, light blue 2008 Legacy 2.5i.)
But the Legacy/Outback had two problems: rear seat room wasn’t adult-friendly and fuel economy suffered from the weight of that standard all-wheel drive. So to better match the competition, Subaru brought a full 2010 redesign that targeted these shortcomings. To address space needs, the cars are wider and have more rear seat leg room, and fuel economy is enhanced with a continuously-variable transmission.
With the redesign, Subaru changed the options structure on the Legacy/Outback. They used to equip cars like Honda: you pick a model and you get what it’s got. Period. Simple on the surface, but Subaru had so many different model lines that they rivaled Heinz’s 57 varieties.
This time around, there are a few less models but more available options. For instance, you can skip the sunroof if you want more head room, or you can forgo heated seats if you live in Florida. (Given where Subarus typically live, it’s a fair bet that most will have those heated seats.)
We recently bought a Legacy 2.5i Premium and an Outback 2.5i Limited to test. (We’ll pick up a Legacy 3.6R Limited soon.) Our Legacy is modestly equipped. Stickering at $23,830, it has the optional CVT and Cold-Weather Package. Our Outback Limited is more lavish, with standard heated leather seats, harman/kardon stereo, and an optional sunroof and all-weather mats. It rings in at $30,099.
First impressions? The cars are well-finished inside and have more passenger room than before--a definite plus. Fuel economy from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines has been in the mid-20s in mixed rural driving. (Our last Legacy got 23 mpg overall; the previous four-cylinder Outback returned 21 mpg.)
But many of us miss the fun-to-drive character of the previous chassis; the new steering lacks the same feel. Both cars have an odd drivetrain whine. Combining the unique sound of a somewhat-overworked flat-four engine with the CVT’s tendency to accentuate high-revs creates a ruckus when accelerating hard. Finally, a few of us wonder what this car offers over a cheaper Forester.
In emulating the mainstream competition, has Subaru lost some of the verve that made the cars distinct? We’ll see how the cars do in our upcoming full test.
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