Driving Sports

I’ve spent a lot of time in Subarus over the years, and one of my favorite cars of all time was the 2007 Subaru Legacy Spec.B – it had everything that made Subaru great. It was powerful, had wonderful handling, good looking, and comfortable. Subaru’s Legacy line was ready to step up to the big leagues and compete with the European makes at a much more attractive price.

Add to that the fact that I’m generally a fan of Subaru products (and the author of the only North American book published on the brand) and I was as excited as anyone to get a chance to test the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy.

The first thing to know about the new Legacy is that the engine is the same normally-aspirated 2.5-liter boxer that has powered every entry-level Subaru since 1999. The new Legacy doesn't weigh that much more than the old one, and the 2.5-liter normally aspirated engine makes the same 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque that Subaru's basic engines have made for the last 10 years.

New for this year, the basic Legacy also gets the formerly premium 6-speed manual transmission, although most Legacy buyers will prefer the optional two-pedal CVT. The 6-speed offers fuel economy of 19/27, and the CVT delivers a very economical 23/31.

The Legacy has a nice soft ride and plush interior. Subaru offers comfortable seats and all the technological features you could want. In fact, if you covered up the nameplate, I would have thought I was driving a Buick or other premium GM car of the last decade. Drivers who prize a soft, quiet experience are sure to be pleased with the new Legacy.

Add to that, the basic Legacy is inexpensive, ranging from $19,995 to $24,995. For an extra $3,000, you can upgrade to the 2.5GT and its wonderful turbocharged engine that delivers 265 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque. If you go up to $29,995, you can get the 2.5GT Limited.

Subaru still offers their excellent All Wheel Drive system on every car they make, and that’s a good thing. Ten years ago, they were just about the only car company doing that, and now everyone’s got AWD. You can buy an AWD Cadillac CTS, Ford Fusion, or Dodge Charger, or an AWD Acura, Lexus, or Infiniti. And now Suzuki's gunning for the Legacy market with their new Kizashi AWD sport sedan.

The bottom line on the 2010 Subaru Legacy is that if you're looking for an affordable AWD sedan, not much has changed in this car. If you liked the old one, you'll probably like this one, too.