Think of it as a farewell tour. While the Legacy has been with us since 1989 and is the longest running nameplate or the brand, the carmaker has announced that the 2025 model will be the last for the sedan.
So, is it going out with a bang, or just fading off into the distance?
Handsome and Reserved
While the running gear of the Legacy sedan is almost identical to the Outback Wagon, where the Outback is wearing outdoorsy LL Bean duds, the Legacy is a traditional sedan.
Which is not to say frumpy. Up front, there’s the familiar trapezoidal grille, with the equally familiar Subaru badge. LED steering-responsive headlights add some tech. Giving a bit more aggressive look, there’s a lower grille and side vents above the LED fog lights.
The profile is equally restrained, with contemporary lines that could easily pass for a domestic model. Yet there’s still a bit of the Subaru stance, and the 18-inch gray machine finish alloy wheels look meaty and give a sport sedan vibe.
The rear view may be the sportiest part, with angled LED taillights, and a contrasting lower fascia featuring dual exhaust pipes poking out, hinting at the turbo power served up by our XT model. Finishing off the look is a Cosmic Blue Pearl paint that’s elegant and handsome.
Overall, we’d say the Legacy is a stealth Subaru compared to the more over-the-top Outback and CrossTrek models.
Last Lap of Luxury
If it’s going away after this year, the Legacy is doing it in luxurious style.
Our tester was the top-of-the-line Touring XT, and it really shows up for the game with gorgeous Java Nappa leather that instantly elevates the look and feel of the interior. With the java color on the seats, dashboard, door panels and more you feel surrounded in high quality and high style.
The seats are super supportive and feature a pull-out lower leg cushion that makes them especially nice for taller drivers. They’re heated and cooled too, for your comfort. Those hoping for an Audi-like (or even Hyundai-like) full digital display may be a little disappointed with the standard analog gauges– but we really don’t expect the investment in a vehicle that’s going away.
We did find the 8,000-rpm tach and 160 mph speedo to be large and clear, and the center digital display useful. Speaking of useful, the Legacy features the DriverFocus system that can give an alert if a driver becomes distracted or drowsy. More? The system can recognize up to five different drivers, and remember their preferences, including seat position, climate control settings and outside mirror position. Pretty darn cool. And smart!
The vertically mounted center 11.6-inch Starlink Multi-media navigation display looks techy and up to date, and we found that the stitched and metal-tone surrounding trim makes the display look much more integrated and less like a tablet slapped on the center of the dash than some of the competition.
Tech is up to date with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the interface reminds us of recent Volvo models. Everything is easy to find, and we love that Subaru continues to provide knobs for both volume and tuning. Topping it off, the 12-speaker Harmon Karmon audio system sounded great.
The rear seat is spacious and comfy and, on our tester, heated, too. With the rear seats up, the trunk is quite spacious, and they fold flat easily and feature a generous pass-thru for larger items. If you need more space, you should check out the impressive cargo hold of the Outback wagon.
One Last Fast Lap, too
The Legacy may be heading towards the horizon, but it isn’t dragging its heels. This is a smooth, powerful, sedan. While the base engine is a 2.5-liter, “Boxer” flat-four cylinder producing 182 horsepower, we’d opt for our tester’s turbocharged, 2.4-liter, flat-four that cranks out an impressive 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft of torque at just 2,000 rpm.
Like most Subies, the Legacy features a CVT automatic, and like most Subies it’s a solid performer, keeping things smooth, and imitating a traditional automatic’s “shifts”.
We’d still prefer the crispness and response of a traditional automatic to be honest. Still with the turbo cranking away, 0-60 comes up in right about 6 seconds, and the fat torque curve makes this a pleasurably quick sedan off the line and when passing. If you can stay out of the turbo zone, a combined EPA 26 mpg should be attainable. We unfortunately, were having too much turbo fun…
The pleasure continues with Subaru’s standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, which doles out the power and gives a feeling of true confidence and control. Maybe it doesn’t egg you on like a BMW or Audi, but it’s easy to hustle the big sedan quickly. It’s fun in an effortless kind of way.
The ride follows up with a smooth and controlled experience, aimed more at luxury than say a WRX-like sport sedan drive. If you don’t need the space, or crave a manual transmission, that WRX might be an excellent choice.
Subaru continues to be one of the leaders in safety and driver assistance, and along with the previously mentioned driver alertness warning, every Legacy features the EyeSight Driver assist system, with automatic emergency steering, reverse automatic braking, blind spot detection and rear cross traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control is also standard across the board.
We also appreciated the front vision monitor and rear vision camera that makes parking a snap. Daily commute, road trip, foul weather or ski vacation, you feel superbly looked after in the Legacy.
Still a Smart Value?
While the majority of the market seems to be heading towards crossovers and SUVs, Subaru makes sure the Legacy departs the marketplace on good terms. You can get a base Legacy starting at just $24,895. For a spacious sedan with standard AWD and loads of safety tech that’s a bargain you can feel good about putting your family (and yourself) in.
Our tester was the top-of-the-line Touring XT model, covered in rich leather goodness, turbo sweetness, and useful high-tech-ness, starting at $38,195. Add in $141 for all-weather floor liners, and $1,145 for destination, and we rang the bell at $39,481.
Competitors would include the Honda Accord at $39,985. While you get better mpg thanks to standard hybrid powerplant, you won’t have that turbo oomph, or the grippiness of AWD. There’s an all-new 2025 Camry, and it is available with AWD, and comes in at a bit more at $41,335. Like the Accord, the sole powerplant is a hybrid, and while it offers much superior gas mileage, it’s not going to match the Legacy’s turbo heart.
The 2025 model may be the last year for the Subaru Legacy, but it’s going out as one of our favorite family sedans.
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.