2007 Subaru Legacy Review

Specifications

While it sometimes seems that the wagon is a dying breed, at least one brandis keeping the bloodline strong. Considering the SUV explosion and more recent crossover trends, Subaru has defied convention and continued to succeed with their core range of cars and expand their reach with subtle variations in their sedan and wagon lineup. And that was before anyone ever dreamed up the marketing spin for crossovers. Subaru offers its compact Impreza, crossoverish Forester, midsize Legacy and rugged-looking Outback as wagons, all vehicles that are practical in their configuration without escalating to taller, heavier SUV mass until you reach the 7-seater Tribeca in their lineup. Subarus have always been a little different, different enough to escape mainstream popularity and engender their own cult-like devotion from those who realize the advantages of full-time all-wheel drive, horizontally opposed engine configurations and, when necessary, turbocharging. The only other company that applies such a configuration is Porsche, on its 911 Turbo—I don’t have to tell you what high praise that is, do I?

Yet Subaru has always tread its own unique path, blazing a four-wheeltrail through rally dominance for more than two decades and building near-indestructible cars that were a permanent fixture for several years of my childhood. A Subaru can span generations (in the right climate), and the company makes cars that don’t obey any flashy trends, although they are liable to start them, as the Outback and Forester crossovers came to market before the marketing spin became cliché.

However, this review isn’t about a trendy crossover, it’s about the 2007 Legacy Wagon, and specifically the 2.5GT Limited model. The Legacy, like all Subarus, comes with standard symmetrical AWD that puts power to the ground at a 50:50 front/rear split so you get consistent, balanced traction at all times (some Subarus get variable torque distribution for slight adjustment of dynamics and control). The Legacy’s low, ground-hugging stance also means it is naturally more stable, which is helped by a low-mounted engine and symmetrical layout of drivetrain components to create one of the most balanced machines on the road.

A low center of gravity and good balance means the car is less likely to roll andless likely to spin, because all four wheels are more likely to maintain their grip, and AWD means all the wheels will be helping to keep the car on its intended path. This is the Subaru Philosophy, the model they follow for all their North American-bound vehicles, from the compact Impreza to the Tribeca. The Legacy is right in the middle of the size range, but the Legacy 2.5GT Limited Wagon is fitted with one of the hottest engines in the Subaru lineup, so it’s got the performance to match its sleek profile and superb grip. That grip and the aforementioned balance are two big reasons why Subarus seem to multiply the closer you get to mountainous and snowy regions.

The Legacy isn’t just an all-weather tool—it’s also an all-weather fashion statement. Although this particular model doesn’t set any design benchmarks, both the sedan and wagon are low and sleek, with traditional profiles, subtle but catchy detailing and a polished look all-around. When dressed up in all-black with tinted windows, it looks stealthy and sinister, and steers more towards a classy appearance in lighter colors, or just chic in the case of the dark metallic blue example that I drove (not available anymore but a lighter Newport Blue is also nice, although this darker Regal Blue seen here can be had in 2.5i Special Edition models). If you don’t like silver, blue or black, you can always choose white or gray, the latter being the same Diamond Gray found on the spec.B Sedan. The long, flat roofline and rising beltline furthers an impression of aerodynamics that the sedan lacks, and the subtle hood scoop adds a hint of aggression that matches nicely with the sculpted headlight housings, featuring projector beam lamps and integrated turn signals.

In the Legacy, Subaru has married a sophisticated look to its dedicationto comprehensive safety, which carries through the body itself and into the cabin. Subaru’s passive safety starts with a body structure built on an advanced ring-shaped reinforcement frame supporting front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones and dual, side-impact door beams with a full array of front, side and curtain airbags, helping the Legacy achieve its phenomenal safety ratings. For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a Top Safety Pick Gold Medal in the midsize category, scoring Good (top marks) in front, side and rear protection of occupants. Their tests are based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. These results are supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which awards it Five Stars in every category in which it tests.

By the way, all of this safety equipment applies to every Legacy, sedan or wagon, from the base 2.5i on up to the 2.5GT Limited Wagon and spec.B Sedan, so you don’t have to buy expensive package options just to get ABS brakes or curtain airbags. The Legacy is the safest car in the midsize class, just as the Impreza is safest in its class and the Forester in the small SUV class.

Despite Subaru’s safety standards and the Legacy’s crash worthiness, its dynamics and control make it a vehicle in which you can avoid accidents entirely. The Legacy’s ability to respond in all situations is unquestionable because of its full-time AWD and impressive braking ability thanks to the 2.5GT’s 12.3-inch front and 11.3-inch rear ventilated disc brakes assisted by 4-channel ABS and electronic brake-force distribution.

While I don’t go out searching for incidents to test the ability of a car’s safetysystems, I experienced one such occasion with the Legacy in which I made use of its ABS brakes and AWD (as well as my own attention to traffic at hand—I have no doubt there would have been an accident if I had been on the phone or trying to change CDs) to emergency swerve around a taxi that came shooting out directly into my path from between trucks in a left turn lane. Two heavy jerks of the steering wheel and zero heartbeats later I had avoided a potential collision thanks to the car unflinchingly obeying my desire to steer around the offending taxi and get back on the road without losing traction for a second. Of course, it probably only lasted about three seconds, but I was convinced.

Even when not avoiding dangerous taxis, the car’s punchy responsiveness made it seem more fun than responsible in most driving situations. The punch came from the GT’s 2.5-liter turbocharged horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine and the responsiveness came from the 2.5GT’s upgraded, sport-oriented steering and SI-Drive (which I’ll explain later). Down in the engine bay, the “boxer” layout allows flatter packaging and that lower placement for better stability and weight distribution, and the turbocharging pumps up a seemingly innocuous 2.5-liter engine into a fire-belching wagon (does that make it a dwagon?) capable of 243 horsepower at a high-flying 6,000 rpm and 241 lb-ft of ground-shaking torque from 3,600 rpm (ground-shaking? - Ed.). My one complaint about the engine was that its exhaust note was not able to keep up with the engine’s performance; as I pressed higher and higher into the tach, the exhaust rattled out a disturbing, unpleasant groan that was often a deterrent to enthusiastic driving. This symptom is cured by the spec.B Sedan, whose aggressive growly blat is a fun companion on high-speed benders or tach-needle exercise jaunts.

While a five-speed manual transmission, standard equipment on the GTSedan, would be the best goad to keep the 243 horses charging down the home stretch, or better yet, Subaru’s six-speed shifter reserved for the spec.B Sedan, this test vehicle featured a standard five-speed automatic (wagons don’t come with manual gearboxes). The slushbox boasts Sportshift direct control, which lets you bump up or down a gear by pressing the steering-wheel-mounted buttons for immediate access during even the most spirited driving. Personally I found that the Sportshift’s sport setting alleviated the need to switch gears on my own, since it held gears longer and was quicker to downshift on deceleration and coming out of turns. Combined with SI-Drive, which only comes with the 2.5GT models in the Legacy line, I was able to tailor the car’s transmission, throttle response and engine management to suit my driving style.

At this point you might be asking what this SI-Drive is all about. Well, it was also my first time encountering this system that lets you choose your engine’s personality from three choices. If you prefer a car that gently eases away from stops, keep the SI-Drive knob in Intelligent mode (I), and the engine control module will temper gas-pedal response and provide an even application of power to the wheels, limiting power and working in conjunction with the automatic transmission to shift gears as early as feasible. Intelligent mode favors steady, efficient progress and minimizes fuel consumption. Twist the knob over to Sport and throttle response becomes more immediate and gears are held longer, without getting jerky or slightly manic.

Sport Sharp mode is for the aggressive driver who attacks green lights with gustoor snaking backroads with controlled abandon. Sport Sharp inserts a series of sensors directly into your nervous system and responds to driver inputs with the immediacy of a reflex, keeping the engine on a slow, slightly angered boil, always ready to leap at the merest suggestion of open road. Like I said, perfect. Okay, it doesn’t actually insert sensors into your brain, but the rest is accurate.

Some other journalists reported glowingly on the fuel-saving benefits of Intelligent mode, but I only stayed in it long enough for the engine to warm up and turn it to Sharp. What can I say—I’m a glutton for punishment at the pumps. But because the 2.5GT is a relatively lightweight wagon, fuel consumption was far better than I expected considering my driving style, returning about 24 mpg on highway trips and 17 mpg in city driving, which I found easy enough to live with compared to a lot of the fuel-chugging SUVs I drove this past winter. The magical aspect of SI-Drive is that you can re-tune your engine at a stoplight, offering you the flexibility to suit your usual driving style, occasional mood swings or situational driving.

In crowded downtown traffic or on the morning commute, you can just glidepeacefully along with the flow, exercising a low-stress mental approach to get you sanely and safely into work every day. But if the situation turns you onto one of those ideal backroads, you will appreciate the ability to zone in on your throttle control with instantaneous response and no hesitant delays leading to jerky corner exits that follow a seeming eternity after you wanted to go. Further control is offered by the kind grip on the perforated leather Momo steering wheel, which offers light resistance and an easy communication with the road through the quick-ratio steering setup exclusive to the 2.5GT. It joins the engine speed-sensitive, power-assisted rack and pinion steering found on all Legacies to help the 2.5GT Wagon become a fine carving tool.

Deep, contoured, leather sport seats hug you in place in the 2.5GT and they keep you in position to execute your maneuvers with complete confidence. Though the seats are firm, they are supportive and comfortable, helping to alleviate back stress even on long drives. Other things that help long drives go smoothly are the bright, legible electroluminescent gauges (also a 2.5GT exclusive), a tilt-adjustable but oddly not telescoping steering wheel, a center armrest and dual-zone auto climate control. I was happy loading up my six favorite CDs, but the audio system also accepts discs with MP3 files and an auxiliary input jack allows you to connect your MP3 player directly into the system, not to mention that the system is pre-wired for XM satellite radio. All the controls are simple and straightforward, and the satin metallic plastic and high-gloss wood trim around all the controls was as sleek and sophisticated as the exterior lines of this wagon.

Though the Legacy is clearly not lacking in style, in my opinion it is the exception inthe Subaru lineup. While the rest of Subaru’s vehicles are saddled with bizarre images and flagrantly offensive designs (the Impreza: from rather dull in base form to outrageously boy-racer in top STi spec (upcoming redesign shown in NYC this week looks much better); Forester: somewhat awkward looking, though supremely functional; Outback: rather butch, in a rugged, down-to-earth way; remember the Baja, what was that?; and the Tribeca: well let’s just say that the redesign also shown in NYC this week is a far cry more attractive), the Legacy is modern in appearance, yet traditional in function.

As for this wagon’s practicality, the Legacy’s load floor measures over 6 feet in length, 30.3 inches high, and can handle 65.4 cubic feet of cargo when the seats are folded flat, enough for a pair of dressers, but don’t get any delusions of picking up grand armoires on your next antiquing excursion.

The one last aspect that made an impression on both long and short trips was how surprisingly comfortable and easy the ride was, even thoughit cornered as flat as some sports cars. I have mentioned the low center of gravity that helps balance the car and prevent body roll (with the help of front and rear stabilizer bars), but it’s the Legacy’s generous suspension travel that allows it to soak up really harsh roads, and even some of the crazier potholes around town seem undramatic. However, I wasn’t overly impressed with the noise deadening, because tire and wind noise crept through the cabin, as did the more severe workouts of the suspension. Still, minor points when factoring in all the aforementioned benefits. It’s not ultra-exciting, but it goes about its business in a controlled, methodical manner that quickly inures it into family life, like a faithful pet.

In many ways, the Lecacy’s lack of drama is one of the best recommendations I could ever give a vehicle. If your priority is safe, efficient motoring, then the Subaru brand as a whole is worthy of a look, but the combination of understated style and practicality in the Legacy Wagon is enough to convince me that this is one of the best all-around vehicles on the market. And packing the 243-hp 2.5GT engine into Subaru’s rally-inspired chassis and symmetrical AWD drivetrain invites a whole other dimension of snow-sliding, dirt-spraying sideways fun. If only it could snow all year long.