Subaru: Legacy of intelligence over looks

The new Subaru Legacy is easy to live with, particularly for drivers with a challenging commute. Photo / Supplied

It's perhaps unfortunate that my week with Subaru's 3.6-litre Legacy came so soon after its turbo GT launch.

This is Legacy's largest engine yet, and the normally aspirated six-cylinder boxer motor has the same torque and almost as much power as the range-topping vehicle. But it doesn't have the same punch. Not only is it a second slower in the zero to 100 sprint, there's less urgency to its delivery.

Which comes as no surprise when you realise the turbo GT delivers its torque anywhere from 2400rpm to 5200, as maximum power arrives, while the 3.6 peaks substantially later, at 4400.

It doesn't get the Bilstein dampers either, so the handlling's softer.

No wonder my first impression wasn't entirely favourable. But the thing did grow on me. Not its looks, which remained just the wrong side of quirky. But I soon appreciated how easy the Legacy is to live with.

I have a demanding, hilly commute with narrow, debris-strewn roads on Auckland's high rainfall west coast.

All-wheel-drive may make the handling a tad inert, but is delightfully confidence-inspiring during changeable spring weather.

The cabin's smart - particularly the striated metal-look surface, though there's too much naff plastic wood.

There are seven airbags, stability control and ABS contributing to a five-star crash test rating, and a generous features list is topped off by keyless entry and a stop-start button. Those seats were comfy, too.

But best yet, the intelligent drive system now works far better. Its default is "sport", and to benefit from eco-drive you must choose that mode. It changes gear sooner to improve fuel economy during cruisy driving. To snap out of your doze just slap the accelerator down and she wakes up and boogies, when this system's originator would just roll over and go back to sleep.

That makes the fuel-miser choice useable, and I found myself naturally switching back and forth, and opting for "sport sharp" only when the road got bendy. As a result the car drank 10.6l/100km, 0.9 more than the claim, presumably achieved only in abstemious "I" mode.

Not bad for a big engine - and one driven with a bit of brio. But I'd spend five grand more for the better-handling, quicker and more frugal GT.

SUBARU LEGACY

We like

Intelligent drive really is; characterful car and easy to live with

We don't like

Too-quirky looks, this car needs the GT's Bilstein suspenders

Powertrain

3.6-litre normally aspirated boxer engine, 181kW at 5600rpm, 350Nm at 4400rpm, five speed auto with steering wheel-mounted manual shift drives all four wheels

Performance

0-100km/h in 7.3 seconds, 9.7l/100km (claimed)

Safety

Seven airbags, stability control, ABS, all-wheel-drive

What it's got

Dual zone air-con, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel, 10-way power driver seat, keyless start, 17-inch alloys, data dots and more

Vital stats

4745mm long, 476-litre boot, 65-litre tank