Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £20,400 to £27,400
Roomy, reliable, sharp handling, kookiness factor, anonymous styling.
Anonymous styling, low ground clearance for off-roading, dated plasticky cabin. No diesel option.
The Legacy may not look like anything special, but it's a very accomplished all-rounder for motorway cruising, family load-lugging or even fun - take your pick.
Subaru's four-wheel drive Legacy is often overlooked, not least because of its somewhat anonymous appearance and its overshadowing by the smaller rally-winning Impreza, but it is certainly underrated. Refined, superbly engineered and fun to drive, it is also reliable, tough and dependable - Subaru hasn't been the farmers' favourite brand for decades for nothing - yet it appeals to those that appreciate something slightly quirky, with its flat-four four-cylinder engines and Subaru's reputation for doing things differently to the mainstream. Although a little dated, especially in terms of cabin décor, the Legacy is nonetheless a performance-oriented saloon in the classic long'n'low mode, and still feels just right as a driver's car. The estate version is cavernous and practical, though the higher-ground clearance, accessorised and fully kitted-out Outback versions are a little unneccessary when the basic versions are so strong and so versatile. The six-cylinder, 3.0-litre Outback H6, if not an Oriental alternative to the Audi RS6, is in the mould of the Mitsubishi Galant VR6, Skoda Octavia vRS and their ilk.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Subaru Legacy
wrote on 01 03 2008
wrote on 24 04 2007
wrote on 16 10 2006
wrote on 09 07 2006