Powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer-style four-cylinder engine, the all-wheel-drive Legacy GT is quite simply a

Powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer-style four-cylinder engine, the all-wheel-drive Legacy GT is a phenomenal performer. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

phenomenal performer, demonstrating the kind of handling, braking and driveability found in high-priced luxury sport sedans. Of course, with an MSRP of just over $40K the top-tier Legacy GT Limited isn't cheap, but others costing thousands more don't necessarily deliver more, unless prestige is what you're after. For instance, BMW counters with the 2005 330Xi, by all accounts as superb an all-wheel drive sport sedan as last year's offering from the Teutonic titan. Only thing is that the Bimmer gives up 25 horses to the new Legacy GT (225 compared to 250), and is nearly two full seconds slower in the zero to 100 km/h dash against the Subaru (7.5 seconds for the 300Xi and just 5.8 for the Legacy). Kind of makes you rethink the pigeon hole you've put Subaru in,

Much to my delight, my test Legacy GT came with a slick-shifting five-speed transmission. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

doesn't it? It should be said that a new BMW 3-Series is on the way this spring with 258-horsepower, but Subaru should still be a bit quicker. It seems the five- and six-speed manual gearbox will go the way of the handcrank window very soon. While true shifting without having to put your foot on the clutch pedal does make for swifter gear changes, I still prefer having the ability to control the clutch manually, particularly in an all-wheel-drive vehicle. And much to my delight, my test Legacy GT came with a slick-shifting five-speed transmission.