Mailing List
Get the latest news by email.

Your email:

New Members

In order to serve you better, select your area code in the drop down list below.

Aller à la version française


2006 Subaru Legacy Long-Term Road Test (Part 1)

5-12-2006

by Auto123.com , Auto123.com

Roomy and comfortable
I had an easy time finding a comfortable driving position thanks to the power height-adjustable seat with lumbar support. In addition, there's a tilt adjustable steering wheel. A telescoping setting would have been appreciated, though.

The interior is user-friendly.

Overall, the front buckets offer good lateral support and the safety belts are not uncomfortable. The various gauges are easy to read thanks to a constant backlighting; also, the digits are big and easy to spot.

The controls are nicely positioned and they require little getting used to, while the climate control system works great. It takes less than 2 km to fully warm up the interior when the temperature is -30oC. I particularly enjoyed the heated cushions. As for the back seat, my teenage kids found it comfortable even during long drives. Legroom was ample enough for them.

Convenient
In terms of convenience and functionality, I prefer the Legacy Wagon to run my errands. The rear hatch opens and closes easily. Plus, you can unlock it from a distance. Although the cargo area can hold plenty of gear and luggage, I did not hesitate to use the 60/40 split-folding rear seatback on several occasions.

It sticks to the road!
The ride is firm yet comfortable. The Legacy 2.5 is no sports car, but it remains solidly planted on the road. Bodyroll is limited and controlled, while the damping system is well calibrated, much to the delight of the passengers. I would have liked more horsepower for passing maneuvers, but 80-120 kph sprints can be achieved in third gear in a decent 9 seconds. Under the rain, in the snow or on byroads, I felt perfectly in control because I knew that Subaru's all-wheel drive delivers a surefooted performance, even in tight turns. Also, the throttle and clutch pedals are easy to modulate.

Satisfied
These first 3,000 kilometres have shown me that the Legacy is a competent yet underrated midsize sedan. With this new, more efficient engine, I think that Subaru has hit the bull's eye. At $29,000, the well-equipped AWD Legacy is certainly worth a closer look by consumers.


AWD
Revised engine
Decent fuel economy
Liveability
Handling
Reliability

No telescoping steering wheel
No audio controls on the steering wheel
Maybe a few horsepower missing



None
<< 1 - 2