Subaru made a final upgrade for the third generation of the Legacy lineup in 2002 for the 2003 model year, improving the car's visual presence and changing the offered options packages.
Subaru launched the third generation of the Legacy in 1998 and landed on the North American market in May 1999. It was available either as a sedan or a station wagon aiming at those families that needed a car that was not afraid of winter, snow, and icy roads and was not an SUV either. The Japanese automaker made several upgrades for this vehicle.
Considered a compact-sized car by the EPA due to its interior dimensions but seen as a mid-size vehicle due to its outer size, the 2002 Legacy received a well-deserved refresh on the front fascia for the entire range. That included a new bumper fitted with an A-shaped lower intake grille flanked by scoops for the fog lamps. Moreover, the upper grille received a two-slat design, while the headlights got a fresh design with black lines that separated the headlamps from the lower parking lights and the blinkers. In addition, the GT version got a set of 16" alloy wheels fitted as standard.
Inside, the main differences were in the standard features. Subaru combined the GT and the GT Limited trim levels into one GT package that offered more equipment. The base model was the L-version, which still featured air-conditioning, a CD player, cruise control, and keyless entry.
Under the hood, the car featured the same 2.5-liter flat-four paired with a five-speed manual. A four-speed automatic with Sportshift manual mode was available as an option. All vehicles were fitted with disc brakes in all corners and ABS.