2021 Subaru Legacy Review

　　

2021 Subaru Legacy Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Subaru Legacy is a midsize sedan that entered its seventh generation last year with a full redesign. The Legacy sits above the compact Impreza in Subaru's lineup and is closely related to the Outback crossover SUV. Like most Subarus, all Legacys come standard with all-wheel drive and an extensive list of standard driver aids and safety features. Most rivals don't even offer all-wheel drive, which gives the Legacy a leg up with drivers in wet or snowy climates. The Legacy remains largely unchanged for 2021, with just a few more standard features than last year's model.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$124/mo  for Legacy Base

　　Legacy Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $22,895 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,145 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $27,095 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,895 MSRPLimited XT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $34,445 MSRPTouring XT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $36,145 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Some automakers have dropped sedans from their lineups as customer tastes have gravitated to SUVs, but the Legacy still has plenty of competition. The zzdcar Top Rated sedan for 2021 is the Kia K5, an all-new replacement for the Kia Optima. The Honda Accord, the Mazda 6 and the Hyundai Sonata — the K5's sibling — are also highly regarded. All are worth considering if you're in the market for a family sedan.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Legacy drive? The well-tuned transmission (a CVT) feels responsive, but flooring the pedal reveals there's not a ton of power on tap. With a 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds, the Legacy is slightly slower than similarly powered rivals, especially those with turbocharged base engines (such as the Volkswagen Passat). The Legacy shows an aptitude for handling performance, gripping the road a bit better than other midsize sedans, even though body roll feels a bit excessive in tight turns. The steering is nicely weighted, and the Subaru responds naturally to the driver's inputs.

　　There's noticeable nosedive during braking, so slowing smoothly can be challenging. Smoothness isn't a hallmark of the auto stop-start system either, and the car bucks on restart with the force of a low-speed rear collision.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Legacy? Comfort takes a central role in the Legacy's story, as you'd expect of a midsize sedan. Our Sport test vehicle offered simple but effective front-seat adjustments. Cushioning is supportive without feeling stiff, and the bolsters keep you in place in turns. Even the back seats are sculpted for passenger comfort and feel much better than a flat bench. The ride is cushy without feeling floaty, but wind and road noise is more pronounced than in rivals. Engine noise, though, is more subdued than in many other cars equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

　　The dual-zone climate system works well, but there is a bit of a learning curve to decipher some settings. The three-stage seat heaters work well and transition from mildly warm to overcooked.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Legacy's cabin is warm and inviting with plenty of room throughout for tall adults. The rear is surprisingly spacious, with ample toe room under the front seats and an abundance of headroom. Adjustments are basic, but it's easy to find a comfortable driving position. Getting in and out of the Legacy is a cinch, and the large windows afford excellent outward visibility.

　　The only misstep is the overreliance on the central touchscreen. There are few physical controls, and most functions are hidden in touchscreen menus. The lack of a dedicated engine stop-start disable button is particularly egregious considering how intrusive the system is. The infotainment system is also slow to respond to user inputs. On the bright side, most menus are easy to navigate.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? There's no doubt the Legacy is loaded with tech, but the hits come as often as the misses. The navigation interface is attractive, but searching for points of interest is effectively useless. There are plenty of USB ports (four on all but the base Legacy), and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard. In our testing, the voice control system was largely ineffectual and Apple CarPlay, as well as the entire infotainment system, suffered from frequent crashes.

　　We like that the EyeSight suite of driving aids is standard, but some features are unintuitive. Forward collision warning is overly sensitive and will pump the brakes and sound alerts as you come gradually to a stop. Adaptive cruise is too quick to react to changing traffic situations.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? At 15.1 cubic feet, the Legacy's trunk isn't huge by class standards, trailing the average by about 0.5 cube. That said, the cargo area is deep and tall, making it perfect for storing bulky items. Contributing to its practicality are rear seats that fold down either by pulling a trunk-mounted lever or pushing a button on the seat itself. The only flaw is the middle seat belt, which remains attached to the rear shelf, so it's in the way even with the seat folded flat.

　　The cabin offers many places to store small items, including a two-tier underarm console, decently sized door pockets, a small bin in front of the shifter, and a shelf in front of the passenger. Car seat anchors are easy to access behind small Velcro flaps.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Legacy is rated at 30 mpg combined (27 city/35 highway), and we had no issue hitting 30 mpg on our 117-mile evaluation loop. The Legacy is slightly thirstier than most front-wheel-drive rivals, but it's nearly identical to the AWD Nissan Altima. It's also considerably more efficient than turbocharged (but faster) competitors such as the Buick Regal Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Legacy a good value? The Subaru Legacy is slightly more expensive than comparably equipped rivals, but the gap can largely be explained by its all-wheel-drive powertrain. The same goes for its estimated fuel economy. The Legacy is a bit thirstier than front-wheel-drive competitors, but it's roughly neck and neck with the all-wheel-drive Nissan Altima. The interior design is clean, and the materials mix is definitely above average.

　　Bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and roadside assistance are average for the class, though some other midsize sedans offer more generous coverage and free scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　Most midsize sedans have finally adopted more expressive designs over the last few years, but the Legacy still looks relatively anonymous inside and out. The Legacy handles a bit better than rivals, somewhat bolstered by its all-wheel-drive powertrain. Still, the uninspiring engine never really makes you look forward to driving it. Those looking for a more exciting experience should consider the turbocharged XT or, better yet, a Kia Stinger.

　　

Which Legacy does zzdcar recommend?

Most people will be well served by the midlevel Legacy Premium. You get a handful of good options such as heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control for not much more than the base model. If your budget can handle it, the turbocharged engine in the XT models is far superior to the standard motor.

　　

2021 Subaru Legacy models

The 2021 Subaru Legacy comes in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT and Touring XT. Non-XT models are powered by a 2.5-liter flat-four engine (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft of torque). XT models get a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft on tap. Every Legacy uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

　　Base

　　The entry-level base model comes with a decent list of features, especially when it comes to tech and driver aids. Standard equipment includes:

　　17-inch steel wheels (alloys are optional) Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) Automatic climate control Height-adjustable driver's seat 60/40-split folding rear seat Dual 7-inch displays Four-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Two USB ports Satellite radioEvery Legacy also includes a suite of driving aids, which Subaru calls EyeSight. It consists of:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Automatic high-beam controlPremium

　　Stepping up to the Premium adds a handful of features on top of what comes on the base model. Those include:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Heated side mirrors Windshield wiper de-icer Dual-zone automatic climate control Leather-wrapped steering wheel Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats 11.6-inch touchscreen display Six-speaker audio system Two rear USB portsThere are two unnamed options packages. The first consists of:

　　LED foglights Keyless entry and ignition Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)The second package bundles those items with:

　　Sunroof Navigation system Reverse automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)Sport

　　The Sport trim builds off the Premium model with some sporty visual touches and standard features, including:

　　18-inch black-painted wheels LED foglights Gloss black and silver exterior trim Unique grille Keyless entry and ignition Auto-dimming rearview mirror Red accent stitchingThe Sport's sole option package includes the features from both of the Premium's packages.

　　Limited

　　The Limited trim builds off the Premium trim. It adds a few visual chrome exterior accents plus:

　　18-inch wheels Auto-dimming rearview mirror Rear air vents Driver-seat memory settings Power-adjustable passenger seat Heated rear seats Leather upholstery 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert Reverse automatic brakingThe Limited's optional feature package includes:

　　Sunroof Heated steering wheel Navigation system Driver monitoring system (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)Limited XT

　　The Limited XT comes standard with the upgraded turbocharged engine and the Limited's optional equipment package.

　　Touring XT

　　As you might expect from the top-tier model, the Touring XT includes every feature available on the Legacy. Additions include:

　　Power-folding mirrors Gloss black and chrome exterior trim Simulated leather trim accents Front-facing camera Ventilated front seats Upgraded leather upholstery

　　

2021 Legacy Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedLimited XTTouring XTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$22,895
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$124/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles