Subaru Legacy is unique in the segment of midsize sedans, not only because it is the only entry with all-wheel drive standard, but because it also comes with a continuously variable transmission standard and the price tag is $ 21,745 just $ 405 above the entrance the cheapest, the Passat. The value of this standard CVT and AWD system is about $ 2,0- $ 3,000 Subaru actually making a much better value than the Volkswagen base which is a front wheel drive with a manual. This value proposition is the key to understanding Subaru in general and in particular heritage.
By AWD Subaru basic value, and therefore standard on almost all models, some costs are inevitable. How (or why) Do Subaru gives you $ 3,000 more drivetrain for almost the same cost? Excellent question. The reason is simple: the average buyer has problems with the concept of value. To compete Subaru must keep their prices in line with FWD competition. It is easier to say "my car AWD for the same price" that "I know there is $ 3,000 more, but we give you AWD and they do not."
To keep the competitive MSRP on billboards and pop-ads, Subaru makes the difference elsewhere. B uild a car in the consumer segment implies that I speak in jest as "cutting corners." Money can be saved by strategically placed hard plastics, jumping a little trim in the trunk, making the characteristics optional or rationalizing public areas. the trick in this segment is what "cut corners" and to leave those alone. this is a game that Subaru has learned quickly. AWD and prices aside, it n are more about the heritage walking to a different drummer.
Training
for the uninitiated, almost all modern standard motor is an online design where the cylinders are aligned in a row, or a "V" engine design, where two rows of cylinders interact with a crankshaft at an angle which is either 60 or 0 degrees. Except Porsche and Subaru . Mainly as a nod to nostalgia and uniqueness, these two brands have a dedication to the engine horizontally opposed boxer. In a boxer design, cylinders are 180 degrees in two banks. boxers four cylinders are roughly half the time as a line of four, but much wider. Although the boxer design is better balanced than the I-4, the main advantage of this design has more to do with the short total length. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine is good for 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque while the optional 3.6-liter 6-cylinder boxer bumps 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. The 2.5-liter engine is in line with the competition, but the 3.6- liter is behind most of the V6 and turbo four options of competition. For 2015, both engines are mated to a CVT, while the 2.5 and 3.6 use slightly different internal transmission.
The AWD system Subaru has more in common with the traditional Quattro system Audi AWD systems option you will find in the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 0 . this is because the Legacy is the only car in this segment with a longitudinally mounted engine, a mounting options normally associated with the rear-wheel drive vehicles. As Quattro, Subaru joined the AWD system and front differential in the same case that transmission which means that the engine and the torque converter are entirely forward of the front axle . Thus, although this layout resembles a RWD layout in a BMW, the weight balance oscillates around 60/40 front to rear. Subaru likes to publicize low center of gravity of the inheritance regarding the handling, but in my opinion, the distribution of front-heavyweight has more impact on the treatment than anything else. On the other hand, the overall dimensions of the powertrain front wheels allow more space to turn enabling a tighter turning radius than most midsize sedans.
inherited previous generations used different AWD systems dependin g on the choice of transmission and engine, but in 2015 standardizes on the latest Subaru multi-plate clutch design. Like other systems in the segment the system can lock the clutch pack to send the power 50/50 front / rear slip-free and can run up to 0 percent of the power to the rear if slip occurs at the front. What is different is the "beefiness" clutch, this system is designed to send 40 percent of power to the rear most of the time, while Chrysler 0 disconnects the rear axle as often as possible save fuel and the Ford system default to 100/0 split power close unless slippage occurs.
oil consumption
new 2.5-liter Subaru was the subject of conspiracy theories about oil consumption. During my nearly 800 miles of driving, the oil level on the dipstick does not move, but I have no doubt in consumption may be higher than some engine models. First, the new 2.5-liter engine uses low friction rings and very low viscosity (0W-20) oil. These two design choices invariably lead to greater efficiency and - you guessed it - increased oil consumption. All things being equal, if you add the oil and thinner friction rings below all engine design, increased oil consumption is likely a byproduct. Moreover, the very nature of a horizontally opposed engine can be a causative factor as well. However, you feel the appetite of the inheritance to the dinosaur juice resulting fuel economy is undeniably high at a combined 30 mpg in the EPA cycle and a very respectable 28.8 mpg in our actual conduct sample. Despite being four driven wheels, the Legacy is just 1-2 mpg lower than the most efficient entries in this segment.
Exterior
The form must follow function eventually. Although the legacy uses of engines and transmissions mounted longitudinally, outside still bears a false long before (as Audis) due to the location of the engine. Thank you to the motor design "squatter", bonnet slopes gently forward improved forward visibility. If you notice something not Subaru in the side profile, you probably noticed that this legacy ditches of the frameless window design long associated with Subaru for a more traditional design. The change has a positive impact on wind noise in the cabin.
Borrowing a Fusion design of the book, Subaru decided to give this heritage a sportier profile with a roofline that starts to dip just aft er the B-pillar and extends behind the rear wheel. As the Merger and 0, which use similar design cues, this style has a direct impact on the margin of the back seat. Overall, this generation legacy is much larger audience than Legacy GT my neighbor with the hood scoop and rear wing.
The rear bumper is a perfect place to see one of the trade offs to the Standard. Many vehicles that have single and double e xhaust options use two different bumper moldings Subaru but saves some money by just using one and inserting a blank in the four-cylinder model. In my mind, this is the kind of compromise that is worth doing for two reasons. The blank is well done (as you can see above) and should you for some reason want to have an outlet store to upgrade to a double exhaust tip look, its easier than a bumper swap. Furthermore Subaru save some money by giving basic models steel wheels instead of alloys found on most basic midsize sedans.
Interior
The same kind of compromise can be seen inside the cabin of the Legacy. Basic and deluxe models lack vents for rear seats, automatic temperature control and you will find a hard plastic coat in the cabin in some new competitors. That said, this heritage is a significant improvement in terms of interior refinement from the previous model.
I find the comfort of the front seat to be slightly below average in the base model with the 6-way manual seat, and above average in the 10-way power seat found in premium and Limited. You will find more comfortable seats in the Accord and Altima, but these seats are tied with the Merger. Another area where costs have been recovered is the front passenger seat is 4-way adjustable and include only less comfortable than the right seat in the upscale trim after.
Because of the fall of the roofline to the vault free space is almost as limited as the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 0. (in other words, if you want AWD, be prepared for a seat height restricted back.) to 6 feet tall, I had to slouch slightly in the back to keep your head touching the ceiling. This profile appears to be a trend in this segment and fewer midsize sedans have room for people six feet further back, the Accord and Passat are notable exceptions.
15 cubic feet of trunk inheritance is a hair smaller than the Camry, Passat, Accord, 0 and Fusion. However, Subaru uses a hinge design that consumes no trunk space means that the slightly smaller waiting is actually more practical. The Altima always takes the honors in this segment to swallow several 24-inch rollers deferral size bags in the vertical position.
inheritance debuts all-new Subaru infotainment StarLink software running either on a 6.1 inch LCD screen or 7 inches depending on the trim level. The new software provides expanded voice commands, gestures, finger, the integration of climate control, improved USB / iDevice integration and optional navigation. The entire interface is loosely and more refined than the previous Subaru software, but it still lacks the direct control of voice over your media library connected to the Ford SYNC or Entune Toyota. The StarLink application option for your Android or iOS phone allows streaming audio and unlike some competitive applications, it does not make you register and create an account in order to work.
One of the most interesting features of StarLink is unfortunately not supported in the United States: MirrorLink. you can think MirrorLink as the alternative open and carplay precursor to Apple and Android Auto. Unfortunately MirrorLink seems to be something consigned to the dustbin, but hopefully this means Subaru will support two other standards at some point soon (Note :. Although Subaru does not support the United States, owners Subaru told me it works with a limited number of Android devices.)
player
Subaru AWD system has a distinct impact on road manners of inheritance. Because the system sends 40 percen t of the power to the rear wheel without slippage, the Legacy is easily the most cautious and confident on slippery surfaces. [Edit: Shoppers should know that when the temperature drops below approximately 40 degrees fahrenheit winter tires are recommended for optimum traction. AWD does not improve braking or neutral handling but appropriate winter tires will. A FWD car with winter tires will our brake, out handle and likely out accelerate a comparable AWD car with all-season tires in the snow.]
The boxer engine can lower the center of gravity, but it is also the legacy as front-heavy as a V-6 Accord. Like this Agreement and any other front-wheel-drive V-6 sedan, inheritance is heavy and reluctant to turn in handling (power off) neutral situations. Put in the corner, and inheritance feels more neutral and predictable as the car shuttles power to the rear wheels, but the Subaru AWD system vector torque to the rear so that it is never going to turn like a car RWD or Acura SH-AWD with. The previous generation Legacy 3.6R used a mechanical center differential to give it a slight rear bias, but that was removed in 2015 to fuel economy name.
Speaking of fuel economy, the Leagcy figures are surprisingly high. In a week, I averaged 28.8 mpg in mixed driving with a lot of hill climbing my journey involves a mountain pass 2,0 feet. Looking back on recent sedans Ive tested , the Legacy broke the four-cylinder Camry, tied with the Fusion 1.5-liter, was 1-2 mpg less than the 1.8T Passat, Altima 2.5 and 4 mpg less than the agreement with a CVT.
The high fuel economy comes at a slight cost. Subaru CVT has a ratio spread of 5.8 (which represents the spread of low to high ratios, the more the greater the difference between high and low) which is narrower than most other transmissions this segment. This means that when taking a final drive ratio Subaru had to choose between the acceleration of low range and fuel economy, and they chose the latter. The result 14: 1 starting ratio is significantly higher than 17.6: 1 ratio we find in the four-cylinder Chrysler 0 and explains leisurly 8.3 seconds 0-60 time of 2.5 Legacy. Some people mistakenly assumed the 2.5-liter boxer is "guttless" at low revs, but it really more to do with this report and the design of the torque converter, as evidenced by the second 0-30 times (more a Prius) 3.5. Opt fo r the 3.6-liter engine certainly adds scoot, but the boxing great is far less powerful than the V-6 engines in the competition. Couple that with a twisted CVT and an even higher starting ratio of 12.8: 1 and 3.6R Limited is decidedly slow compared to 2 liters turbo Fusion and especially the Chrysler 3.6-liter V-6
revised suspension Subaru Legacy in this generation has improved road manners. Although not a s sweet as the Altima, the Legacy has proven to be a smooth road companion and never seemed upset by the broken pavement. The cabin of this year is notably calmer than before in the wind and road noise. This softer side of Subaru translates much roll and tip and dip when you are on your favorite mountain road, but the legacy is still stronger than the Altima. The steering rack is not as sensitive as direct or Mazda6, or Fusion Sport Accord, opting instead for an average-of-the-road feel. Subaru has tweaked the suspension further to 2016, but Im not the chance to taste the change. Although the Mazda6 is one of the fastest options in this segment, it is still the most fun on a winding road.
AWD In terms of competition for the 2.5 liter model, its just not. Ford requires you to select the OS or trim above and turbocharged 2-liter engine to add motivation to four-wheel drive to the Merger. Therefore, the cheapest model is $ 27,810. Not only is more than $ 6,000 a Subie basis, t he EPA says it will cost you $ 300 a year more to run. Chrysler brings AWD only with their 3.6-liter V-6, which falls on fuel economy at 22 mpg in combined driving and bumps the price tag of $ 29,562, which is $ 8,000 more than the Subaru based. Filp side, 0 AWD will hit 60 in less than 6 seconds, more than a full second faster than the Legacy 3.6R.
Thanks to high fuel economy and a well-chosen features, the Legacy 2.5 is a solid alternative to FWD competition with only a few caveats. The 3.6R is another matter. The upper end Legacy will cost 30-wide and adding the start pushbutton and navigation bumps until approximately $ 34,000. For that price, the Chrysler real wood trim adds, ventilated seats, better handling, better performance, heated steering wheel, more comfortable seats, auto high beams, self parking, and an array of partial LCD panel.
out context, the Legacy may seem less competitive. If you are looking for the best accommodation of the rear seats, the highest fuel economy, the best performance and most luxurious features, your future is elsewhere. But it will cost you more and there will be no AWD. The interesting twist is that even though AWD is not very important to you, there is little penalty to the pump and almost no price premium to buy. This means that if you are above the snow-belt or not, if youre looking for one of the best buys in the CAMCORD segment, drop by your local Subaru dealer. If you want the "carrier of the best family AWD", however, that the 0C AWD Detroit.
Subaru has provided the vehicle, insurance and a review of gas
Specifications as tested
0-30: 3.5
0-60: 8.3
1/4 Mile: 16.2 seconds @ 87 MPH
economy average 28.8 MPG
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