Overview Topline Legacy challenges near-luxury brand rivals
Pros Rare-for-its-class AWD and six-cylinder combo
Cons Unsophisticated CVT; SUV-like ride and handling; poor fuel economy
Value for money Good
What would I change? Subaru needs to assign more of its STI engineers to the Legacy
How I’d spec it I’d stick with a well-equipped four-cylinder model
When it comes to mid-size family sedans, Subaru’s Legacy has always had a soft spot with Canadian new car buyers. To handle our country’s typically nasty winter driving conditions, you’ll find a couple of rivals that offer traction at all four wheels. But only the Subaru has all-wheel-drive as standard fare. And even more rare in this class is the combination of AWD and six-cylinders, as found in the 2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
To keep up with what is seemingly an infinite loop of new family sedans being updated and launched, Subaru’s mid-sizer gets a thorough redesign for 2015, with more conservative styling, an upgraded and roomier interior, and plenty of new luxury, safety and convenience features.
Read more: 10 winter-ready AWD cars for under $35,000
Starting at $25,090 (all prices include freight and predelivery inspection fees), four-cylinder gas engine Legacys are competitively priced with competing mainstream, front-wheel-drive family sedans. And just in case you forgot about winter driving, all Legacys come with Subaru’s active-torque-split symmetrical AWD and brake-based active torque-vectoring system as standard fare.
If you want the added oomph from the 256 horsepower and 257 pound-foot of torque 3.6-litre six-cylinder gas engine, and continuously variable automatic transmission powertrain, the $32,390 Legacy 3.6R Touring comes well-equipped, highlighted by a power tilting and sliding glass sunroof and Subaru’s Rear/Side Vehicle Detection System.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
My topline $35,790 Legacy 3.6R Limited simply added more goodies. Standard features include a voice-activated navigation system and dual-zone automatic climate control, upgraded Harman Kardon 12-speaker system with 576-watt amplifier and rear seat heaters, and more. As well, my tester included a $1,200 Technology Package that added the Japanese automaker’s unique EyeSight safety technology (it wraps together pre-collision braking and brake assist, throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane sway warning, and lead vehicle start alert).
At this point, value-conscious, badge-blind buyers might be ready to start comparing the topline Legacy to some AWD/V6 entry-level luxury sedans. Like, say, Acura’s new 2015 TLX SH-AWD, which, when equipped to match the Subaru, rings in at $46,064. But while the Subaru looks like a luxury sedan deal on paper, on the road, the Legacy 3.6R Limited still needs some work.
Compared to the 175-hp and 174-lb.-ft. 2.5L four-cylinder Legacys, the 3.6R six looks like a hotrod. But in taking all of 7.4 seconds to go from zero to 100 kilometres an hour, the Subaru is 1.5 seconds slower than the Acura. Subjectively, the Subaru feels less refined as well.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
The six-cylinder Legacy comes exclusively with a high-torque version of the continuously variable automatic transmission that’s also found in Subaru’s Impreza WRX and Forester 2.0T models. There’s a built-in speed-gear function that tries to mimic a more conventional torque-convertor transmission gear changes. But between an almost complete lack of engine braking on downshifts and abrupt throttle tip-in when accelerating, the CVT removes all of Subaru’s good intentions in making its mainstream Legacy an upscale alternative.
Apparently, Subaru ditched the last-generation Legacy’s five-speed automatic gearbox for this year’s CVT to score better fuel economy numbers. On paper, its 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres city and 8.2 highway estimates look good. But in my week with the Subaru, I saw a less impressive 12.4 L/100 km.
As well, the way the Legacy 3.6R Limited goes about its business when you try and drive with any kind of sporty intentions will have you reaching for your gardening, not your driving, gloves. To be clear: the Subaru is no sports sedan. In fact, it drives much more like its SUV-mimicking Outback wagon sibling. After you’ve stopped gritting your teeth dealing with the schizophrenic CVT, the Legacy 3.6R Limited’s soft-riding suspension keels over too readily. The front-end of the car not only is tentative at turn-in, its lightweight steering feeds virtually no information back to the driver as to what’s going on down at road level.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
Back off in your driving style to about 6/10s, and the Subaru sedan is quiet, comfortable, showing its mainstream roots.
You’d think a company that also produces such hotties as the Impreza WRX/STI sports compacts could inject some life into its larger sedan family. A second crack at making the CVT more refined would be a good start. Add a bit of sporting flair to the Legacy 3.6R Limited’s driving dynamics, and then, perhaps, you could seriously consider the Subaru over more expensive luxury brand AWD sedans.
Until then, though, I’d stick with the $3,000 less expensive four-cylinder Legacy 2.5i Limited. It’s got all the kit of the six-cylinder, sips less fuel and — of course — has traction at all four wheels.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
The Specs
Type of vehicle All-wheel-drive midsize sedan
Engine 3.6L DOHC 24-valve six-cylinder gas engine
Power 256 hp @6,000 rpm; 247 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,400 rpm
Transmission Continuously variable automatic
Brakes Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires P225/50R17
Price (base/as tested) $34,195/$35,395
Destination charge $1,595
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy (L/100 km) 11.9 city; 8.2 highway; 12.4 as-tested
Standard features Voice activated, in-dash GPS navigation system with 7-inch touch screen; Harman Kardon 12-speaker system with 576-watt amplifier; voice-activated dual-zone automatic climate control; ear climate control vents/rear seat heaters; power driver’s seat memory function (2 settings), and more.
Options Technology Package: ($1,200) EyeSight Pre-collision braking, pre-collision brake assist, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane sway warning, lead vehicle start alert; proximity key with push-button start (linked to memory seats); steering responsive fog lights, and more.
2015 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited
John LeBlanc, Driving
