Car review: Subaru Legacy - Forget the Germans

Written by Damian Murphy
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 15:02

People seem to underestimate how good Subaru is. Not us! Since we were first introduced to the brand some four years ago, we have been singing the praises of the Japanese manufacturer. If you are looking for a complete driving package, chances are that Subaru has a vehicle to suit your every need. Whether you like driving off road or on, there is something for the lonesome cowboy and the family man, and we were lucky enough to be given a chance to test the latest version of the Legacy.

When you think Subaru, you think 4x4 or rally, and that is not completely off course. The Forester is one of the most lauded 4x4s on the market, and the Impreza WRX STi has garnered praise and a loyal following because of its exploits in the World Rally Championship. The Legacy is a combination of on-road sportiness and business class comfort. The 2.5 litre engine on the model we had packed a 195kW punch, which means that getting from zero to 100km/h takes a short 6.2 seconds, and with 350Nm of torque, it is lucky the seats are so comfortable. Having such a big frame and being such a heavy car, the Legacy’s fuel consumption is estimated (by Subaru) to be in the region of about 10.4 litres per 100km, but on our test we found it to be slightly higher. Unless you have a light foot – and don’t like too much fun – bank on 11 litres and more per 100km, depending on traffic.
 

There is lots of space on the inside to play around with, and Subaru have delivered a car that exceeds all expectations. When you think luxury sedan you tend to think German, but the Japanese Legacy either matched or bettered about every aspect of its famous German competitors. It would take a brave writer to compare a German business sedan to a Japanese one, but we can say with certitude that the Legacy is in that class.
 

With beautiful leather seats and either carbon fibre or aluminium trim, the interior is glamorous. The driver and passenger have electronically adjustable seats, and the memory function means that no matter who else drives your car, you’ll be able to return to your ideal seat set-up by just pressing the button. The Legacy’s instrumentation is functional and easy to read. You can operate most of the things using steering-wheel-mounted controls, and the paddle shift gear changes give this business sedan a racing car feel. Other creature comforts include the extremely effective dual zone climate control, the premium quality six-disc CD changer, Bluetooth, the multifunction centre console and the convenient electronic park brake.
 

The Legacy is a sporty business sedan that ranks amongst the best we have driven. It is a bit expensive and does eat petrol for breakfast, lunch and supper, but why not spend the money to have the fun? They range from R309 000 to R449 000 depending on the model you choose.