2015 Subaru Legacy Midsize Sedan Perfect for All Four Seasons

Midsize sedans dominate the list of best-selling vehicles each year right after pickup trucks. Names like Accord and Camry are household institutions. But did you know Subaru has been selling a vehicle in this segment too? It’s called Legacy, and it is completely redesigned for 2015. It features the largest interior in its segment and all-wheel drive is standard.

2015 Subaru Legacy/Images courtesy Subaru

2015 Subaru Legacy/Images courtesy Subaru

While Subaru may not be the quintessential family sedan in every driveway it is certainly a vehicle that deserves a look, especially for those whose zip codes fall in the snowbelt regions. During certain driving conditions, the value of all-wheel drive cannot be underestimated and the Subaru Legacy is not just a winter performer. Our recent 2.5i Premium tester arrived as spring showers have led to the wettest season here in North Texas ever recorded and the Legacy performed perfectly.

The 2015 Legacy occupies about the same footprint as the previous generation but interior space as well as cargo space has been enhanced making this sedan perfect for use as a daily driver or the weekend getaway vehicle. It comes with choice of four- or six-cylinder engines that are mated to an updated Lineartronic CVT gearbox for enhanced fuel economy and more responsive performance.

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Our tester arrived with the 2.5-liter BOXER (horizontally opposed cylinders) four under the hood that produces 175hp and 174 lb. ft. of torque. The car is not a rally contender by any means but the CVT keeps it in peak rpm range when accelerating and offers the benefit of Incline Start Assist and electronic Hill Holder System.

The car also features Active Torque Vectoring (an enhancement of the Vehicle Dynamics stability and traction control system) for improved cornering and rides on a retuned MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension system giving the car a more compliant ride with better handling. My wife described the ride experience as a “floaty” feeling that really separates the occupants from the road surface.

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By design, the 2015 Subaru Legacy is more aerodynamic and features active grille shutters for reduced wind resistance at speed when closed. The hood is aluminum to reduce weight up front for better handling and improved fuel economy. Speaking of which, the new Legacy 2.5i that we tested is rated for 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. We barely saw the fuel gauge move during our week behind the wheel.

This newest Legacy comes with the newest version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance safety system that utilizes stereo camera technology for its adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and vehicle lane departure warning systems. Cars with the new EyeSight also feature new steering-responsive fog lights where the headlamps stay fixed forward and the fog lights turn into the corners with the vehicle. New for 2015 is the Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection System that features blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist.

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Subaru’s new Legacy offers all of the modern amenities a consumer would expect when shopping for a new car. Seats are comfortable and supportive with ample head-, shoulder- and legroom both front and back rows. The infotainment system in the Subaru Legacy 2.5i arrives in the form of the 6.2 system that features 6.2-inch multifunction touch screen display, AM/FM/CD and HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB port and auxiliary input jack, integrated rear vision camera display and Subaru Starlink smartphone integration with Aha Infotainment and Pandora and iHeart Radio. This 2.5i Premium tester featured the upgraded infotainment package that features a 7-inch touch screen display, swipe and scrolling gesture control, voice-activated controls, satellite radio, vehicle information display and SMS text messaging.

Pricing for the 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i begins at $21,695 with this Premium tester arriving with a final sticker of $25,984 after the addition of two safety technology packages and a compass in the mirror.

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If you are in the market for a midsize sedan, of course you are going to shop brands like Honda, Nissan and Toyota but don’t bypass your Subaru dealership, especially if you live where Mother Nature has a tendency to throw frozen or wet precipitation your way more often than not. The new 2015 Legacy is comfortable, quiet, economical and still the only car in its class to boast standard all-wheel drive.

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About the Author

David Goodspeed
David was editor of AutoworldToday at Today Newspapers in the Dallas suburbs until its closing in 2009. He was also webmaster and photographer/videographer. He got started doing photography for the newspaper while working as a firefighter/paramedic in one of his towns, and began working for the newspaper group full-time in 1992. David entered automotive journalism in 1998 and became AutoworldToday editor in 2002. On the average, he drives some 100 new vehicles each year. He enjoys the great outdoors and as an avid fly fisherman, as is his spouse Tish. He especially enjoys nature photography and is inspired by the works of Ansel Adams.