2009 Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy is offered in seven different trim levels -- another plus, reviews say, because buyers can choose the one that best meets their needs. Although Edmunds.com calls the base Subaru Legacy 2.5i (*est. $20,795) "a bit of a stripper," it is equipped with cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, keyless entry with panic function, an MP3 jack and satellite radio capability. The Legacy 2.5i Special Edition (*est. $21,095) adds a power driver's seat, moonroof and an upgraded Harman Kardon stereo. The Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited (*est. $24,995) comes loaded with fog lights, heated side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer, power passenger's seat, heated leather seats, a six-disc changer and dual-zone automatic climate control.

These models' 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine gets mixed reviews. Some testers find it slow. Edmunds.com says it's "pretty peppy for its class," but the optional four-speed automatic transmission is "sluggish." (A five-speed manual transmission is standard equipment.) Environmental Protection Agency-estimated fuel economy is 22 mpg in mixed driving (20 mpg city/26 mpg highway) with either transmission.

Testers have fun with the speedy 243-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is found in the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT's engine bay . The 2.5 GT Limited (*est. $28,895) is loaded with features, and the 2.5 GT spec.B (*est. $34,595) comes sported-up with summer performance tires instead of all-season rubber, as well as ground effects, a navigation system and more.

"We've clocked the 2.5 GT spec.B from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 5.7 seconds," Edmunds.com reports. Fuel economy is the casualty. With the five-speed manual gearbox, the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited posts 21 mpg in mixed driving (18 mpg city/25 mpg highway); this falls to 20 mpg with the optional five-speed automatic. The Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B delivers 20 mpg combined (17 mpg city/24 mpg highway) with its six-speed manual transmission; no automatic is offered.

The most powerful Subaru Legacy engine is the 245-horsepower, 3.0-liter six-cylinder offered in the loaded Legacy 3.0 R Limited (*est. $29,895) and the more basic Legacy 3.0 R (*est. $26,595). Acceleration is powerful, but the EPA estimates this engine will deliver only 20 mpg combined (17 mpg city/24 mpg highway) with its five-speed automatic transmission. No manual transmission is available with the six-cylinder engine.

Safety is one of the Subaru Legacy's strong points. It earns the highest possible ratings in front, side and rear crash tests, isn't likely to roll over in a crash, and has standard electronic stability control to help it avoid crashes in the first place. Reliability has been average, experts say, and the Legacy is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. The fully restyled 2010 Subaru Legacy was unveiled in April 2009 at the New York Auto Show. It's longer, taller, wider, and roomier than its predecessor and should address many of the concerns critics have regarding the current, outgoing model.

Solid, credible reviews for the Subaru Legacy are available from a number of sources. Consumer Reports' tests are the most comprehensive, but ConsumerGuide.com, Edmunds.com and LeftLaneNews.com all publish detailed single-vehicle evaluations of the Legacy. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and J.D. Power and Associates provide credible ratings for the Legacy and most other cars, but not much explanation. We found official fuel-economy estimates at the EPA, and crash-test scores at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.