Lafayette, IND – Now with a higher level of refinement, style, and comfort paired with an industry-leading all-wheel-drive system and lower price-point than previous years, the all-new, sixth-generation 2015 Subaru Legacy celebrates its 25th anniversary.
But with relatively low consumer awareness for the Legacy, will car buyers stick around when the party’s over for what is perhaps the most underrated midsize sedan out there? Well, if you’re an independent thinker bucking the trends (Camrys, Accords, and Altimas), you certainly should.
New Legacy’s looks more aerodynamic, streamlined, and muscular
Gone are the Legacy wagon and WRX/WRX STI hatchback. Hence, we’re left with two outstanding sedans sharing similar exterior styling and lines. Overall, the new 2015 Legacy looks more aerodynamic, streamlined, and muscular. Immediately, you’ll notice the more fluid, clean lines shaping the 2015 Legacy.
A coupe-inspired roofline adds a sleeker look without compromising cabin space, paired to a more raked A-pillar moved forward adding some aerodynamic styling. The shoulderlines stick out less than the previous fifth-generation version and the roofline is lowered to enhance the fluid styling while maintaining good rear head space.
However, the front-end and rear-end design characteristics will truly define the car. And the new Legacy’s backend design looks terrific; nothing too crazy or trying too hard, like strange, protruding taillights. Instead, the wraparound taillights are clean, sharing the same C-shaped design as headlights, so everything looks consistent.
The subtle, stylish duck-shaped rear spoiler extends the aerodynamic, fluidic shape and suites the car. The dual exhaust looks great, especially on the 3.6 trim; the actual chrome tips I noticed are hearty. It’s obvious that Subaru is building higher-performance vehicles and paying attention to the details.
The front end is equally balanced and looks sporty yet much more sophisticated. It also shares the same nosecone configuration as the race-proven WRX. The bold, new bottom-grill fascia with sharper elements wraps around with integrated fog lamps. Overall, the 2015 Legacy sedan styling is probably not what most would anticipate—instead, we are treated to a significantly more refined, elegant-looking Legacy with a good dose of sports appeal.
2015 Subaru Legacy Interior
Immediately, the few things that jumped out inside the all-new Legacy include the much (much) more refined cabin with soft-touch surfaces and the significantly enhanced infotainment system with a new 6.2-inch LCD screen/control layout. Then, once on the highway, it’s evident how quiet the Legacy cabin truly is. We were caught in a furious, rumbling Indiana rainstorm on the highway where the noise-suppressed interior environment was even more pronounced.
The steering wheel is completely new with satellite switches and comfortably gripped. The raked windshield certainly looks sportier but also provides greater outward visibility as well. Throughout, the 2015 Legacy finds new soft-touch materials (a stark contrast to previous generations) with more cushion and comfort, including increased cushion layers along the door armrests, A-pillars, and centre console lid (which by the way, is larger for 2015 and can hold an iPad).
Other interior upgrades include memory seats, a proximity key with push-button ignition start, keyless remote FOB, a larger sunroof opening (an extra 35mm-plus), and better quality/softer leather seats.
A pleasant surprise is the enhanced infotainment setup, the new interface, and the hard switch layout. The entire styling of both is simple, clean, and easy to use, not to mention more stylish than the outgoing Legacy. The base is a 6.2-inch hi-res display with an all-new user interface with a simple gesture screen.
Optional is a 7-inch hi-res display with embedded navigation with SiriusXM traffic, electrostatic touch screen and buttons, multi-gesture touch screen (ability to pinch, scroll, swipe…found this handy for navigational maps, instead of fiddling with on-screen buttons), and available satellite radio. An optional 12-speaker, 576-watt Harman Kardon audio system is available.
Despite having nearly the same exterior footprint as the outgoing Legacy, the all-new 2015 Legacy actually offers increased cabin space and roominess, including ample legroom for rear passengers. The trunk is larger, and standard 60/40 split folding rear seats will expand cargo even further.
Performance, Power, and Drive Impressions
- Two Engine Options: 2.5L 4-cylinder (2.5i) with 175 horsepower, 174 lb-ft of torque; 3.6L 6-cylinder (3.6R) with 256 horsepower, 247 lb-ft of torque
- Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters
The 2015 Subaru Legacy has a slightly different configuration depending on the transmission. Legacy outfitted with the Lineartronic CVT finds a newly refined version of the Active Torque Split version of the AWD, whereas the 6-speed Legacy connects to a viscous-coupling limited-slip centre differential providing neutral handling capabilities and maximum driver control.
As for power, the choices include either 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder SUBARU BOXER engines with standard 6-speed or optional Lineartronic CVT. Of course, all are equipped with standard all-wheel drive—the only sedan in its class to offer this.
For a mid-size sedan, the new Legacy handles extraordinarily. I had the opportunity to take both the 2.5L and 3.6L trims through a short slalom. Frankly, the less expensive 2.5L provided ample power and torque pulling out of corners even compared to the more robust 3.6L 6-cylinder model. Hence, the smaller displacement feels refined, quick, and not underpowered at all.
It’s clear the 2015 Subaru Legacy remains, despite all its new refinement, a performance-oriented vehicle consumers should be aware of and strongly consider.
With all this goodness coupled with Active Torque Vectoring (an enhanced version of Subaru’s previous Vehicle Dynamic Control, VDC), the Legacy finds even greater handling agility, particularly in corners and at higher speeds, where the torque compensation system, or vectoring, really shines; the system applies brake pressure to the inside front wheel to facilitate more neutral cornering.
Add revised spring and damper tuning, sporty 17-inch wheels standard (18-inch on the Limited Package model), and ventilated rear brakes from the 6-cylinder Legacy now also available on all 4-cylinder versions (replacing solid disc brakes), and it’s clear the 2015 Subaru Legacy remains, despite all its new refinement, a performance-oriented vehicle consumers should be aware of and strongly consider.
Extra notes: Subaru’s challenges at a higher price point
Subaru’s success has been a double-edged sword. A reputation for renowned safety and standard all-wheel drive evidently trumps all else. While Subaru fans have seen beyond the uncertainties and stigmas, holding on to their Subies leading to low resale inventory for these reliable Japanese vehicles, the mass market hasn’t quite caught on—misunderstood, if you will.
However, some of these perceptions hold some merit: Subaru is expensive (which it was compared to it’s Japanese counterparts); not too refined, utility-focused cabin (true); no idea Subaru is a Japanese brand (until perhaps the Sumo-wrestler ad campaigns several years back).
But, this is all changing for Subaru, big-time with vehicles like the XV, Forester, and 2015 Impreza leading the way, so all that’s left now is educating the consumer, changing perceptions, and repositioning the all-new Legacy. Fortunately, the hard part is done — Subaru is paving a new path, producing a well-designed, more-refined line of vehicles with incredible value, essentially building on its proven strengths — reliability, engineering, versatility, and safety — while elevating everything else, including sleek exterior styling and more luxurious interior appointments and frankly, giving new car buyers very little excuse to visit a Subaru dealer.
Chatting with Ted Lalka – VP, Marketing and Product Planning Subaru Canada – I asked Ted how the automaker plans to reach the Canadian masses to help reposition the Subaru brand. He explains the three main drivers include more marketing, credible advice from accredited media, and of course (and perhaps the most vital), word of mouth — but not from your proud uncle who’s owned his 1993 Legacy since day one, but from a new crop of independent-thinking, active Subaru owners.
The automaker is selling more units in Canada than ever before. Pairing with the old word-of-mouth, Subaru hopes new consumers flock to and learn more about the established brand in the best way possible: from other Subaru owners. They will come if you build it (and build it well)
