31 August 2015
Twenty six years after its New Zealand debut, Legacy offers outstanding packaging in a premium, high-strength body. The Legacy is a grand touring car, offering an ideal combination of comfort, safety. With sporty high-quality road performance regardless of weather or road conditions, due to its All-Wheel Drive ability.
Enough room to swing a cat
The new Legacy RS 3.6 is every bit as large inside and out as Subaru had promised. Step into the cavernous interior and prepare to be impressed, enough room to swing a cat. The cabin is more spacious than ever before, whilst creating a positively premium ambience, thanks to attention to detail and the high-quality finish to the solid feel of switchgear and lowing noise levels. The result, a very quiet ride with only the sound of tyres gliding over the road surface.
Subaru have moved the goalposts for this 2015 Legacy (literally). The” A-pillar” base has been moved forward, front quarter windows added, and door mounted the side mirrors. Thus reducing the blind spot created around the side mirrors. The Legacy’s boot volume has increased, giving even more room for the golf clubs, trundlers, or even snow gear with the 60:40 split fold-down seats. While the glove box room is taken up with the expansive owner’s handbook. There is however, more than enough room in the centre console pocket.
Smooth Operator
The 3.6 litre Boxer engine producing 191 kW at 6000 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm, Legacy will power you up and down the boat ramp/ ski field with ease. For the first time, it is mated with a Lineartronic Transmission (cvt), with improvements in environmental and fuel consumption performance. This partnership equates to a very smooth power delivery and transmission operation that would put even the most staunch cvt critic as ease.
20/20 Vision
The new generation “EyeSight” driver-assist system has undergone multiple improvements to help drivers to potentially avoid collisions, or reduce damage. The stereo camera is completely remodelled, achieving better active safety and less driver load. EyeSight can now see and interpret brake lights, and has Pre-Collision Steering Assist- collision prevention.
Along with the Outback, Legacy is also the safest ever Subaru, achieving a five-star ANCAP rating for occupant safety, obtaining an impressive score of 35.99 out of 37. The Legacy maintains and expands the raft of safety features to achieve this outstanding safety status.
The factory-fitted sat nav and audio system can be touch-operated in a similar way to smartphones and tablets, incorporating touch panel flick, pinch, and double tap. I did experience slight confusion when trying to add an address into the navigation; the menus are not as straight forward as a smartphone. And even the passenger is prohibited from adding an address while the car is in operation.
One interesting observation is that while the co-pilot (my wife) could not see the speed, registering on the instrument cluster. The navigation map includes the current speed zone, which changes to bold red when you are exceeding it. Thus creating a constant reminder, if you decide to speed.
Overall, the Legacy is an impressive large car inside and out. Subaru have made a lot of improvements to create a car that easily fits into the large car bracket. Will it be a willing alternative to the large Australian rear wheel drive car? I think it just might.
Also available is the slightly less spec Legacy 2.5i Sport. Still packed with features, functionality, and a smaller price tag to boot.
Rrp $39,990 2.5i Sport, $49,990 3.6 RS Sedan