2010 Subaru Legacy B4 2.5GT First Drive

The thing about niche carmakers is that you pretty much know what their new cars are going to offer. You don't even have to read the catalogs.

So what about the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT? Will it have a revised four-cylinder boxer turbo? Yep. And will it get a rehashed version of Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive? Yes. Will it be quick off the mark, will it handle well and will it deliver good value for money? Ah, yes, yes and yes again.

Now that wasn't too hard.

But in this, the Legacy's 20th anniversary year, Subaru engineers were not content to just produce another same-old, same-old. They decided to up the ante and shoot for leadership with the fifth-generation Legacy sedan. As to whether they have achieved that goal aesthetically with this edgy yet chunky exterior, we'll reserve judgment. But on the road, it's a winner.

Bigger Is Better
To compete squarely against all-wheel-drive sedans like the Audi A4 2.0T and BMW 325xi, Subaru has come up with a meaner, more muscular look, increased the package's overall dimensions, redesigned the suspension system, rebuilt the engine and turbo and even added some high-tech gadgetry like a radar-controlled cruise control unit.

Coming face to face with the turbocharged 2010 Subaru Legacy B4 2.5GT for the first time at our drive at Subaru's proving ground in the mountains near Tochigi, Japan, the car practically screams "street presence." The new Legacy sedan looks taller and bigger all around with its substantially modified sheet metal. It's also bigger under the skin, some 3.7 inches longer, 2 inches wider and 3.1 inches higher, and the wheelbase has stretched by 3.1 inches. Meanwhile, the curb weight has only risen by 44 pounds. All this translates into oodles more head- and legroom, especially in the backseat.

When you take a quick walkaround, it's easy to see that stylists had challenges incorporating the new bigger dimensions.

By far the most obvious modification is the overall height of the car and the thicker-looking front end. With the hood about 3.7 inches taller than before to accommodate more stringent regulations for pedestrian safety in crashes, the designers have had to wrap the headlights around the front end. This styling nuance makes the Legacy seem uncomfortably tall and gives it a look that's more like a crossover than a sport sedan. The aggressively flared wheel arches and neatly penned tail section are by far the car's best design features.

Relocated Turbo Packs a Punch
Powered by a fully revised, turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer-4, the Japanese-market Legacy B4 2.5GT makes 281 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, a sizable jump from the previous engine's 256 hp. Torque rises to 258 pound-feet between 2,000 and 5,600 rpm.

This engine might employ its predecessor's engine block, but every other component is new, including the piston design, cylinder heads, cam profiles, intake manifold and electronically controlled throttle. Of special note is the redesigned turbo, which now sits low down at the front of the engine bay, where it's a lot closer to the exhaust ports, a modification that helps reduce turbo lag.

On the tight, winding road course at Subaru's proving grounds, the new engine struts its stuff, begging us to push harder. On this test day, we have access only to a car equipped with the five-speed automatic transmission, so we dial in the fussy Subaru SI-Drive to Sport Sharp (which anyone who has ever driven a recent-generation Legacy knows is the only mode worth worrying about).

Standard for the Japanese-specification Legacy 2.5GT, the SI-Drive knob sits on the center console and offers drivers a choice of one of three programmed engine maps — Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp. It's almost like having a choice of three different engines, two of which you don't need. Trouble is, once you get used to the lightning-quick throttle response of the Sport Sharp, the other modes can leave you feeling humiliated in traffic situations, because power drops by as much as 20 percent.

Quicker Jumps to 60 mph
So in Sport Sharp mode we select 1st gear and plant our right boot on the floor. With only a slight chirp from the 18-inch Bridgestone Potenza RE050s, the car's clever all-wheel-drive system leads the car to squat for a split second as it channels optimum drive to all four corners, then rockets to 60 mph from a standstill in a breath over 5 seconds.

The power delivery is linear and strong, with maximum torque coming on tap as low as 2,000 rpm and staying on the boil to 5,500 rpm. The Legacy's five-speed automatic devours shift commands from the polished-aluminum shift paddles with almost no shift shock. A retuned blipping control on the downshifts also expedites seamless entry into corners, which allows you to focus on smoother braking and a more precise turn into the apex.

A six-speed manual will also be available, of course.

Transformed by Wishbones
On the road, the Legacy feels even more planted than before, largely thanks to the new SI (Subaru Intelligent) chassis concept, which was introduced by the Impreza. Ask Chief Engineer Takeshi Tachimori to name the most critical piece of hardware on his new baby, and he doesn't hesitate to reply, "Obviously the front end's suspension struts have been retuned, but our new double-wishbone setup at the rear is a must-see. This new chassis enabled us to replace the predecessor's rear multilink setup with a completely new double-wishbone design that really improves handling."

As we negotiate our first corner at the proving ground, we see what he means. As we turn the wheel of the newly fitted, electronically assisted power steering, the car's nose tucks in nicely while the rear end stays low and flat. The new rear wishbones counteract unwanted camber fluctuations, producing prodigious levels of grip. And that equals quicker, more stable cornering. Surprisingly, ride quality has also improved, especially for rear-seat passengers.

As this car inherits the current Legacy's two-piston calipers with vented discs, braking isn't really an issue and the car pulls up on a dime.

Quality Cabin
Now that the Legacy's living space has expanded, Subaru's designers have also focused on an improved level of comfort and quality.

The interior feels more luxurious thanks to higher-quality materials that include the leather seats and plastics, while the front seats have grown in height by 2.3 inches, offering better back support to taller drivers. The dash layout is simple yet functional, although the stylists have worked so hard on the polished aluminum of the center console that the brightwork reflects a little too much sunlight for our tastes.

One other addition to the Legacy's makeup is a radar cruise control system that, when switched on, locks onto the car ahead and regulates brakes and throttle response accordingly, especially effective in heavy traffic.

One of the Japanese-spec Legacy's talking points since its third generation landed in 1998 has been the option of a McIntosh sound system, arguably the best in-car sound system in the world, we think. The revamped McIntosh audio unit is matched with 10 speakers and 5.1 surround sound, while the 40GB hard drive is capable of storing 2,000 MP3 songs. The system will now even play DVDs and it's compatible with iPod, MP3 and WMA files.

A New Legacy
Priced at $32,000 in Japan, the 2010 Subaru Legacy B4 2.5GT is bigger all around, offers the best combination of handling and performance in its class and challenges the best from Germany in ride quality.

Here in the U.S., we expect the same from our 265-hp 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT, which will start at $27,995 for the premium model with its 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels, P225/45R18 summer tires, chrome exhaust tips and all-weather package. The 2.5GT Limited will have a starting price of $29,995, including its black-and-white seat upholstery, power-adjustable driver seat and Harman Kardon audio system.

This new Legacy is meant to be a breakthrough vehicle for Subaru, a legitimate rival for the world's best sedans. Since Subaru seems to be enjoying relative success in America as its rivals fade in a declining economy, it might be that the company will be able to escape its niche-market identity at last. How the market takes to the Legacy's quirky new exterior might just hold the key to the Legacy's success.

Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.