2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 18, 2009

2:57 min

For as long as we can remember, Subaru has been trying to prove that it's more than just a fringe player in the automotive marketplace.
The 2010 Subaru Legacy represents the latest attempt by this quirky Japanese carmaker to achieve equal footing with its arch national rivals Honda, Toyota and Mazda.

To do that, the Legacy needed to grow to meet the needs of corn-fed American families. So every dimension of this midsize sedan has been significantly expanded to match up with its rivals.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the back seat, which has gained a whopping four inches of legroom versus the old Legacy. The cabin design is also more conventional, though the materials have gone a bit down hill.

Unlike its competitors, the Legacy features a diverse line-up of three boxer engines and standard all-wheel drive. This 2.5GT model features a turbocharged flat-4 that puts down 265 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This is actually more power than the flat-6 found in the range-topping Legacy.

At the track, the GT goes from zero to 60 in a rapid 5.7 seconds.

The handling numbers are equally impressive, with a run through the slalom cones at 67.7 mph and a trip round the skidpad pulling 0.84g. The brakes managed a 60-mph stop of 111 feet -- staggering performance in this segment.

Yet out in the real world, the Legacy can feel a bit muddled. Its steering is less precise than what we've come to expect from its competition and the rear end may be a bit too lively for a car this big.

The manual transmission leaves a lot to be desired. Its shifter lacks precision and its clutch engagement can be tricky. Its electronic parking brake is also located on the left side of the steering wheel.

But then you hit a particularly curvy strip of pavement and all of a sudden the Legacy can make you feel like one of the countless rally drivers who've piloted a Subaru to the checkered flag.

In the end, the 2010 Legacy is bigger and more suitable for the American market. And yet it still seems a half-step behind its rivals in terms of refinement, styling and driving enjoyment.

Where it does succeed is an area that Subaru has had down pat forever -- quirkiness. The funny engine, the all-wheel drive, the odd styling. The Subaru Legacy may have grown up, but it's still a misfit at heart.