The Outside

I liked the outgoing Legacy. Its appearance — assertive up front, aggressive in profile — set it apart from a number of tubbier-looking competitors. Sadly, times have changed. The Legacy has caught up in girth, which Subaru says was in response to shoppers finding the last one too small. It isn't appreciably heavier by the numbers, but it no longer looks skinny, at least to my eyes.

The actual styling is a whole other affair. I see some Infiniti G37 up front, a Saab 9-5 in back and some Subaru Impreza along the sides. I find it not so much controversial — that can be a good thing — as simply overwrought, chaotic even. It's no worse than the Accord, another car stuck nursing wounds from the ugly stick. Decide for yourself about the Legacy's appeal, and drop me an email when you do.

    See also:

    Tone and balance control
    Each brief press of the “TUNE/TRACK/ CH” dial changes the control modes in the following sequence. Choose the desired level for each mode by turning the “TUNE/TRACK/CH” dial. The control func ...

    Tire chains
    CAUTION Tire chains cannot be used on any tires for your Legacy and Outback because of lack of clearance between the tires and vehicle body. ...

    Maintenance schedule
    The scheduled maintenance items required to be serviced at regular intervals are shown in the “Warranty and Maintenance Booklet”. For details about your maintenance schedule, read the separate “War ...