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:

    Rocking the vehicle
    If you must rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, depress the accelerator pedal slightly and move the shift lever/select lever back and forth between “1”/“D” and “R” repeatedly. ...

    Pocket (if equipped)
    CAUTION Do not use the pocket as an ashtray or leave a lighted cigarette in the pocket. This could cause a fire. To use the pocket, open the lid. ...

    System operation
    The alarm system will give the following alarms when triggered. - The vehicle’s horn will sound for 30 seconds. - The turn signal lights will flash for 30 seconds. If any of the doors or the ...