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:

    Towing and tie-down hooks
    The towing hooks should be used only in an emergency (e.g., to free a stuck vehicle from mud, sand or snow). - Use only the specified towing hook and tie-down hook. Never use suspension p ...

    Displaying and selecting preset stations (type D audio)
    1. Press the button for 1.5 seconds or longer during satellite radio reception to display the radio screen. 2. Operate the “TUNE/TRACK/CH” dial to select the stations. ...

    Braking when a tire is punctured
    Do not depress the brake pedal suddenly when a tire is punctured. This could cause a loss of control of the vehicle. Keep driving straight ahead while gradually reducing speed. Then slowly pul ...