At a glance
Subaru Legacy RS Base price: $49,990. Powertrain and performance: 3.6-litre petrol six-cylinder, 191kW/ 350Nm, continuously variable automatic, AWD, Combined economy 9.9 litres per 100km.
4795mm long, 1500mm high, 2750mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 493 litres, 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/50 tyres.
Value for money, refinement, effective AWD, EyeSight technology. We don’t like: Conservative styling, not that grunty for a sixcylinder, polarising gearbox-tech. while the latter displays the leftfront wheel area - also at up to 20kmh.
Subaru has long-standing struggles with cabin design and quality. The latest Legacy is still very traditional-looking inside (as is the outside), but the fit and finish is now quite impressive.
Legacy’s unique selling proposition is still the EyeSight active-safety system, which handles everything from autonomous braking to active cruise control.
We’re now in EyeSight’s third generation, which includes Lane Keep Assist, a pre-collision braking system that recognises objects earlier (maximum speed is up from 30kmh to 50kmh) and greater accuracy: the camera is better at recognising low-contrast objects and it’s mounted closer to the windscreen.
While camera-based safety tech is commonplace (standard across the Commodore range, for example), high-end functions like adaptive cruise control are still a major selling point for Subaru cars.
To get the complete package in a ZB, you have to spend over $60k on a Calais-V or VXR.
Subaru takes pride in Legacy being a very traditional sedan that is definitely not front-drive. If that’s your thing, the revised model does present a persuasive argument in terms of engineering, safety and (especially) value for money against rivals like the new Commodore or Skoda Superb. There’s food for thought here. But it’s food for a very few. For every Legacy registration, Subaru sells 15 Outbacks. SUVs have really put the boot in these kinds of cars.