Here’s looking at you, Subaru
The 2013 Legacy 3.6R Limited offers a stereoscopic camera system that adds to Subaru’s reputation for safety
The Subaru Legacy has evolved from a dowdy compact car to a stylish midsized sedan in its 24-year lifespan. Through its five generations over the years, the Legacy has been given more power, better handling, and increased technology. In fact, when you take a look at the 2013 Legacy 3.6R, well, it may be looking back at you!
Subaru is offering something they call Eyesight, a stereoscopic camera system that adds to the brand’s reputation for safety. But first, let’s take a look at the 2013 Legacy. Design Subaru has taken a conservative approach to the Legacy from its debut in 1989. The current model was introduced in 2010 and has been slightly freshened up for 2013. There are seven trim levels of the Legacy: from the 2.5i base model up to the 3.6R Limited, which was our test vehicle.
All of these foor-door sedans have Subaru’s latest grille — one that’s bold but attractive. Subaru has been known to wander between boring and absurd in its styling approach over the years, but they are currently well within the top of the class with the 2013 models.
A nice trim of chrome surrounds the grille for a bit of sparkle while the optional fog lights are also trimmed in chrome. The halogen headlight clusters now include LED running lights.
A Subaru trait is large wheel arches on each fender and the Legacy follows this design. It does look appropriate for an all-wheeldrive car such as the Legacy. The rear of the car is less dramatic than the front fascia but pleasing in that it isn’t festooned with faux diffusers, wings or body kit extensions.
The Legacy 3.6R comes with attractive 17x 7½-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a five-/doublespoke design and contrasting black paint. These are fitted with relatively modest-sized 225/50 R17 tires as Subaru delivers its tractive effort through its sym- metrical full-time AWD rather than massive tire contact patches on the road.
I was really impressed by the interior cockpit design in the Legacy. It has become a wonderful blend of eye-pleasing shapes, colours and textures while being functional and driver-friendly. The gauges are electro-luminescent with a colour multi-information display between the tach and speedo.
The centre stack is topped by a large colour display screen for navigation, info and Harman Kardon nine-speaker system (including subwoofer and amplifier) audio control.
Other manufacturers could do themselves a favour by checking out Subaru’s navigation system. It’s easy to use and read at a glance. I especially like the road signs displayed over the map, just like you see on the road. There is no time or effort required to convert the information in my brain: This matches that; understood!
By now you will have looked up at the rear-view mirror and perhaps noticed something different. On either side there are some squarish extensions on the plastic casing for the map lights, etc. That is the housing for the Eyesight system, with a camera on either side of the mirror facing the road in front of the car. Eyesight Now what does this Eyesight system do and how does it do it? By using the two cameras as a rangefinder, measuring how far an object is from the vehicle, Eyesight’s information is used in several ways.
The first is a three-part application: pre-collision braking with following distance warning, precollision brake assist, and precollision throttle management.
If you approach an object or vehicle too quickly, there is an ever increasing alarm that beeps. If you fail to lift the throttle rapidly enough and begin applying the brakes, Eyesight will begin braking for you. If a collision is imminent, Eyesight will shut the throttle and apply the brakes to avoid a collision.
At this point, most everyone asks: “Can I just drive at a wall and have Eyesight save me?” Well, yes, but only to a point. At speeds up to 30 km/h this will work if you’re foolish enough to try it, but I recommend that you just take Subaru’s word for it.
The second application of Eyesight is adaptive cruise control. This is the regular cruise control we are all familiar with — the one with the added feature of maintaining a constant distance from the vehicle ahead. This distance can be set to three levels with a button on the steering wheel.
The third application is a twopart one: lane departure warning and lane sway warning. The stereo cameras read the lines on the road and will warn the driver if he/she switches lanes without using turn indicators. This can be annoying when driving on a deserted road but the rules of the road are the rules, right? Lane sway warning is great for catching sleepy drivers who nod off at the wheel.
The final application of the Eyesight system is the lead vehicle start alert. Have you ever been distracted and not noticed that the car ahead of you has driven off from the stoplight? The car behind you may have honked impatiently and embarrassed you but you really should pay attention when driving, not rely on Eyesight.
For that matter, my concern about electronic drivers’ aids are that they are not infallible. Subaru’s Eyesight system is very good, better in some cases than those on more expensive marques, but in certain situations — when objects are backlit, static objects at night, dirt when the cameras can not get a clear view due to heavy rain or snow on the windshield, or bad weather — the system turns off. No driver’s aid can replace driver skills and attention.
Performance The Legacy comes equipped with either the 2.5-litre four-cylinder or 3.6litre six-cylinder Boxer engines. Our 3.6R had 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 247 foot- pounds at 4,400 rpm of torque from the larger motor. There are three transmissions fitted to the Legacy; the 3.6R Limited is equipped with the five-speed Electronic Direct Control automatic with manual mode and paddle shifters for sporty driving.
Driving and utility The 2013 Legacy 3.6R Limited delivers what we have come to expect from Subaru — seamless AWD, sporty handling and a great interior fitted with comfortable seats. I had the Legacy during one of Montreal’s record-breaking snowstorms and I was never in danger of getting stuck on the unplowed streets.
The optional Eyesight system is available only on the 3.6R Limited at this time and for the most part it does quite well. For only $1,500 extra it is a good way to give you peace of mind when members of your family, especially younger ones, are out on the road.
I would also like to recommend enrolling in an advanced driving course to learn the skills that are not taught when applying for a driver’s licence. That way you will have your own personal driver’s aid with you no matter what vehicle you drive.