Subaru farewells Legacy
It used to be arguably New Zealand’s most popular car but its ‘‘bulletproof’’ reputation was not enough to save the Legacy. Nile Bijoux reports.
The Subaru Legacy is approaching the end of the road as it becomes themost recent casualty falling to the ever-growing popularity of SUV models.
Subaru New Zealand has confirmed the Legacy sedan will no longer be part of its model range from next year, bringing to a close a chapter in its history dating from 1989 when the Legacy nameplate superseded the Leone.
The Legacy is no longer sold in Japan and the latest – seventh generation – model is built in Indiana for the United States and Canadamarkets.
There is little surprise in Subaru’s decision not to introduce the seventh-generation Legacy to the Kiwimarket. Medium and large cars once provided a core contribution to the New Zealand carmarket but have dwindled to become niche segments in recent years.
Models such as theHolden Commodore aswell as the Malibu, Ford Falcon, Toyota Avalon, Mitsubishi 380/Diamante and Galant, Honda Accord, Nissan Primera, Maxima and Altima, Kia Optima, Hyundai i40 and Sonata have all departed from the market.
The Toyota Camry, mainly in hybrid configuration, along with theMazda6, Skoda Octavia and Superb, Kia Stinger and Ford Mondeo Hybrid remain as mainstream medium and large car choices.
Legacy’s status in Kiwi motoring history was heightened when Scottish driving legend Colin McRae, at the wheel of the Group A RS model, scored Subaru’s first-ever World Rally Championship round win at the Rally of New Zealand in 1993.
Sales volumes are put in context by the boomingmedium SUV segment which in the first eight months of this year delivered 15,595 registrations (20 per cent market share). Large SUVs contributed a further 7118 registrations (9 per cent share) of the New Zealand new vehiclemarket.
Medium cars have accounted for only 1376 registrations so far this year and large cars just 789 registrations.
A prime cause for the demise of
the Legacy is found within Subaru’s own showroom lineup.
In 1994, the brand developed the raised-height, SUV-style Outback from the second-generation Legacy wagon and the Outback’s popularity has continued to rise.
Legacy sales totalled 64 units in New Zealand last year, compared with Outback’s sales of 1322.
Subaru New Zealandmanaging director Wallis Dumper recalled Legacy’s glory days, when it was the country’s best-seller.
‘‘While the Toyota Corolla was top of the new car sales overall, Legacy was New Zealand’s number one selling used vehicle thanks to the massive imports ratio,’’ Dumper said.
‘‘For Subaru in New Zealand thiswas important as we knew people loved the brand and the car. Legacy developed a bulletproof reputation, so it was a natural progression to guide customers from a used Legacy to a new Subaru, as timewent on,’’ he said.
Legacy’s status in Kiwi motoring history was heightened when Scottish driving legend Colin McRae, at thewheel of the Group A RS model, scored Subaru’s firstever World Rally Championship round win at the Rally of New Zealand in 1993.
‘‘Whilemost Kiwis probably associate Subaru’s historic WRX model as being synonymouswith winning rally championships, the reality is that Colin’s success in the Legacy then inspired Subaru to
enter theWRXand becomeworld champions three times over in 1995, 2001 and 2003,’’ Dumper said.
The Legacy also starred in the New Zealand Rally Championship. The late Possum Bournewon the 1991 title in a Legacy and Joe McAndrew also claimed his 1993 and 1994 victories driving a Legacy.
When supply of the current Legacy 2.5i Premium and 3.6RS models ends from next year, Subaru’s range of ‘‘traditional car’’
models will be the Impreza hatchback, Levorg wagon and the high performanceWRXandWRX STI models.
They will sell alongside the XV, Forester and Outback SUVmodels that provide by far the majority of sales.
Subaru New Zealand’s next major new product launch will be the sixth-generation Outback which is expected to reach New Zealand next year.