Upcoming Cars 2015

2015 Subaru Legacy 3 6R Limited Review Buy The Four

In the very recent past, six-cylinder midsize sedans were often the cars consumers acquired because the basic four-cylinder powerplants were insufficient devices. As fuel efficiency became more of a concern, as economic concerns prompted families to consider less costly purchases, and as larger four-cylinder engines became more refined and powerful, the six-cylinder option gradually became less necessary. 

In 2014, upgrading from the four to the six means an increase from sufficient power to over-the-top acceleration.

Usually.

Rewind to 2002. The V6-powered Honda Accord, a 3.0L car with 200 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, was tasked with motivating 3274 pounds. The latest four-cylinder in Hondas Accord is a 2.4L tasked with propelling only two fewer pounds (in Sport trim) with only 11 fewer ponies than in that 2002 V6. 

THE GOOD • Standard all-wheel-drive • Quiet, roomy, simple cabin • Ride quality • Handsome front end • Terrific visibility

THE BAD • Disappointing fuel economy • CVT isnt cooperating • Six-cylinder isnt very sixy • Conservative styling • No handling edginess

The newer Accord – which just recorded record-high monthly U.S. sales – is two inches longer, its cabin is only slightly larger, and its trunk is 12% more capacious. Its absolutely fine, completely capable, and as quick as the old V6, if not quicker. Or, if you want to accelerate like an 80s (or 90s?) supercar, you buy the V6.

Theres much more to the new Subaru Legacy than an engine. Its the only car in the class that comes equipped exclusively with all-wheel-drive. Its cabin is truly vast. The trunk, while shallow, is deep and wide and squared off. Interior quality is a couple of generations ahead of the last car. Road and wind noise have been kept to a minimum, and ride quality is really rather impressive. 576 watts and 12 speakers of Harman Kardon audio provides a positive acoustic experience. The steering and handling lack the edge of third and fourth-generation Legacy 2.5 GTs, body roll being the biggest complaint, but the steering is more natural and weightier than what youll find in many intermediate cars, and theres no secondary jostling of occupants as the car recovers from severe road imperfections.
Driver comfort is enhanced by terrific visibility, and while my lanky frame never felt low enough in the car, there is a sensation of abundant up-front space thats in keeping with contemporary "mid"-size cars, which easy fill a garage. The extensive list of active safety features (ADC, PCB, PCTM, VLDSW, BSD, LCA, RCTA) on this top-trim Legacy Limited work unobtrusively, unlike the Jeep Cherokee which brings you harshly to an unnecessary halt when reversing, for example.

But in an era which supplies us with perfectly conventional family sedans that tempt consumers to switch out the capable four-cylinder engine for a high-performance V6  – Americas three favourite midsize sedans still offer remarkably quick V6 powerplants – the Legacys 3.6L horizontally-opposed six-cylinder reeks of insignificant extravagance. Subaru Canada offers the 3.6L on Touring, Limited, and Limited Tech models and asks for at least an extra $3000 to take the plunge.

And what a plunge it is, as city fuel consumption skyrockets from 9.0 L/100km in the 2.5L to 11.9. In a mix of city and highway driving, we averaged 19.6 mpg over the course of a week. 

2015 SUBARU LEGACY 3.6R LIMITED Base Price * (CDN): $32,721 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $37,321 Engine: 3.6L DOHC 24-valve H-6 Transmission: continuously variable Horsepower: 256 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 247 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm Curb Weight: 3697 pounds Drive Type: all-wheel-drive Length: 188.8 inches Width: 72.4 inches Height: 59.0 inches Wheelbase: 108.3 inches Passenger Volume: 2962 litres Cargo Volume: 425 litres Centre Console: 27 tennis balls Glove Compartment: 23 tennis balls EPA City: 20 mpg EPA Highway: 29 mpg NRCAN OEE City: 11.9 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 8.2L/100km Observed: 19.6 mpg Observed: 12.0 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. Legacy 2.5i base price: $25,421 MPG fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency. L/100km ratings from the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiencys new 5-cycle testing for MY2015 vehicles.

The six-cylinders fuel economy ratings are better than the all-wheel-drive V6-engined Chrysler 200s; not as good as the 2.0L EcoBoost AWD Ford Fusions. Granted, in that Fusion, we saw 12.8 L/100km. An Accord V6, lacking all-wheel-drive of course, is rated at 11.0 and 6.8 L/100km in city/highway driving.

The Subarus six-cylinder fuel economy is a highlighted issue because its yet another penalty you pay, in addition to the higher transaction price, for an insufficient amount of heavy throttle fun. By modern standards, the Legacy 3.6R doesnt feel like a genuinely quick car, because its not a genuinely quick car. Four-cylinder power in a Mazda 6, for instance, will get you away from stoplights more quickly. Indeed, the last Legacy 3.6 accelerates more rapidly. 

The Subaru is heavier than it used to be, and thats an undeniable part of the problem, but that weight pays dividends in a structure that feels very solid and a cabin thats nicely hushed. Indeed, the 3.6L isnt overwhelming even on paper: with just 256 horsepower, it does not rank among the elite. No, the bigger issue isnt the Legacys overall heft and dearth of impressive specs but rather the connecting element between the engine and the wheels: this is the kind of CVT that gives CVTs a bad name.

Certain that added power cures all CVT ills, I was pleased to discover that the CVT in the latest Outback 2.5i we tested a few weeks ago was mostly inoffensive. Yes, sometimes it made unpleasant sounds. (This 3.6 makes a great noise but its orchestral talents are thrown out of tune by the conductor, the CVT.) But the 2.5s delivery of power was not hindered by its gearlessness. Knowing this, I assumed that an additional 81 horsepower would only smooth out the CVTness. 

Perhaps Subaru made similar assumptions and therefore did not take the time to properly calibrate the pairing, as the dearth of initial acceleration from rest is a miserable disappointment. The paddle shifters offer real assistance, but the frustration of being in a six-cylinder midsize car that simply doesnt feel like a substantial upgrade over the four is not going to be alleviated by operating the paddles on a constant basis. (A six-speed manual is not available with either of the Legacys two engines in the United States; Canadian buyers can select a three-pedal layout with the 2.5L engine.)

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net Click Any Of These Images For A Larger Slideshow View

Fortunately, these disappointing realizations serve to highlight the gains made by more basic Legacys in the Subarus latest revamp. The new infotainment interface is quick and uncomplicated; only a long reach to the tuning knob and excessive glare on the screen itself let down an otherwise straightforward centre stack. 

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• Historical Monthly & Yearly Subaru Legacy Sales Figures
• 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Touring Driven Review
• 2013 Ford Fusion SE EcoBoost AWD Driven Review
• 2015 Hyundai Sonata Limited Driven Review

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The outgoing Legacy I drove around last winter was hugely uncompetitive. With all-wheel-drive included in the price and inoffensive styling, perhaps even a handsome front end, the new 2015 Legacy is just as staunchly Subaru as its always been, if less athletic, but it now feels as well-built as the categorys top sellers.
North Americas new vehicle market has developed a large appetite for cars and crossovers with four driven wheels. Yet the major midsize players from Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen have either never entered the all-wheel-drive fray or have forsaken the notion. 

Massive leaps in refinement have created an opportunity for the 2015 Subaru Legacy to capitalize on its unconventional layout. The fact that the underperforming CVT-laden six-cylinder option is a terrible value is truly of little consequence on that front. A dollar-minded sedan buyer with a yearning for all-wheel-drive, decent fuel efficiency, and space for four already knows hes better served by the base engine. Alas, historically speaking, not many of those buyers have actually existed.