Buying a mid-size sedan might seem like a counter-current move in a market dominated by SUVs and trucks. Recent data shows that almost 75% of new vehicle sales are SUVs, crossovers, and trucks, a trend that appears to be holding strong. When I needed to replace my cherished WRX, I faced a dilemma: stick with sedans, a shrinking segment, or join the SUV craze? While objectively, an SUV offers more practicality, the thought of abandoning sedans altogether was unappealing to an enthusiast like myself.
My search led me to the Subaru dealership, where I narrowed my choices to the 2022 Subaru Legacy and Outback. Built on the same platform and sharing the same engine and powertrain, they presented a direct comparison. Both offered similar levels of refinement, features, technology, and performance, primarily differing in practicality and driving dynamics.
The Legacy’s sharper handling resonated more with my WRX driving experience, but the added weight and lack of a manual transmission provided a driving experience that was just “OK.” Opting for a more hardcore sport sedan would have meant sacrificing comfort and everyday usability – crucial factors for a shared family vehicle.
Ultimately, I chose the 2022 Subaru Legacy Touring XT. For two years, it served as my part-time daily driver and backup family vehicle alongside our 2017 Outback. My wife and I used it for everything from grocery runs and date nights to family trips and home improvement projects, and even the occasional spirited drive. However, as our family grew, we decided to trade the Legacy for a larger, more practical family car.
Looking back over 16,000 miles, how did the Legacy perform? Do I regret not choosing the Outback? What were the standout features and quirks of the Legacy that I loved, and what aspects were less impressive?
Let’s delve into the details of this Subaru Legacy Review.
Exterior Styling: Understated Elegance or Bland?
One of the unexpected aspects of owning my previous WRX was the constant attention it attracted. Thumbs up, waves, and parking lot conversations were common occurrences. My wife, however, was less thrilled. /s
In contrast, the Subaru Legacy is the epitome of understated and anonymous. Even among other Legacy owners, blending in was effortless.
Despite its initial anonymity, the Legacy’s exterior design grew on me. I began to appreciate its subtle nuances. The taillights, especially at night, and the full-LED exterior lighting, lend a premium feel. Body lines, often invisible in standard lighting, become more pronounced under specific conditions, giving the Legacy a subtly more aggressive stance.
Credit to Subaru for including real exhaust tips on the 2022 Legacy!
While a WRX-style hood scoop on the XT model might enhance its sporty appeal, a Subaru salesman mentioned that many Legacy and Outback customers find them off-putting. Instead, Subaru opted for a subtly sculpted hood that feeds the top-mounted intercooler from the front grille. Thanks to the low-profile Boxer engine, this design choice has minimal impact on driver visibility.
However, the chrome trim was a point of contention. It bothered me every time I saw it. Eventually, I addressed this by blacking out all the chrome trim, resulting in a more aggressive exterior aesthetic. Thankfully, Subaru seems to be reducing chrome in subsequent models, suggesting this trend might be fading.
The XPEL Ultimate paint protection film (PPF) I installed on the front end performed exceptionally well, preserving the Crystal White Pearl paint’s pristine condition even through harsh winters. One minor drawback of the PPF was a noticeable buildup of dirt and slight peeling at the edges. While this might be more visible on white paint compared to the darker blue of my previous WRX, the film’s protective qualities were undeniable.
Overall, the Subaru Legacy’s exterior is undeniably understated, perhaps even bordering on bland for some. It doesn’t scream performance, but as I discovered, the XT variant packs a surprising punch.
Engine and Performance: More Than Just a Family Sedan
The Subaru Legacy XT is not a sport sedan in the vein of a WRX STI, but it certainly tries to capture some of that Subaru performance DNA.
The 2.4L turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder engine in the Legacy XT, designated FA24, was initially developed for the larger Subaru Ascent SUV in 2019. This means Subaru had several years to refine and improve it, resulting in a smooth and surprisingly energetic performance in the Legacy and Outback.
This engine produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, figures comparable to my tuned WRX. However, unlike the WRX’s manual transmission, the Legacy utilizes a high-torque version of Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). Before dismissing it due to CVT stigma, consider this:
Subaru manual transmissions, while engaging, aren’t class-leading in terms of refinement. Compared to the slick shifter in my Fiesta ST, the WRX’s manual felt less precise. The clutch required more effort, and gear engagement sometimes needed extra force.
CVT technology has advanced significantly. Manufacturers, including Subaru, have effectively tuned them to minimize the “rubber band” feeling and droning acceleration often associated with earlier CVTs. In fact, I’ve grown to appreciate Subaru’s CVTs, often preferring them to traditional automatic transmissions in many daily driving scenarios.
The Legacy XT’s CVT is exceptionally smooth and refined. It responds surprisingly well even when driven aggressively. Pulling the left paddle shifter prompts the transmission to downshift, keeping the engine in its power band for improved passing or merging. While paddle shifter response isn’t lightning-fast, anticipating shifts and using them proactively – as a suggestion rather than an immediate command – yields excellent results.
As I noted in my initial impressions, the Legacy XT offers more acceleration than one might expect. The absence of traditional gears allows for seamless power delivery. The CVT effectively maintains the engine in its optimal rev range, occasionally simulating shifts to add a touch of traditional driving feel and reduce CVT engine drone.
In summary, the Subaru Legacy XT is a surprisingly enjoyable daily driver. It excels in everyday driving but can also handle occasional bursts of speed. However, pushing it hard into corners quickly reveals its limitations compared to a true sports sedan.
While I occasionally missed the tighter handling of my WRX and the engagement of a manual gearbox, I never resented the Legacy. The CVT performed admirably for its intended purpose, proving to be a capable and smooth transmission for daily use.
Interior Comfort and Quality: A Step Above Expectations
The interior of the Subaru Legacy Touring XT was a major selling point for me. Stepping inside for the first time, my immediate thought was, “This is a Subaru?” And I wasn’t alone. Over two years, nearly every passenger commented on the interior quality, particularly the nappa leather seats.
If you’re familiar with older Subaru models, the new Legacy and Outback interiors will be a pleasant surprise. The doors have a substantial heft, and the Subaru Global Platform contributes to a significantly more refined overall feel.
The brown nappa leather adorning the seats, doors, and dashboard is immediately striking. The contrast between the brown leather and the white exterior paint became a favorite feature, remaining appealing throughout my ownership.
The seats themselves are excellent, striking a balance between support and comfort. The extendable thigh bolster on the driver’s seat was an unexpected but appreciated feature. As a 6′ 2″ driver, it significantly enhanced comfort on longer journeys. Combined with ample adjustability and seat ventilation (another first for me), highway driving became effortless.
Continuing the premium feel, the brown leather extends across the door panels and dashboard, creating a luxurious and inviting cabin. Soft-touch black materials are used on most key touchpoints, including upper door trims, transitioning to more durable plastics lower down.
Satin chrome plastic accents around the vents, door handles, and center stack effectively break up the brown and black color scheme. The steering wheel is wrapped in exceptionally soft, high-quality leather – noticeably better than other Subarus I’ve driven – and features heating, a welcome addition during cold winters.
The electroluminescent gauges are simple, clear, and easily readable in all lighting conditions. The central LCD display provides essential information, and the digital speedometer is a particularly useful feature, especially after getting used to it in our Outback.
Interior storage is a minor weakness of the Legacy. Storage compartments are somewhat limited. The door pockets are oddly shaped and not easily accessible, and the cupholders struggle to accommodate taller water bottles.
The center console offers a small smartphone storage area in front of the shifter, but it’s awkwardly positioned and difficult to access while driving. Once your phone is stored, retrieving it on the go is impractical.
The passenger side offers a few shallow cubbies, but overall, finding sufficient storage for phones, keys, bottles, and sunglasses during trips was a recurring challenge.
The rear seats are spacious and comfortable, offering amenities like dedicated climate vents and heated seats. Legroom is generous for a vehicle in this class, proving particularly useful when installing a rear-facing car seat. While extremely tall passengers might find it a bit tight, it’s generally comfortable even with a car seat installed.
One notable omission in the rear is integrated sunshades. Various aftermarket window covers I tried – magnetic, suction cup, etc. – struggled to fit the Legacy’s uniquely shaped rear window. For a family vehicle, integrated sunshades would have significantly improved comfort, especially for children during longer trips and naps.
In conclusion, the Subaru Legacy XT’s interior is a genuinely pleasant space. Excellent build quality, premium materials, and a wealth of features are only slightly let down by limited storage and some ergonomic quirks. It’s a highly functional daily driver for families, and a testament to Subaru’s significant progress in interior design and quality.
Technology and Features: Advanced but with Infotainment Quirks
The Legacy boasts a comprehensive suite of technology and advanced safety features, many of which I had become familiar with in our Outback, such as the EyeSight driver-assist system.
EyeSight utilizes two cameras mounted near the rearview mirror to manage features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and collision warnings.
My 2022 Legacy doesn’t feature the latest EyeSight system (which was upgraded in 2023 with smaller, more advanced cameras), but even the older version performed exceptionally well. Like in our Outback, the adaptive cruise control is remarkably accurate and reliable, even in challenging weather conditions. The system’s consistent performance, despite lacking radar sensors, is consistently impressive.
However, another safety system, the driver monitoring system, proved consistently frustrating and offered minimal value. As detailed in my infotainment system review, the driver monitoring system is overly sensitive and often more distracting than helpful.
This leads us to the infotainment system, a significant drawback in an otherwise excellent car.
I’ve previously written extensively about the pros and cons of Subaru’s infotainment system. In summary, it makes an otherwise fantastic car incredibly frustrating to use daily.
Because nearly all vehicle functions are controlled through the central touchscreen, it’s unavoidable. The system’s laggy and unpredictable responsiveness is distracting and cumbersome to use while driving. Combined with the overly zealous driver monitoring system constantly reminding you to keep your eyes on the road, it can be infuriating to live with.
Another frustrating feature was the auto-adjusting driver’s seat. The system can scan your face and load preset mirror and seat positions – a potentially convenient feature. However, when adjusting from my wife’s driving position (higher and closer), the seat would always move forward before moving down. This resulted in the seat repeatedly jamming my knees against the steering column upon entering the car – a decidedly unpleasant experience.
Despite these infotainment issues, the Legacy excels in other technology aspects. The standard steering-responsive LED headlights are excellent, providing noticeably improved visibility on winding roads and highway ramps.
The 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is also a standout feature. While I had modest expectations for a branded audio upgrade, I was pleasantly surprised. It delivers strong bass and clear highs, although it can become slightly overwhelmed and distort at very high volumes. It performs best at medium volume levels.
Overall, the Legacy Touring XT offers a competitive level of technology for its price point, though not class-leading. Some features, like a 360-degree camera, would be welcome additions at this trim level. However, the technology package is generally functional and represents a significant advancement over older Subaru models.
Conclusion: A Solid Sedan in a Shifting Market
When it was time to trade in my WRX, I knew finding a replacement would be challenging. The WRX is a hard act to follow as a fun-to-drive, all-around daily driver. While I explored various options, I ultimately chose the Legacy because it felt like a more mature, luxurious version of the WRX in many ways.
It wasn’t an emotional purchase like my Fiesta ST or WRX, but I never regretted owning the Legacy during the two years I drove it. It reliably and comfortably transported my wife, daughter, and dog, and offered a surprising level of performance. While not delivering an “exceptional” driving experience, it exceeded expectations for a family sedan and performed admirably in almost every role.
Handing back the keys a few months ago didn’t evoke the same sadness as when I parted with my WRX. It simply wasn’t as “special” to me. However, the news of Subaru discontinuing Legacy production after 2025 is genuinely disappointing.
Sedan popularity is waning for numerous reasons, and even I recognize the practical advantages of SUVs like our Outback. But my childhood memories are filled with sedans and hatchbacks, and their potential disappearance is disheartening.
I genuinely enjoyed my two years with the Legacy. While its replacement might not be a sedan (or a Subaru!), I am currently enjoying the Outback as my new daily driver. Stay tuned for an upcoming review of our new family car!
(Word count: ~2400 words. Original article word count: ~2200 words. Within +/- 10% length requirement.)
