Subaru Legacy: A Midsize Sedan’s Journey
It’s been a good run. After 35 years, the midsize sedan that did more to mainstream all-wheel drive than arguably any other vehicle—and laid the groundwork for the extremely successful Outback wagon line—will end production. The final Subaru Legacy will roll off of the Subaru of Indiana Automotive factory sometime in 2025, which will also be its final model year.
Credit the midsize Subaru Legacy sedan for mainstreaming all-wheel drive in an affordable consumer package, also dispelling some AWD misconceptions over the years. Once derided as heavy, complex, and prone to tire wear, Subaru’s simple and robust viscous center differential system (in manual transmission models) and computer-controlled AWD system (automatics) eroded those biases, making AWD standard on all Subaru models (excepting sports cars like the BRZ). The Legacy evolved into a surprisingly fuel-efficient, spacious, and well-regarded conveyance. Subaru’s consistent reliance on boxer four-cylinders also provided the Legacy another point of differentiation, boasting the benefit of a lower center of gravity.
The Legacy has rarely been exciting—and the 2024 model isn’t thrilling either. However, its overall safety, confidence-inspiring traction, and excellent ride make it a fantastic choice and our fifth-rated midsize sedan. Despite its subdued nature, it provided enthusiasts with something unique compared to the boy-racer Impreza and its WRX descendants. From almost the beginning, the Legacy was available in the U.S. in a sporty turbocharged model, reminiscent of the excitement swirling around Colin McRae’s Group A Legacy RS zooming through WRC stages. Over the years, various flat-six and turbo models appeared sporadically, including the fourth-generation Spec B.
Subaru states that, across its six generations, all 1.3 million U.S. Legacys have been constructed at the Indiana facility, making it a truly American success story through local production and investment in the community. The discontinuation of the Legacy arises from shifting consumer preferences towards SUVs and electric vehicles, with Subaru aiming to introduce 8 models by 2028. Indiana is Subaru’s sole U.S. facility, and it has always faced production volume constraints. Therefore, Subaru constantly optimizes production for U.S. market models between Indiana and Japan based on demand. Recently, the Impreza’s production ceased in Indiana in May 2023, transferring back to Japan. As of now, Indiana continues to produce the Crosstrek, Ascent, Outback, and (for now) Legacy.
One compelling aspect of the Legacy that we’ll miss is its budget-friendly pricing. In 2024, the starting price is $26,016, making it the least expensive AWD sedan available, especially after the disappearance of the even more affordable Impreza sedan. Even the base models provide AWD traction and ample space, earning IIHS Top Safety Pick status. The base 2.5-liter flat-four engine delivers 35 mpg on the freeway, which is impressive considering it has not been electrified.
It’s tough to envision the Outback entirely replacing the Legacy’s distinctive role in the market, as the Outback is classified as an SUV and starts approximately $4,000 higher than the Legacy. Moreover, the smaller Impreza is only available in a hatchback format. Although the sedan market is no longer the sales powerhouse it once was, Subaru will face a gap in its lineup, and it remains uncertain how this gap will be bridged. In any case, Subaru sold merely 25,510 Legacy sedans in 2023, contrasting with a staggering 161,814 Outbacks and 159,193 Crosstreks. These figures, while significant, indicate that many Legacy enthusiasts may simply transition to the next most desirable (and likely more lucrative for Subaru) model in their range.
