Test Drive: 2010 Subaru Legacy PZEV
For years Subaru has kept its Legacy sedan hidden from view. Or so it seemed. Most of the company's efforts went into marketing the hot WRX version of the Impreza, the Outback wagon, and the Forester SUV. There was nothing wrong with Subaru's Legacy but it was all but invisible among mid-size sedan contenders.
Not any more. The 2010 Legacy is truly "all-new from the ground up" and after test driving one for a week in and around Toronto I can honestly say it is now best-in-class. Better than Accord, better than Camry, better than Fusion, and better than the rest of the pretenders. All good cars, of course, but lacking what makes the Legacy great. And that's not just the obvious advantage of standard all-wheel-drive and the low center of gravity offered by a boxer engine.
The new Legacy now provides a remarkably spacious interior… indeed, a real surprise to anyone who eases into the rear seat, where the word "adequate" no longer applies. Part of this spaciousness is due to a taller roofline, which also makes getting in and out a simple exercise rather than something even a contortionist would try to avoid. You laugh? Obviously you haven't tried accessing the rear seat in many of today's cars. Subaru says the rear door openings are 78% wider than the previous generation. Incidentally, in spite of being taller, the Legacy is more aerodynamic than its predecessor.
While I've always liked Subaru's interior design the new Legacy now adds style to function. Only the steering wheel seems a bit overdone with its multiplicity of controls… unless you're an F1 driver. Those who believe that a car should also be a mobile communications and entertainment center (I don't) will be pleased with the array of systems and connections available.
So let's hit the road where this tester, an old guy who still seeks out the winding kind, eagerly put the Legacy through its paces. This car is one of those rare sedans that combines family convenience with driving fun. It carves the corners in a flat, controlled manner. Steering is responsive, precise. Even the turning circle is surprisingly small. I took the new Legacy up the same twisting, hilly road over the Ontario Escarpment where I'd tried the previous model two years ago and the difference was clearly obvious. You want worthwhile improvements, not just sheet metal changes? You've got it.
Subaru's base flat-four is tuned to family use but with 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque it is more than adequate (there's that word again… we auto journalists have a monopoly). The PZEV (partial zero emissions vehicle) further reduces exhaust pollution so that for a moderate increase in price you can be kind to nature as well as yourself.
I'm a big fan of CVT transmissions and have been since I drove the very first one, a Dutch Daf, decades ago. A vastly more refined version is standard equipment in the PZEV and most Legacy models, and came with a simulated 5-speed manual mode. I tried the paddle shifter and while it was certainly more fun, I promptly forgot about it. This CVT is impressively smooth and responsive and delivers better fuel economy than Legacys with manual transmissions. I also hunted everywhere for a handbrake (or even one of those dreadful foot-operated pedals) and never found one. That's because it is electronically-controlled and comes with a hill-holder. As well, the Legacy also features ABS, EBD, and brake assist. Subaru really wants you to stop… safely!
The test car was loaded with no-cost standard equipment, too long to list here. But I should point out to our American viewers that in Canada the PZEV is a model, whereas in the US it's an available engine option, so check with the Web sites first. One Response to “Test Drive: 2010 Subaru Legacy PZEV” Leave a Reply
Comments
Even in Japan the Legacy sedan has always taken a back seat to the wagon. I don’t know why.