The Subaru Legacy, always a sturdy compact but somewhat lacking in sex appeal, now comes as an attractive, sporting little sedan that loses some of that dowdy Birkenstock flavor but gains mainstream appeal.
The stylish GT Limited test car was jazzy enough to garner many favorable comments and covetous glances, a far cry from some of the clunky Subarus of the past.
Slightly larger than the last Legacy, with a more distinctive “face” and profile, the new GT is designed to convey a sporty image that it, fortunately, delivers as well.
The best part of the Legacy GT is what it has in common with all Subarus: standard all-wheel drive. Subaru has been the champion of all-wheel-drive (AWD) automobiles for decades, inventing the Outback concept for its Legacy wagons. With the GT, it offers AWD in a European-style street performer.
In Europe, Subaru is known for its dominance of rally-car racing, bringing AWD to prevail in the popular, grueling dirt-road events. Don’t think about taking a Legacy GT barging through the woods, but all-wheel drive does enhance handling, control and safety on all kinds of surfaces, from dry, winding mountain roads to highways covered in snow.
Besides the Legacy, Subaru offers the subcompact Impreza and the hybrid sport ute Forester, both of which come only with all-wheel drive.
For 2000, Legacy also has a new multi-link rear suspension and a stiffened body structure that enhance responsiveness. The GT suspension is lower and firmer than the standard Legacy, and I thought the handling overall was right up there with anything in its class. AWD provides a feeling of security, stability and control.
Subaru’s signature “boxer” four-cylinder engine, with two cylinders on each side that move horizontally, similar to an old VW Beetle, is a sturdy unit known for its durability over the long haul. It has been re-engineered to put out 165 horsepower, which provides plenty of muscle, though not up to par with competitors such as Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat, which all have powerful V-6s as standard or optional equipment. Next year, Subaru will make a 3-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine available for its Legacy Outbacks, with the sedan coming later. In the meantime, the smooth-running boxer does a good job of motivating the Legacy, whether it’s an Outback wagon or the sporty GT.
The test car was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, all the better to wring out every ounce of power.
For 2000, there’s noticeably more room inside the new sedan, especially for back-seat passengers. I’ve never liked the seats in any Subaru I’ve driven, and the GT Limited is no exception. I find them flat and unsupportive.
The dashboard looks good, also in a quasi-European style, though some of the switches and equipment, such as the cup holder, seem chintzy and out of sync with this car’s otherwise sturdy feel.
The Legacy starts with a base price of $1 9,000, and the lavishly equipped test car just managed to top $25,000, a decent price for all you get. Among the features are leather-trimmed interior, an 80-watt stereo system (a disc changer was the car’s only option, at $510), 16-inch performance tires on alloy wheels, limited-slip rear differential, moon roof, power accessories and the GT body aerodynamic effects.
Built in Lafayette, Ind., Legacy has earned top grades for reliability and durability. Often overlooked, the Legacy, and particularly the GT, is worth adding to your short list of midsized cars.
2000 Subaru Legacy Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, all-wheel drive. Base price: $24,295. Price as tested: $25,374. Engine: 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four, 165 hp at 5,600 rpm, 166 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. Transmission: Five-speed manual. Curb weight: 3,360 lbs. Wheelbase: 104.3 inches. EPA mileage: 21 city, 28 highway. Highs: Re sponsiv e performance. Sporty styling. Standard all-wheel drive. Lows: Needs more engine. Chintzy dashboard gear. Unsupportive seats.
