2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited - Long-Term Road Test Wrap-Up

Date: July 2011
Months in Fleet: 16 months
Current Mileage: 40,164 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 22 mpg
Range: 407 miles
Service: $740
Normal Wear: $349
Repair: $68

After our 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R spent 40,000 miles in our care, Subaru chose not to leave the car with us. This is, of course, always the case: Manufacturers whisk their cars away to poke, prod, and otherwise debrief them on what they saw and heard in their months with the Car and Driver staff. But the Legacy surely left a legacy.

It was a legacy of comfort, of open spaces and soft seats, the Scooby earning trunkloads of praise for its long-haul behavior and accommodations. Five people fit without much pinching, and four could stretch out for hours at a time and still feel fresh enough to rave about the plush seats. Speaking of fresh, the interior and lightly colored leather held up well during the car’s stay.

It also left a legacy of enthusiasm, a refusal on the Subie’s part to disappoint those looking for a little fun and adventure behind the wheel of their family four-door. In spite of its cushy suspension, the Legacy’s balance and quick steering relished playing cat and mouse over serpentine stretches. That’s not to say it was a thoroughbred sports sedan, but the jack-of-all-trades sedan was always happy to try.

And it was a legacy of quiet strength—as Teddy Roosevelt was known for saying, “Speak softly and carry a flat-six.” The snarling boxer isn’t the most powerful engine in this class, nor is the Legacy the quickest car among its peers. But after 40,000 miles, it found a 10th in our acceleration tests, dropping its 0-to-60-mph time from 6.4 seconds to 6.3 and its quarter-mile from 15.0 at 94 mph to 14.9 at 95. Although we wanted a bit more volume for its voice, that’s not a sentiment shared by many buyers in the Camry segment, and the flat-six’s unique sound at least held our attention. Its flood of torque was sufficient to keep complaints about the transmission’s having only five ratios—in an era of six or more—at bay. We found joy in the slushbox’s paddle shifters and impersonation of a rev-matching automated manual gearbox on downshifts.

Unfortunately, our Subaru’s legacy was also one of aggravation.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2010_subaru_legacy_3.6r_limited-long-term_road_test_wrap-up

Consumer Report - Personal Picks: Best used cars under $20,000

Mike Quincy: I’m a big wagon fan. I understand that minivans are the best family vehicles ever made, but I want something a little smaller. So I searched for a Honda CR-V and found several 2007-2008 models that fit our price criteria. I think the CR-V is a good compromise of space and efficiency. I realize that all Hondas are pretty noisy on the highway, but the CR-V’s excellent reliability history makes up for some of the car’s downsides. But I’d also expand my options by looking for a Subaru Outback wagon, which I find a bit more comfortable and quieter than the CR-V. It is easy to find a number of 2007-2009 Outbacks under $20,000. Most model years have above-average reliability in our surveys, too. 

Read More: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/07/personal-picks-best-used-cars-under-20000.html

REVIEWS: 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

I find Subaru's Outback and Legacy products to be quite interesting. There's a base model with a normally aspirated H-4, an H-6 model that's only available with an automatic transmission, and a turbocharged H-4 that's only available with a manual transmission. The turbo-4 produces the most power and costs the most, which is probably perplexing for Subaru shoppers not familiar with the WRX and STI models.

As an enthusiast, I don't care much for the Legacy or Outback 3.6R models. The six-cylinder produces adequate power but I don't want the automatic transmission. If I'm going to choose a two-pedal transmission, I'd go for the base engine and the CVT, which can deliver 31 mpg on the highway. If performance is a priority, I'd go with the 2.5GT model.

What really makes the Legacy stand out from its mid-size competitors is the standard all-wheel drive system. If you're in a snowbelt state, that's a boon. Buyers in the sunbelt states probably ignore the Legacy because they see no benefit in driving all four wheels. With the CVT, there's not much fuel economy penalty for having an AWD vehicle. Subaru's system is seamless under all driving conditions, so there's no reason to write it off just because you live in an area that rarely sees inclement weather.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1106_2011_subaru_legacy_limited/index.html

REVIEWS: First Drive: 2011 Subaru Forester

Since the new version launched in 2008, the Forester has been a tremendous sales success for Subaru, easily outselling its slightly awkward-looking predecessor. Aside from its more regular proportions -- the previous version had an over-tall greenhouse atop a wagon-like body -- the biggest change with the redesigned Forester was its significantly more spacious rear seat. Unlike older Foresters, the new version can easily accommodate full-size adults, front and rear.

Sensibly sized, and priced

The Forester packs a lot of utility into a reasonably sized footprint, which has enabled it to hold its own in the burgeoning small-crossover field. Not only is there very good space for four people (it's a little narrow for five), but the cargo area is large, practically shaped, and easy to load thanks to the low liftover height. Four-wheel drive is standard on the Forester (as it is on all Subarus), so there's no price-leader, front-wheel-drive version. Even so, prices are very competitive with the class, starting at just over $20,000 and topping out at $30,000.

The Forester's two engines are denoted by the model suffixes: 2.5X and 2.5XT. The former signifies the base engine, which is new for 2011. A DOHC 2.5-liter boxer four, it makes 170 hp. 2.5XT designates the turbocharged version (the functional hood scoop is the visual giveaway); it makes 224 hp from the same 2.5 liters.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1106_2011_subaru_forester_first_drive/index.html

Chicago Used Subaru