LOOKS

The exterior of the Legacy 2.5i Sport that I tested featured an updated, more attractive look in front and back, and also adds LED daytime running lights.

The materials inside were pretty pedestrian, with the seating materials nothing to write home about. Semi-upscale offerings inside include a leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle.

On the interior, I found the Legacy to be tight in size for the class. It’s not a vehicle I would recommend for long trips, as it’s less comfortable than rivals. Back seat is tight and the trunk is big, and I would have preferred more space inside and a smaller trunk.

There are plenty of upgrades available if you want to start adding things as you work through the trim levels. Among features offered are: Push-button start, power moonroof, LED fog lights, sport grille and trunk spoiler and foldable side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

The optional all weather package offers heated front seats with three settings, heated exterior mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer and dual-zone climate control.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

There are a couple engines offered on the 2018 Subaru Legacy. My tester featured the base engine: A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine (175 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft. of torque), plus an effective and smooth automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual mode can also be accessed.

The ride with the base engine is responsive and smooth, in part due to an updated suspension, but it’s not powerful and can be slow to get moving. 0-to-60 isn’t a strong suit here.

A 3.6-liter V6 with 256 horsepower is also offered if you want more power, though it will cost you more and hurt fuel mileage.

Helpful noise reducing features include sound insulating glass on front windows. But there is still a bit of an engine whine to be heard, especially during acceleration.

The headline in the performance department is that the Legacy will always come with standard all-wheel drive. This is the only vehicle in the midsize sedan category where this is standard, and that’s always a good thing to be able to say. If you live somewhere with regular bad weather and lots of slippery driving, the Legacy should be near the top of your shopping list.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

For a smaller brand, Subaru is among the best prepared in the areas of safety and tech. It’s quite refreshing to see that they know how important it is not to skimp in this area.

Advanced features available include reverse automatic braking, and all 2018 Legacy vehicles feature auto-locking doors and tire pressure monitoring. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also new standards for 2018, allowing for phone mirroring via the vehicle’s touchscreen.

The Starlink infotainment system features an 8-inch high resolution screen, and apps like aha and Pandora are embedded. Controls are well set-up and easy to use. You get a Bluetooth connection for phone, talk and music, the Legacy still offers a CD player if you care about that (many other automakers no longer do), and the voice controls work well overall.

Subaru’s Eyesight safety system is excellent (though perhaps too sensitive at times on things like lane departure). It features adaptive cruise control, auto pre-collision braking, plus lane departure and sway warning with lane keep assist. A blind spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert feature is also offered.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Legacy is among the safest sedans available in its price range.

MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the Legacy’s four-cylinder engine are 25 city/34 highway/29 combined. I averaged 26.8 mpg in my time driving the Legacy, and with an 18.5 gallon tank that’s 500+ miles per fill-up. The numbers compare well against some in the segment, but trail others. It’s respectable enough that it won’t turn folks away.

Warning: Moving up to the V6 engine on the Legacy lowers your fuel mileage to a rating of 20 city/28 highway/23 combined.

PRICE, BOTTOM LINE
The Legacy manages to stay on the more affordable end of the class. Base price was around $22K, but my test vehicle with upgrades jumped up to the $29K range.

To classify the Legacy succinctly in the context of its battle with the Fusion/Camry/Accord/etc. in the midsize sedan segment, what I would say is this may be the best sedan in its price range if your priority is to have a vehicle full of the latest safety features that will also be there for you in poor weather conditions due to its standard all-wheel drive.

That’s nothing to sneeze at, so Subaru has done what it set out to do, as the Legacy is far from anonymous.

=============

AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page.

Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.