When the product developers responsible for the 2010 Subaru Legacy began probing Legacy loyalists about their likes and dislikes with the current model, the loud-and-clear message was: "We want more space!" And by far the loudest shouts from the chorus were to expand its rear legroom. Well, Subaru has gotten the hint -- and then some. The new Legacy is way bigger. Up by 1.4 in. overall, 3.2 in. taller, and 3.6 in. wider, the wheelbase grows by 3.6 in. resulting in a 12% gain in both interior space and that critical number, rear legroom. The car is simply cavernous inside. The good news for those few among us who remain "conventionally proportioned" (well, almost) is that despite the supersizing, the Legacy's weight has risen by just 1.4% (credit 38% of its chassis being composed of high-strength steel).
As before, the Legacy arrives in three horizontally opposed flavors -- the normally aspirated 2.5i four-cylinder, the 2.5GT turbocharged four, and the 3.6R six-cylinder. The base engine powering the 2.5i produces 170 hp at 5600 rpm and 170 lb-ft of torque at 5600 rpm, but its emphasis is on tweaks to improve responsiveness and fuel economy. Power for the 2.5GT climbs from 243 hp at 6000 rpm to 265 hp at 5600 rpm (torque rises from 241 lb-ft to 258 at 2000 rpm). The 3.6R's six-cylinder is hardware already familiar from its Tribeca application, but to recap, it offers 256 hp at 6000 rpm (247 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm).
There's bigger news in the transmission department. Reducing the crankshaft revs are either a six-speed manual or new Subaru's Lineartronic CVT in the 2.5i, a six-speed manual for the 2.5GT, and a conventional five-speed auto for the 3.6R. Not only is Lineartronic the first Subaru CVT since the wonderful old days of the Justy, this is the industry's first application of a CVT in a longitudinal, AWD configuration. No prices have been announced, but Subaru is hinting that it'll be very competitive with its current levels. Which is a lack of upsizing we can all appreciate.
