Test Drive: 2011 Subaru Legacy
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VOICE OVER: Miranda Lightstone
There's a reason Subarus are class leaders in the realm of all-wheel drive, and the brand new Legacy only continues that tradition with a vengeance. Though its exterior is frightfully drab, the interior is exciting. Well designed and easy to manage, this car's gizmos and gadgets are in all the right places. The car handles well and sticks to the road, and that's it's real selling point. Don't be fooled by this sedan's mundane exterior; we'll show you what this Subaru's got to offer. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com spends a week behind the wheel of the 2011 Subaru Legacy.
Design
It’s hard to ignore this sedan’s bland-looking exterior. In fact, it’s so drab I chose not to talk about it at all in the video review. It’s not that the car is ugly or unsightly, just that it’s ho-hum. There’s nothing head-turning about the Legacy, despite its brand new look for 2011. The Legacy fits nicely into the drone sedan market -- and that’s just fine.
Inside the cabin is where the Legacy shines. Designed with a manly demeanor, the Legacy is a functional, well-designed vehicle. The middle console features brushed silver accents and easy-to-reach knobs and buttons. Everything is ergonomically placed while maintaining a distinct design-y look.
And it’s the little things that make this mundane sedan stand out from the rest; from the gently fading in-and-out radio when you turn the car on and off, to the solid “thud” of the door when you close it; these are small details that Subaru could have ignored but chose not to.
Unfortunately, the rather luxurious feel of the interior is completely thrown off with an uber cheap Bluetooth phone system slapped into the middle of the dash. Loud, brash and clearly added to save money on trim levels, it’s a part of the dash I tried to ignore the entire time I was driving the car.
Drive
First, I’ll get the fact that the Legacy had a CVT out of the way: Argh!
Alright, now on to business. Every Subaru features symmetrical all-wheel drive; it is what makes a Subaru a Subaru; it’s what makes them so phenomenal on the road, no matter what the road conditions. Subarus stick to the road. They hand with aplomb in rain, shine, snow, sleet, mud, gravel; whatever you wish to throw under its wheels it will quickly deal with.
CVT aside, that’s what makes the Legacy such a great car to drive. It’s not as fast or soulful as the WRX or STI, but it behaves the way a Subaru should -- and for that, kudos to Subaru. There’s something about a Subaru AWD system that’s unlike any other. They truly are leaps and bounds above other “AWD” cars and trucks.
Despite facelifts for most of its models year after year, Subaru has kept one thing constant: their AWD system. Let’s hope that remains for years to come.
