New Car Review: 2003 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Sedan
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SEE ALSO: Subaru Buyer's Guide
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS There is more to Subaru than the Outback and WRX. Although those extremes of the company's offerings get most of the media attention, there is also a solid middle ground between the pioneering car-meets-SUV crossover Outback and the rally-car-tamed-for-the- street WRX. It's called the Legacy, and it is the core of the Subaru line in more ways than merely product placement. The Legacy is the basis for both the Outbacks and the new Baja. Legacys are available in both sedan and wagon form, and the lineup has been mildly restyled and readjusted for 2003. The basic models are the value-priced L and the sportier and more-equipped 2.5 GT. New this year is a ``Special Edition Package'' for the L that incorporates equipment from the 2.5 GT. The 2003 2.5 GT has inherited most of the upscale features of last year's 2.5 GT Limited model. As before, it has a sportier look, backed up by firmer suspension tuning and a standard limited-slip rear differential. 2.5 GTs equipped with the optional automatic transmission now have Subaru's most advanced all-wheel drive system, called ``Variable Torque Distribution,'' or VTD. The Legacy 2.5 GT is a car for a more mature customer than a WRX, but ``mature'' here does not equate to ``sedentary.'' Let's just say a little older, a little mellower, and needing a touch more room and comfort in a car. The GT still has superb all-wheel drive handling and traction, as I found during my week with one. The new automatic keeps the car's character intact, and it has far more character than the typical family sedan. APPEARANCE: All Legacy models have freshened front styling this year, in the form of a revised grille and front bumper fascia. These are not particularly obvious, in keeping with the Legacy's character. Its shape is a conservative blend of rounded shapes and edges with angular accents, particularly noticeable in the high shoulder line and character lines incised into the hood. The 2.5 GT has standard foglamps and ``aero kit'' lower side cladding to show its sporty character, augmented by an available small rear spoiler. COMFORT: The Legacy 2.5 GT is Subaru's premium sports-luxury sedan, or wagon, and is aimed at an older customer than the WRX. Its interior style and appointment level reflect this. Trim is woodgrain, not aluminum-look, although the instruments are now metal-bezeled. Leather-trimmed upholstery is standard fare, with heated front seats. The driver's seat is power-adjustable, and very comfortable and supportive. That, an adjustable steering wheel contoured for the optimum hand position, and instrumentation aimed at the driver make for a good driving environment. But the Legacy is meant for more than just the driver and front passenger. The rear seat offers more room than is found in the smaller European luxury performance sedans, with almost as much as in the popular mid- sized sedans. As in most cars, two adults fit comfortably, with a third a bit cozy. There are plenty of useful interior storage spaces, and the trunk is quite large. SAFETY: The 2003 Legacy's ``Ring-Shaped Reinforcement'' body structure provides a high level of protection in collisions. All seating positions have three-point safety belts. Four-wheel antilock disc brakes are standard, and all-wheel drive ensures optimum traction in all conditions. ROADABILITY: Anyone out there who thinks all-wheel drive (AWD) is only for winters in the snow belt, think again. It works just as well on dry pavement in the sun belt, and anything in between. Because of the different clienteles for various models, Subaru has three AWD systems. ``Continuous All-Wheel Drive'' in manual transmission models is a mechanical system with a static 50/50 power split that uses a viscous-coupling center differential to redistribute torque as needed. ``Active All-Wheel Drive'' in middle- line automatic models has an electronically-managed continuously variable transfer clutch and is set up for a front-drive bias. The ``Variable Torque Distribution'' system in premium automatic models, including the 2.5 GT, has an electronic control system that integrate inputs from the engine and transmission computers to decide how to control torque transfer. It also uses a viscous limited slip rear differential to direct power to the rear wheel with the most traction. With this system, and its standard sport-tuned suspension and low-profile tires, the 2.5 GT has good grip and nimble handling. It is solid and stable on the road, and is definitely a cut or three above your basic-variety mid-sized family sedan when the road or conditions get interesting. PERFORMANCE: Like all non-WRX four-cylinder Subarus, the Legacy uses the Phase II 2.5-liter engine, a single-overhead cam per bank horizontally-opposed design that helps keep the car's center of gravity low for better handling. It delivers power in a linear fashion, and although the maximum 165 horsepower is made at 5600 rpm and maximum 166 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm, good low-rpm torque allows the four-speed automatic to work efficiently. ``SPORTSHIFT'' manual-shift mode allows the driver to over-ride the automatic, for a more engaging driving experience when desired. The standard five-speed manual transmission offers an improvement in performance, which should be balanced with the traffic convenience of the automatic. CONCLUSIONS: The Subaru Legacy is not just another generic mid-sized sedan. SPECIFICATIONS 2003 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Sedan Base Price $ 24,795 Price As Tested $ 26,675 Engine Type single overhead cam 16-valve horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder Engine Size 2.5 liters / 150 cu. in. Horsepower 165 @ 5600 rpm Torque (lb-ft) 166 @ 4000 rpm Transmission 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic with ``SPORTSHIFT'' manual-shift mode (5-speed manual standard) Wheelbase / Length 104.3 in. / 184.4 in. Curb Weight 3420 lbs. Pounds Per Horsepower 20.7 Fuel Capacity 16.9 gal. Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline Tires P205/55 HR16 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc, antilock standard Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut / independent multilink Drivetrain front engine, all-wheel drive PERFORMANCE EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 20 / 27 / 22 0 to 60 mph est. 9.5 sec Coefficient of Drag (cd) 0.31 OPTIONS AND CHARGES 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT manual-shift mode and VTD All-Wheel-Drive $ 1,000 Rear spoiler $ 325 Destination charge $ 525