2025 Subaru Legacy Farewell

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Subaru has announced that the 2025 Legacy will be the final model year for its long-running midsize sedan, marking the end of an era for the automaker's flagship passenger car. As reported by Car and Driver, the 2025 Legacy retains its standard all-wheel drive and advanced safety features while starting at $26,040, offering a blend of practicality and value in its farewell year.

Legacy's Final Farewell: A Look Back at Its History

The Subaru Legacy, introduced in 1989, has been a cornerstone of Subaru's lineup for over three decades. As Subaru's flagship car, it was designed to compete in the North American mid-size market against popular models like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy pioneered several innovations for Subaru, including the introduction of the EJ engine series, which was quieter and more powerful than its predecessors. Over its six generations, all 1.3 million U.S. Legacys were built at Subaru's Indiana facility, showcasing a commitment to local production. The Legacy's discontinuation reflects shifting consumer preferences towards SUVs and electric vehicles, with Subaru planning to produce eight EV models by 2028. Despite its impending farewell, the Legacy leaves behind a legacy of safety, reliability, and innovation, with over 94% of Legacys sold in the last decade still on the road today.

Final Year Updates

The 2025 Subaru Legacy sees minimal changes in its final model year. The Limited trim now comes standard with a sunroof, heated steering wheel, and driver-attention monitoring system. Otherwise, the Legacy remains largely unchanged from the 2024 model. Subaru continues to offer the Legacy with two engine options: a standard 182-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an available 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder in Sport and Touring XT trims. All Legacy models retain Subaru's signature all-wheel drive system and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Despite its impending discontinuation, the 2025 Legacy maintains its reputation for safety, comfort, and all-weather capability in the midsize sedan segment.

Sleek and Sporty Styling

The 2025 Subaru Legacy maintains its sophisticated exterior design, blending elegant styling with sporty elements. The sedan features a bold front grille with red accents on the Sport trim, complemented by a daring headlight design and flowing body lines. Magnetite gray metallic side mirrors add a distinctive touch to the Sport model. The Legacy offers a palette of six exterior color options, including Cosmic Blue Pearl, Crimson Red Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, and Magnetite Gray Metallic. These color choices allow buyers to personalize their Legacy to match their style preferences. The Sport trim further enhances the athletic appearance with 18-inch alloy wheels showcasing a sharp-edged modern design and gray finish. A trunk spoiler on the Sport model subtly accentuates its performance-oriented character. Overall, the Legacy's exterior design strikes a balance between understated elegance and contemporary flair, appealing to those seeking a refined yet capable midsize sedan.

Comfort and Connectivity

The 2025 Subaru Legacy offers a spacious and well-equipped interior with modern technology features. The cabin provides ample headroom and legroom, with 39.4 inches of front headroom and 37.2 inches in the rear. All trims come standard with the STARLINK infotainment system, featuring either dual 7-inch touchscreens or an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, depending on the trim level. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are included for seamless smartphone connectivity. Higher trims like the Limited and Touring models upgrade to leather upholstery, while the top-tier Touring XT boasts genuine Nappa leather for a more luxurious feel. The available 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system delivers high-quality sound[5]. For added convenience, the Legacy offers features like an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink, available on select trims. The interior design focuses on comfort and practicality, with well-sculpted front seats and a user-friendly layout that prioritizes functionality for daily driving.

Performance Breakdown: Turbo vs. Non-Turbo Engines

The Subaru Legacy offers two distinct engine options, each providing a unique driving experience. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, delivering adequate performance for daily driving. However, for those seeking more spirited acceleration, the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, available in the Sport and XT trims, generates a robust 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This performance gap is evident in acceleration tests, with the turbocharged models achieving 0-60 mph times of around 6.1 seconds, compared to 8.0-8.5 seconds for non-turbo variants. Both engines are paired with Subaru's Lineartronic CVT and all-wheel drive system, contributing to the Legacy's stable handling and confident cornering abilities. Fuel efficiency varies between the two powertrains, with the base engine achieving an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, while the turbocharged engine returns 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Despite the performance advantages of the turbo engine, some reviewers note that the Legacy's overall driving experience remains less engaging compared to some competitors in the midsize sedan segment.

Impressive MPG Performance

The 2025 Subaru Legacy offers competitive fuel economy, especially considering its standard all-wheel drive system. The base 2.5-liter engine achieves EPA-estimated ratings of 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. This efficiency, coupled with the Legacy's 18.5-gallon fuel tank, provides an impressive highway range of over 640 miles. The more powerful turbocharged 2.4-liter engine in the Sport and Touring XT trims is slightly less efficient but still respectable, delivering 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. In real-world testing, the non-turbo Legacy achieved 34 mpg in a 75-mph highway fuel economy test, while the turbocharged version returned 31 mpg in the same test. These figures make the Legacy a fuel-efficient option in the midsize sedan segment, especially for those seeking the benefits of all-wheel drive.

Advanced Safety Systems

The 2024 Subaru Legacy boasts an impressive array of safety features and driver assistance technologies, making it one of the safest vehicles in its class. At the heart of its safety suite is the standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, and Lane Departure Warning. The Legacy also offers an available DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, which uses facial recognition software to alert drivers if they become drowsy or distracted. Additional safety features include Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and a Rear-Vision Camera. For enhanced visibility, the Legacy is equipped with LED Steering Responsive Headlights that pivot in the direction of steering. The vehicle's safety credentials are further bolstered by its Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, providing superior stability and traction in various driving conditions.

Comparing Legacy Trims: Which One is Right for You?

The 2024 Subaru Legacy offers a range of trim levels to suit different preferences and budgets. The Base trim starts at $24,895 MSRP and includes a 2.5L BOXER four-cylinder engine, Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive, and the STARLINK multimedia system with dual 7-inch touchscreen displays. For those seeking more comfort, the Premium trim adds heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat, and an 11.6-inch touchscreen display. The Sport trim, starting at $28,790 MSRP, features sportier styling with a trunk spoiler and sport cloth upholstery with red contrast stitching. For luxury seekers, the Limited trim offers leather-trimmed upholstery and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The top-tier Touring XT trim includes a more powerful 2.4L turbocharged engine, Nappa leather seating, and ventilated front seats for maximum comfort. When choosing a trim, consider your priorities in terms of performance, comfort features, and technology to find the Legacy that best fits your needs and budget.

Smooth and Capable Ride

The 2025 Subaru Legacy offers a comfortable and capable driving experience, with two engine options catering to different performance preferences. The base 2.5-liter flat-four engine provides adequate acceleration for daily driving, while the optional 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the XT models delivers more spirited performance, accelerating from 0-60 mph in around 6.1 seconds. Both engines are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and Subaru's signature all-wheel drive system, contributing to confident handling and stability. The Legacy's ride is notably smooth and quiet on highways, with its soft suspension effectively absorbing road imperfections. However, some reviewers note that the engine's start-stop system can be rough, causing a noticeable lurch when restarting. Despite its comfort-oriented tuning, the Legacy maintains reasonable engagement on secondary roads, with light steering and eager turn-in characteristics. Fuel economy is competitive, with the base engine achieving an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged version returns 26 mpg combined.

Legacy's Lasting Impact

The Subaru Legacy's departure in 2025 marks the end of an era for the automaker's longest-running model line. Over its 35-year history, the Legacy has sold more than 1.3 million units in the United States, establishing itself as a reliable and safe midsize sedan option. Its discontinuation reflects the broader industry shift towards SUVs, crossovers, and electric vehicles, with Subaru planning to introduce eight EV models by 2028. Despite declining sales in recent years, the Legacy leaves behind a notable legacy of innovation, including being the first Subaru manufactured in the United States. As the automotive landscape evolves, the 2025 Legacy, starting at $24,895, offers consumers a final opportunity to experience Subaru's blend of practicality, safety, and all-wheel drive capability in a midsize sedan format.

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**The arrival timeline is an estimate. It may vary due to circumstances beyond Subaru’s or the retailer’s control.