Look at the range of Rocky Mountains to the west, think back to the numerous snows that covered us during the past winter, and it’s not all that surprising that totally-all-wheel-drive Subaru is the third-best-selling make in Colorado.
Only Toyota and Ford sell more around here. Subaru’s Outback, Forester and Impreza models sell like (pardon the old bromide) hotcakes.
What is surprising, though, is what doesn’t sell well for Subaru in spite of the model’s long-popular name – the Legacy.
All over the U.S. in the first five months of this year, a total of 61,063 Foresters were sold, 51,230 Outbacks and 36,992 Imprezas. Only 14,723 Legacys have been sold.
Subaru hopes the sixth-generation Legacy will overcome the slow pace and somewhat even the imbalance. To spur early interest in the new model, the company has sent a preproduction version of the 2015 Legacy sedan to Denver for reviews.
The new Legacy will go on sale next month.
It is an inch and a half longer than the former model, sits lower, sports a hexagonal grille, thin LED headlights and a more rakish windshield. Though wheelbase remains the same, interior space has been increased.
The midsize four-door review model sent my way was the ’15 Legacy 3.6R Limited, with the 256-horsepower, 3.6-liter, boxer-6-cylinder engine. Gone is the 5-speed automatic transmission of the past, replaced by an improved continuously variable transmission, quickened with manual-mode shift and paddleshifters.
The new CVT is a much stronger higher-torque unit than those I’ve tested in the past for Subaru. Under certain acceleration levels, the driver even feels simulated “gear steps” like a conventional 6-speed automatic, while attaining the better fuel economy of a CVT on regular-grade gasoline. It averaged a relatively high 26.4 miles per gallon; EPA estimate is20/29.
Standard power in the Legacy is the 175-hp, 2.5-liter boxer-4-cylinder with CVT, which carries an EPA rating of 26/36.
Subaru has upgraded its safety feature, the EyeSight driver assist system, along with blind-spot detection, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
I received an up-close view of the EyeSight aid on Colo. 60, when, following a Chevy pickup which was slowing down to make a left turn onto a country road, I timed his turn and kicked down the Legacy to resume speed; the truck wasn’t yet clear of the road ahead of me and the eyesight took control, overrode my acceleration and applied the brakes. Once the roadway immediately ahead was cleared, the Legacy’s cruise resumed set speed. The EyeSight safety system, a forward camera setup positioned in the center of the windshield header, sees 40 percent farther and wider for 2015.
Subaru has long used a symmetrical all-wheel-drive setup, which sends power to all wheels simultaneously for sufficient traction and acceleration. The Legacy maintained excellent grip in some wet-weather driving with Goodyear Eagle LS 225/50R18 tires. Suspension is MacPherson strut in front and double-wishbone rear.
The fact the Legacy’s A pillars are thinner, along with moving of the sideview mirrors onto the doors and installation of triangle glass has opened up forward visibility noticeably.
Inside, Subaru offers a good amount of storage in the center console, with a nice-looking short shifter. Perforated leather seats are heated in both the front and rear-seating areas. Legroom has been increased in the back. The Legacy has a fairly sizable trunk of 15 cubic feet capacity. Beneath the floor of the trunk is a storage tray resting atop the spare tire.
Options such as navigation, moonroof, keyless access and push-button start raised price of the Legacy 3.6R Limited from a base of $29,595 to a sticker total of $33,380.
Among standard features not mentioned are a harman/kardon 576-watt audio with 12 speakers, SiriusXM, dual USB ports, backup camera and rear-seat climate control vents.
The Japanese-built Legacy was introduced in Japan in January 1989 and came to the U.S. as a ’91 model.
Notes from e-mail
Bud, some time ago, probably during the Denver Auto Show, you wrote about Ford planning to build their pickups from aluminum. Are other truck builders planning on the same thing? Will it weaken the reputation of pickups of today? – R.M.
The thinking is that most of the companies will eventually switch to aluminum-bodied pickups, Ralph, all in the name of improved fuel economy. “Within the next 10 years, seven out of 10 new pickups produced in North America will be aluminum-bodied, and so too will be more than20 percent of SUVs and full-sized sedans,” said TomBoney, chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Aluminum Transportation Group.
