It was either by coincidence or divine love of the underdog that I happened to have the Subaru Legacy 3.6R the same weekend I was planning to tour the National Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana. Not only is the Subaru brand beloved by our community, but also the Legacy is built in Lafayette, just 45 minutes north of Indianapolis. It felt right at home on Hoosier highways.
Clipping through corn fields between Indianapolis and South Bend, the Legacy opened up. My partner put it best when he said “The car has a soul.” You first notice the firm steering that resonates in your hands. Then, there’s the throbbing suspension that absorbs ridiculous amounts of road rough without losing its composure. At unmentionable speeds, the athletic feel and torque-y power encourage you to eat Camrys and Accords upon whim.
Kicking under the haunches is Subaru’s super-smooth 256hp 3.6-liter six-cylinder “Boxer” engine. As in Porsches, the horizontally opposed engine contributes to a low center of gravity and balanced handling. Connected to a five-speed paddle-controlled automatic transmission, and Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive, you have the makings of a sport sedan that can handle almost anything. Power is automatically shifted front-to-front and side-to-side to maintain traction, but in normal operation is set with a 45/55 split, biased towards the rear for European handling. It’s incredible — more like an Acura that crossed tails with a BMW than your typical Japanese mamamobile.
The bad news? The six-cylinder Legacy posts just 18/25 mpg city/highway. However, four-cylinder models achieve a much more impressive 32 mpg highway.
Compared to Raymond Loewy-designed Studebakers, the Legacy is not exactly a stunner, but it has an indestructible look that was recently enhanced with sportier front styling and 17” alloys. Inside, large analog gauges, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, woodgrain trim, and heated leather seats look handsome. Touchscreen navigation and automatic climate control add class while Bluetooth and USB input for iPods meet expectations. I would absolutely choose the optional windshield wiper de-icer, moonroof, and 440-watt Harman/Kardon audio.
To improve safety, engineers gave the Legacy their EyeSight Driver-Assist System. Using twin “stereo” cameras mounted near the rearview mirror, EyeSight integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning. Below 19 mph, it can detect pedestrians or objects and bring the car to a stop if the driver does not respond. At higher speeds, it detects objects and applies the brakes to reduce impact forces. Adaptive Cruise Control also relives stress in stop and go traffic by automatically creeping along. Some of the beeps are annoying and over-aggressive, but the system is effective.
My state of Indiana has a heritage of building great and unique automobiles, including those by Duesenberg, Marmon, Stutz, Cord, and Auburn. By far the most popular was Studebaker which, despite cars like the Avanti and Hawk that were renowned for their styling, ceased production here in 1963. It’s great to buy products from companies you respect and that honor your values, especially when they employ thousands of Hoosiers in building damn-fine automobiles. May Subaru never suffer the fate of Studebaker.
The 2013 Subaru Legacy starts at $20,295, but our Limited came to $33,605.
2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
Five-passenger, AWD sedan
Powertrain: 256hp 3.6-liter H6, 5-speed automatic transmission
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels: 17”/17” alloy f/r
Brakes: disc/disc fr/rr with ABS
Must-have features: Handling, LGBT love
Fuel economy: 18/25 mpg city/hwy
Assembly: Lafayette, IN
Base/As-tested price: $20,295/$33,605