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Herb Gordon Subaru

2018 Subaru Legacy

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What's New for 2018

The Legacy receives a number of upgrades for 2018, improving everything from aesthetics to drive experience to safety. The most significant changes include a more rugged front end; new available Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH), which aim the lights as the driver turns; High Beam Assist, which turn high beams off and on automatically as traffic conditions vary; re-tuned suspension dampeners for a smoother ride; and a host of insulation upgrades to reduce road and wind noise.

A Lasting legacy 

There are many good midsize sedans to choose from these days, but what's helped the Subaru Legacy become such a popular choice among shoppers is its excellent all-weather capability. The Legacy boasts standard all-wheel drive while its rivals do not—making it the perfect choice for snowy climates and slippery surfaces, and it does so while still delivering excellent fuel economy. Adding to its repertoire is a BOXER® engine, which helps lower the car's center of gravity and improves its handling. The Legacy can also be had with Subaru's available and award-winning EyeSight® accident avoidance technology, making it one safe and smart sedan. 

Performance

The Legacy returns for 2018 with two available engine options. Both are BOXER engines, meaning the cylinders lay flat and oppose each other, like boxers in a ring. A configuration also favored by Porsche and the designers of the original Volkswagen Beetle, it makes for a lower engine height and allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis. All of this lowers the center of gravity, thus improving handling, as well as protecting the cabin from damage from the engine block in the event of a head-on collision.

The standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which produces 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. All Legacy models use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to maximize fuel economy, with six “virtual” gears accessible through steering-wheel paddle shifters for greater driver involvement. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is standard, of course.

Buyers looking for a little more power can opt for the 3.6-liter six-cylinder, which brings 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque to the table. The four-cylinder model gets an EPA-rated 29 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway), while the six-cylinder gets 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway).* All-wheel drive makes the Legacy a viable and more fuel-efficient alternative.

Features

The 2018 Subaru Legacy is available only as a four-door, five-seat midsize sedan, although Subaru also offers the mechanically similar Outback in a wagon configuration. The Legacy comes in five trim levels, with prices starting at $22,195.**

The base Legacy 2.5i comes remarkably well-equipped with a rear spoiler, Subaru Starlink™ multimedia system with 6.2-inch touchscreen, a three-spoke steering wheel with secondary controls, 60/40-split folding rear seat back, auto on/off headlights with windshield wiper activation, and other features.

Next up from the base model is the Legacy 2.5i Premium, which incorporates all of the applicable standard features of the 2.5i and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, the All-Weather Package (heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer), 10-way power driver’s seat, an upgraded Starlink™ system with 7.0-inch touchscreen and telematics service, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a stainless steel exhaust tip.

The 2.5i Sport adds a number of visual touches inside and out that are sure to please more performance-minded drivers. It also gets 18-inch wheels, foglights, a sunroof, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and keyless ignition/entry. 

The 2.5i Limited adds a memory system for the driver’s seat, power front passenger’s seat, harman/kardon® premium audio system, heated rear seats, foldable side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and perforated leather upholstery.

Finally, the 3.6R Limited differs only with its six-cylinder engine, steering wheel shift paddles that can call up simulated shifts, and xenon headlights.

Optional features for the 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limited include a power moonroof, navigation, and keyless access with push-button start and PIN code access on the Limited model only.

Design

The 2018 Subaru Legacy has a chiseled exterior that’s among the most handsome in its segment. It also contributes to the car’s efficiency, with a steeply raked windshield that enhances aerodynamic performance, and active grille shutters. A high seating hip point, front partition windows, and door-mounted side-view mirrors help improve outward visibility too.

 

The interior has a more upscale look than previous Legacy models, thanks to greater use of soft-touch materials and details like blue accent lighting for the gauges. A 60/40-split folding rear setback enhances utility, and even with the seats up there’s still a useful 15.0 cubic feet of trunk space. Subaru boasts that the 104.6 cubic feet of passenger volume is best in class.

Safety

Standard safety equipment on the 2018 Subaru Legacy includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and a full suite of airbags. Subaru’s EyeSight® camera-based safety system is optional on the 2.5i Premium and Limited models; it includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, pre-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The Rear Vehicle Detection System with blind-spot detection, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert is optional on the 2.5i Premium and standard on the 2.5i Limited.

Verdict

The 2018 Subaru Legacy has everything its rivals have plus the all-weather confidence of standard all-wheel drive, making it the perfect choice for drivers that want stellar safety and capability, as well as a bevy of in-demand features.

For more information, or to schedule a test drive, contact us online or visit Herb Gordon Subaru at 3161 Automobile Blvd, Silver Spring, MD 20904. 

* EPA-estimated fuel economy. Actual mileage may vary.

** Manufacturer's suggested retail price does not include destination and delivery charges, tax, title and registration fees. Destination and delivery includes handling and inland freight fees and may vary in some states. Prices, specifications, options, features and models subject to change without notice.

Image Credit: Subaru