A pearl-black gem

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 16, 2004

Byline: By Jonathan Smith

You might have seen them ripping through forests like turbocharged chainsaws on a rally special stage. Or tearing away from traffic lights leaving a trail of jet-black rubber. But this is a very different type of Subaru.

The Japanese marque that's best known for its fire-eating Impreza also has a gentler side. It's called the Legacy and the latest version is a swish-looking executive saloon that can match an Audi for style and a BMW for speed.

Beneath the smooth, tapering bonnet of the range-topping 3.0R is a 245bhp, flat six, three-litre engine that puts it on a par power-wise with the BMW 330 and well above the Jaguar X-Type 3.0 and Audi A4 3.0. Yet it costs noticeably less at pounds 24,500.

Like the Jaguar and the Audi, the Subaru has all-wheel-drive as standard equipment ( a definite plus in getting the power down and in dealing with slippery conditions.

So the flagship Legacy is quick ( 147mph max ( and the 60 dash in just over seven seconds. But more useful is its effortless progress and general refinement.

This is a serious four-door executive express and to underline its status, the 3.0R gets as standard kit a five-speed sequential automatic gearbox which blends sporting character with ease of driving.

It allows you to use the lever to shift up and down the box, giving the driver maximum control ( especially useful on winding country roads, where automatic systems tend to hunt between ratios for the right one.

Though the pearl-black 3.0R was bog-standard in its basic spec, it included everything from air-con, leather upholstery and alloy wheels to cruise control and electrically adjustable seats. Rarely have I come across such a well-equipped saloon. The only listed extra is sat nav.

At a shade over 15ft long, the Legacy is nudging into the big league and its cabin space reflects this, with stacks of legroom front and back and a large boot. The fascia and interior design has gone upmarket and is now close to the benchmark standard set by Audi and BMW.

With a lusty 245bhp and an autobox, you don't expect mile-stretching economy, so I was pleased to find I was averaging 29 to 30mpg, despite some high-speed cross-country travel. Considerable work has taken place on the new engine to boost economy and improve C02 emissions.

With its high performance and low-profile approach, the stylish Legacy 3.0R is justifiably attracting attention.

Facts and figures

Make: Subaru Legacy 3.0R

Price: pounds 24,500

Mechanical: 245bhp, 3,000cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving all four wheels via 5-spd automatic gearbox

Max speed: 147mph

0-62mph: 7.9 secs

Combined mpg: 29.4

Insurance group: 15

CO2 emissions: 229g/km

BiK rating: 31%

Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles; 3 years paint