2005 Subaru Legacy Wagon

Automotive Industries, Jan, 2005 by John Peter

The Legacy wagon is still my favorite car. I've never had a problem with the stigma of a wagon. It's all the utility of a crossover with the ride and handling of a sports sedan.

The 2.5L DOHC four is both quiet and powerful thanks to a blast of exhilarating acceleration from the turbo. Subaru still has the best all-wheal-drive system on the planet. The variable torque distribution system seamlessly transfers torque to all four corners of the car resulting in a well-balanced, great-handling wagon on wet or dry pavement and a snowmobile in the winter.

The Detroit area was dusted with a slick coating of the white stuff, but it wasn't even a concern with the Subaru sitting in my driveway.

Subaru designers have given the '05 Legacy some style. The more curvateous and flowing look wraps nicely around a dean, simple yet elegant interior.

But as much as I love the Legacy, there are still a few things that I would fix to make it even better.

Subaru has plans to take the brand upscale and compete with the likes of BMW and Lexus. While they may be able to compete in styling and content, they're way behind in NVH. Luxury car owners expect pin-drop quiet inside their moving cars and the Legacy falls short. A bumpy stretch of Detroit freeway produced a large amount of road noise. If the car wasn't such a pleasure to drive, I'd have been real annoyed.

And Subaru may be the only North American manufacturer that doesn't have hall doors. When you open the door on a Subaru, the glass window is just hanging out by its lonesome. It's probably only a perception issue, but it just doesn't say luxury, or even near luxury to me.