Subaru is fortunate to be one of the small group of carmakers that enjoy a cultlike following. Unlike most of them, however, Subaru won that status without a comprehensive lineup of exceptional performance cars. Yes, the thin sliver of car buyers who are enthusiasts have long embraced Subaru?s rally-inspired WRX models, but the Japanese carmaker has mainly earned its reputation by offering standard all-wheel drive across its lineup and targeting the highest possible safety ratings. It?s not surprising, then, that Subaru would follow this strategy exactly with the Legacy as a way of helping it make its mark in a highly competitive market segment. It?s one of the only cars in its segment to offer all-wheel drive for less than $30,000, and it earned the highest possible crash-test ratings from both U.S. agencies that do such testing. By other metrics, however, it struggles. Its performance on the track and during everyday driving fails to impress, the interior design and materials are dated, and several upscale features that have become common in mass-market cars are missing completely from Subaru?s family sedan. In ways large and small, the Legacy has failed to keep up with the rest of its class, which has been rapidly improving. READ MORE ??
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