DETROIT, Mich. - Subaru wants to move upscale into premium-brand territory, where Acuras and Volvos roam, but with a clear emphasis on performance (like seemingly every other car maker on the planet except for, oh, maybe Kia). To help meet that objective, the 2005 Subaru Legacy is completely redesigned, immediately recognizable as a Subaru yet beautiful in a way that no Subaru before has been.
Whether the cars meet the standards for refinement and quality that are demanded by premium consumers remains to be seen. Certainly, the 2005 Subaru Legacy is more upscale than the sensible-shoes model it replaces.
As before, two all-wheel-drive body styles are available. Buyers can select between a sedan or a station wagon (thankfully, Subaru is not trying to pass this latter style off as a crossover, a sport wagon, a sport hatch, or any other such silly thing).
At the bottom end of the range is the 2.5i, powered by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that makes 168 horsepower. The uplevel 2.5 GT is equipped with a turbocharged version of that engine. The Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT produces 250 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, making it capable of acceleration on par with, if not quite matching, the vaunted Subaru WRX. A functional hood scoop feeds cool air to the 2.5 GT's intercooler, and distinguishes this performance model from the standard Subaru Legacy.
All Subaru Legacy 2.5i models are equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5 GT offers a choice between a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic with a manually interactive feature accessed by using the shift handle or buttons on the standard MOMO steering wheel.
Symmetrical AWD
On the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT equipped with the manual transmission, the Symmetrical AWD system uses a viscous-coupling locking center differential that equally distributes power between the front and rear wheels. Versions of the 2.5 GT with the automatic transmission employ Variable Torque Distribution, which sends more power to the rear wheels than the fronts under normal conditions but continually adjusts the split as traction conditions warrant. The Legacy 2.5i's four-speed automatic uses a continuously variable transfer clutch to control power disbursement to the wheels.Underpinning the redesigned 2005 Subaru Legacy is a four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts in front and a multilink rear arrangement. Four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS are standard on all models, the 2.5 GT receiving larger front rotors and vented rear discs. The Legacy 2.5i is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Legacy 2.5 GT comes with attractive five-spoke 17-inch alloys shod with P215/45 rubber. Befitting its status as the performance model in the lineup, the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT also has a quicker steering ratio.
Standard equipment includes the amenities that consumers have come to expect on a mainstream car, such as cruise control, power windows, power door locks with keyless entry, power mirrors, air conditioning and a CD player. Also included on every 2005 Subaru Legacy are side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags, and active front head restraints. The 2.5i Limited adds leather, a power sunroof, a CD changer and dual-zone automatic climate control. On station wagons, the power sunroof has two panes of glass covering the front and the rear seats, but only the rear section opens.
2.5 GT LimitedThe Legacy 2.5 GT adds projector beam headlights, side mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, electroluminescent LED gauge lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated sport seats, heated exterior mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer, a trip computer and a 120-watt sound system with an in-dash CD changer. The 2.5 GT Limited includes leather, power adjustable front seats and a power sunroof.Subarus have an admirable reputation for being durable, utilitarian, fun-to-drive, all-weather vehicles. Now the company is upgrading materials, adding luxury features and significantly boosting performance in an attempt to position the Legacy as a smart alternative to entry-level Audis, BMWs and Infinitis. Buyers of those kinds of vehicles purchase as much for the cache of owning the brand as they do the driving experience, and Subaru has a long road ahead to establish itself in the same league. Just look at the trouble Volkswagen has had doing the same thing.
We think the 2005 Subaru Legacy is an exceptional effort, sure to please everyone who buys one, but we hope it doesn't get lost among consumers shopping the comparatively pedestrian Honda Accord and Toyota Camry because Subaru insists on pitching it as a Japanese BMW alternative.
Photos courtesy of Subaru of America, Inc.
