2000 Subaru Legacy Review

Subaru's Legacy is completely redesigned for the new millennium.

A capable all-weather sedan or wagon for an agreeable price.

All-wheel drive is Subaru's mantra, and every vehicle they sell in America comes equipped with it. This includes the entire Legacy lineup of sedans and wagons that offer passenger-car styling with sport utility-like grip in inclement weather. The 2000 Legacy has been improved in several key areas while maintaining its unique position in the automotive pantheon.

While not a clean-sheet redesign, enough has changed to call it new. The sedan lineup now consists of the base L model, the GT and the luxurious GT Limited, while wagons come in value-packed Brighton trim, midlevel L trim, or top-of-the-line GT trim. All Legacys will be powered by a Phase II 2.5-liter, 16-valve, 165-horsepower boxer engine under the hood and the lineup switches from a dual-overhead-cam engine to a single, making the car's performance livelier, thanks to 166 foot-pounds of torque @ 4,000 rpm. All models come with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, Legacys receive a new body shape and front grille that improves aerodynamics with a low 0.31 coefficient of drag (Cd) for the sedan and 0.32 Cd for the wagon. A hidden tailpipe, standard breakaway mirrors, and improved front and rear cupholders contribute to the new Legacy's appeal. All-weather packages now include a limited-slip rear differential, the GT gets multi-reflection headlights, and the GT wagon receives a dual moonroof. New safety features include daytime running lights, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, and a three-point seatbelt for the rear-seat center position. Side-impact airbags are now standard on the GT Limited, Brighton Wagons get ABS with rear drum brakes, and all models except Brighton add rear-seat outboard and center headrests.

Structural refinement was also addressed in the latest redesign with an innovative "Ring-Shaped Reinforcement" body structure. This design provides greater protection in a wide variety of collisions, including frontal, offset, side and rear. The new body also comes with two safety beams in each front door and one beam in each of the rear doors to further isolate passengers from side-impact collisions.

The interior has been revamped as well. Subaru ditched the tiny stereo buttons that made changing radio stations in the previous model an exercise in microsurgery. They've also enlarged the instrument panel and relocated the power door lock and window switches to a more user-friendly location on the door panel. The dashboard, center stack and instrument panel now has an organic flow that moves nicely across the interior, and the quality of the interior materials has been improved.

Subaru has a good thing going with its Legacy, which offers a little something for everyone. Roomy, comfortable, safe and loaded with utility, the model's standard all-wheel drive, along with its many new technical and stylistic innovations, and its reputation for stalwart reliability, should entice you to take a close look.