Subaru Legacy is a car that has attracted a very specific fan following. Most owners feel the biggest highlight of the car is the all-wheel-drive system that is more often than not avoided from cars of this class. However, this addition renders a lot of capabilities that are not found in cars in this class. The Legacy sedan competes in a highly volatile segment. It goes against the likes of Accords and Camrys. A growing number of people regard all-wheel drive as a safety measure that enhances their sense of security in the same way that anti-lock brakes and stability control do—they may need it rarely but feel more comfortable knowing it’s there. The Legacy an edge over the competition due to its standard AWD drivetrain.

All Legacy models come with the CVT gearbox and the all-wheel-drive system that has on the car its reputation. However, the 2.5i trim is pretty bare-bones and does not cover many useful features. The 2.5i Premium adds features like Eyesight Driver Assist Technology, a cold-weather package that includes heated front seats, Subaru STARLINK Safety and Security, 17-inch alloy wheels, and 10-way power-adjustable driver seat. This comes at the price of $24,295 and hence can be looked at as quite a bargain.

2017 Subaru Legacy Premium

Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

$12,995

2016 Subaru Legacy Limited

Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Earlier Price: $11,799 (29 Oct 2024)

2017 Subaru Legacy Premium

Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

2016 Subaru Legacy

4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Earlier Price: $9,506 (6 Sep 2024)

2016 Subaru Legacy Premium

Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

2016 Subaru Legacy Premium

Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Earlier Price: $8,750 (14 Nov 2024)

Serpentini Chevrolet - Strongsville

2016 Subaru Legacy User Reviews

Overall Rating: 4.0 (1 Reviews)

Sarah Christensen

2016 Subaru Legacy

••4.0

Posted On: March 7, 2024

The best car I’ve ever had! - my 2016 Subaru Legacy

Pros
The size of the car is the perfect size! Fits three car seats!, The brand of the car. Subarus are the best cars! Subaru of America really takes care of their loyal customers

Cons
The seats have ripped a bunch. Drivers side has ripped three times and the passenger has ripped once, The selection of colors was not great when picking the color of my vehicle

I love this car! I do not have any intentions of getting a new car and I have had this car for 8 years. It has been so reliable and I have not had any real issues. I will say however, the two driver and passenger seat covers have had to be replaced on both chairs and currently need to be replaced right now. The driver seat has ripped three times and the passenger seat has ripped once. I am not re... Read more

2016 Subaru Legacy Review

Pros

Standard All-wheel drive (AWD)
Excellent all-wheel drive
Amazing safety features and crash test scores

Cons

Acceleration is slow
Ride is stiff

The Legacy sedan competes in a highly volatile segment. It goes against the likes of Accords and Camrys.

Overview

Pricing and Features
8.0/10

The 2016 Subaru Legacy sedan is available in four trim levels - 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, and 3.6R Limited. Prices start at MSRP $21,745 for the 2.5i trim and go all the way up to $29,945 for the 3.6R Limited trim. All variants are powered by the same gearbox but there is the choice of two engines. There are several optional extras available such as a sunroof, a navigation system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, adaptive fog lights, rear Cross traffic, blind-spot warning systems, and other connected systems.

Trims	2.5i	2.5i Premium	2.5i Limited	3.6R Limited
MSRP	$22,195	$24,295	$29,095	$31,945
Key Features	Includes these key features:	Includes 2.5i key features and adds:	Includes 2.5i Premium key features and adds:	Includes 2.5i Limited key features and adds:
	Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive	Available Eyesight Driver Assist Technology	12-speaker 576-watt-equivalent Harman Kardon premium audio system	256-hp Subaru Boxer engine
	SUBARU STARLINK Multimedia with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto	10-way power driver’s seat	Leather-trimmed upholstery	LED Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH)
	Active Torque Vectoring	17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels	Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	Dual exhaust outlets
	Vehicle Dynamics Control	All-Weather Package w/ heated front seats	Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
	DOHC 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine	SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security

We Recommend

Engine and Performance
7.8/10

Most Legacy models come with the 2.5L boxer four-cylinder that produces 175 hp and 174 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission and no other transmission is available as an option.

There is also the option of another engine- a 3.6L boxer six-cylinder engine that produces 256 hp and 247 pound-feet of torque. The inclusion of paddle shifters makes the car more engaging to drive than people expect, and it is safe to say the car has decent performance. All-wheel drive is standard in all models and remains the crown jewel of the car.

Models	Subaru Legacy	Nissan Altima	Ford Fusion	Toyota Camry
MSRP	$22,195	$23,260	$22,120	$23,495
Engine	2.5L DOHC 16 Valve 4-Cylinder	2.5-liter 4 cylinder	2.5-liter 4 cylinder	2.5-liter 4 cylinder
Transmission	6-Speed Automatic	CVT Automatic	6-speed Automatic	8-speed Automatic
Power	175 hp	179 hp	175 hp	203 hp
Torque	174 lb-ft	177 lb-ft	175 lb-ft	184 lb-ft
0-60 MPH	8.6 sec	8.7 sec	8.9 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter mile	15.3 sec	16.0 sec	16.2 sec	15.6 sec
Top Speed (MPH)	120 mph	120mph	120 mph	120 mph

Most cars in this class are powered by 2.5 L four-cylinder engines and return about 175 hp in terms of peak power except the Camry. The Camry is more powerful and produces 205 hp and remains the torque king in the segment as well. However, these figures do not translate from paper to the quarter-mile timing as Subaru leads the race by taking the least time of 15.3 seconds, 0.3 seconds less than Camry.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

Fuel economy is an important yardstick in this category that makes or breaks the deal. Subaru has ensured that its 2.5L engine is fuel-efficient enough to power its compact sedan without compromising at all on its performance. The Legacy has a respectable fuel economy with 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. This translates to a combined fuel efficiency rating of 30 MPG. It then adds a large tank of 18.5 gallons and hence offers an excellent range of 370 miles in the city and 536 miles on the highway.

Models	Subaru Legacy	Nissan Altima	Ford Fusion	Toyota Camry
MPG (city)	25	27	21	29
MPG (highway)	34	38	32	41
MPG (combined)	29	31	25	34
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gallons	18 gallons	16.5 gallons	17 gallons
Range (City/hwy)	370/536.5 mi	486/702 mi	363/561 mi	425/595 mi

As we have mentioned, fuel efficiency is quite an important parameter in this category and all cars perform very well in the fuel efficiency test. The Camry is, however, the most fuel-efficient despite being the most powerful as well. The Nissan Altima is also pretty fuel-efficient for the class. However, what impresses the most is that the Legacy retains the all-wheel-drive system and yet returns excellent MPG.

Interior
8.1/10

The first thing that strikes anybody sitting inside the Subaru Legacy is that the outward visibility is amazing. The interiors are very thoughtfully designed but remain entirely functional and very simple.

Ergonomics are good, and the layout is neat and uncomplicated. Interior space is also quite decent, and the seats, especially the ones up front are built well and very comfortable. At just 15 ft.³, the trunk capacity is decent but not quite generous.

Models	Subaru Legacy	Nissan Altima	Ford Fusion	Toyota Camry
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.0/58.1/42.9	40/56.4/45.0	39.2/57.8/44.3	38.3/57.7/42.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.0/57.3/38.1	37.1/56.4/36.1	37.8/56.69/38.3	38/55.7/38.0
Cargo volume (cu- ft.)	15.0	15.4	15.8	14.1

Even though all cars in this category are quite generous in offering interior space, the Subaru has better space for its front as well as the rear-seat passengers. Due to Subaru’s excellent outward visibility, we feel that it feels more spacious than it actually is.Ford Fusion offers the most cargo capacity, which is 0.8 cu-ft more than what Legacy brings to the table. Some of its interior features include:

8-way Power adjustable/4-way manually adjustable passenger seats
Heated and Ventilated front seats
Heated rear outboard seats and steering wheel
60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle
Transmission, Cruise And Audio Controls On Steering Wheel
Interior Air Filtration
Climate Control
Front And Rear Cupholders
Remote Keyless Power Door Locks
Driver Seat With Power Adjustable Lumbar Support
Rear Ventilation Ducts

Infotainment unit

The infotainment unit in the Subaru Legacy is intuitive and easy to use. It offers basic features but is not anything special.

However, Subaru offers excellent Harman/Kardon speakers that are 12 in number and offer a combined output of 576W, which results in a very pleasing experience. Few standout infotainment features available are-

HomeLink
Satellite radio
Harman / Kardon 12 speaker audio system
Satellite Navigation
Bluetooth
AM/FM Stereo

Exterior
8.0/10

The Subaru Legacy retains classic design cues from many cars in the Subaru lineup. It is elegant, and the design is never over-the-top. Proportions are nice as well, and the car really benefits from the 2015 redesign. Overall, we feel some of its competitors like the Camry look a bit more stately but the Subaru’s design fits its ‘roll up the sleeves and gets to work’ attitude.

Model	Subaru Legacy	Nissan Altima	Ford Fusion	Toyota Camry
Curb weight(lbs)	3514	3212	3431	3241
Length(in)	188.8	191.9	191.7	192.1
Width(in)	72.4	72.0	72.9	72.4
Height(in)	59.0	57.8	58.1	56.9
Ground clearance(in)	5.9	5.4	6.4	5.7
Wheelbase(in)	108.3	109.3	112.2	111.2

The Toyota Camry is the longest and Ford Fusion is the widest car of its segment by a small margin. In terms of wheelbase, the Ford Fusion is slightly longer while the Subaru Legacy stands the tallest. But still, all these cars are of very modest dimensions and prove to be excellent commute options in cities with heavy traffic. The Nissan Altima is one of the light cars of the bunch whereas the Subaru is the heaviest. Some of its standout exterior features include:

Darker grille surround
Hawk-eyed headlights
Sunroof
Adaptive fog lights
Windshield wiper de-icer
Rearview camera
Body side molding kit

Safety
9.9/10

Over time, Subaru has established itself as a manufacturer that has a thorough emphasis on safety. In the NHTSA crash tests, the Subaru was awarded overall five out of five stars, which is the highest rating possible. In the IIHS crash tests, it earned an overall rating of “Good,” which again is the highest rating possible. The car comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, integrated blind-spot monitor, front, side, and driver knee airbags as well as an emergency assist function. Some standout safety features include:

Back-Up Camera
ABS And Driveline Traction Control
Side Impact Beams
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Airbag Occupancy Sensor
Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
Rear Child Safety Locks
Driver And Passenger Cushion Front Airbag
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags

Competition
8.0/10

2016 Subaru Legacy vs 2016 Honda Civic

The tenth-generation Civic balances work and play very nicely. It takes care of the A-to-B commuting needs while offering good fuel efficiency. The civic nameplate has been around for a while now.

It has made some name for its foolproof reliability. But you want to push your Civic a bit harder, it will reward you will an enthusiastic powertrain and eager handling. If you want that extra attention and AWD isn't a requirement for you then Civic is a good option for you.

2016 Subaru Legacy vs 2016 VW Passat

The Passat's dynamic virtues are not those measured on the track. The ride is a plush one & the interior is quiet at any speeds. The Passat is powered by a 1.8L engine that makes 170 horsepower.

The Passat will accomplish your regular A to B commute. With Passat, you will enjoy the torque plateau that comes from the turbo-four. The Passat will serve you better as a daily-driver.

2016 Subaru Legacy vs 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

With the price tag of $25,895, Malibu's charm is its value for money appeal. Legacy comes with standard AWD, yet it offers a leading fuel economy figure for the segment. Subaru's excellent EyeSight driver assist system is now standard on every model.

The Malibu is available with FWD only. Driver assists like collision avoidance and blind-spot warning are optional on the Malibu whereas the Legacy offers driver safety features as standard. The Subaru holds its value better than the Malibu.

Final Verdict

The 2016 Subaru Legacy is the car that we believe deserves more attention than it gets now. There is a dedicated set of buyers who look for these cars but particularly for their all-wheel-drive systems. But the Legacy promises much more in terms of characterful performance, excellent fuel efficiency, nice interiors, and tasteful design. Although some of its competitors are cheaper to live with, the Legacy is money well spent if you’re taking care of the car.

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2016 Subaru Legacy User Reviews

The best car I’ve ever had! - my 2016 Subaru Legacy

ProsThe size of the car is the perfect size! Fits three car seats!, The brand of the car. Subarus are the best cars! Subaru of America really takes care of their loyal customers

Cons The seats have ripped a bunch. Drivers side has ripped three times and the passenger has ripped once, The selection of colors was not great when picking the color of my vehicle

2016 Subaru Legacy Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features8.0/10

Infotainment unit

2016 Subaru Legacy vs 2016 VW Passat

2016 Subaru Legacy vs 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Pros
The size of the car is the perfect size! Fits three car seats!, The brand of the car. Subarus are the best cars! Subaru of America really takes care of their loyal customers

Cons
The seats have ripped a bunch. Drivers side has ripped three times and the passenger has ripped once, The selection of colors was not great when picking the color of my vehicle

Pricing and Features
8.0/10