The 2017 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Sport may just be the safest car manufactured. The Legacy has perfect 5-Star overall ratings across the four testing categories of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which are Overall Rating, Frontal Crash, Side Crash, and Rollover.
The 2017 Legacy also scored the highest “Good” rating across the major crash safety categories of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and when equipped with the available EyeSight technology, the 2017 Legacy is rated “Superior” for front crash prevention. All these add up to the Top Safety Pick+ overall rating.
The EyeSight Driver Assist technology uses two small cameras flanking the rear-view mirror to “see” ahead. With this active monitoring technology, the car can warn you of dangers ahead and even apply full braking forces if it deems necessary. This technology is also used to optimize cruise control and to warn you if you sway outside your lane. This feature is available to all but the base model.
The Legacy 2.5i Sport has a DOHC four-cylinder Boxer engine, coupled to a Lineartronic CVT with six gear ratios manually selectable through paddle shifters. The Boxer engine and the standard Subaru Symmetrical AWD are the signature drivetrain combo for Subaru vehicles. With the 2.5-liter engine, CVT, and AWD, this Legacy 2.5i achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 25 city mpg and 34 highway mpg for a 29 combined mpg—just about my mileage for my week of driving.
The 2.5i Sport has a unique sport grille and satin silver mirror caps with an integrated turn signal. Keyless Access with Push-Button Start allows for easy entrance without having to touch the key fob, and the illuminated start button makes it easy to locate at night. The power moonroof is there for great starward visibility.
My Sport had a Lapis Blue Pearl exterior and a Two-Tone Gray Cloth interior with blue stitching and carbon-fiber patterned trim, plus gloss black interior accents throughout.
The Starlink 7.0-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system comes with the standard AM/FM/CD player and six speakers. In addition, HD Radio, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, USB ports, and Bluetooth audio streaming are also standard. Through smartphone app integration, you would also have Pandora, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, and Aha at your fingertips. Apple iPhone owners also enjoy the perk of Siri Eyes-Free, which lets users operate the phone without taking eyes off the road. Starlink is a multimedia system with nearly unlimited entertainment options.
A 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, power windows and door locks, power-adjustable mirrors, and 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks make for a comfortable, convenient, flexible, and safe interior environment. Dual-zone climate control and available heated front seats keep the front occupants warm, fuzzy, and comfortable.
Along with the convenience, the Legacy cabin offers 104.6 cubic feet (100.9 cubic feet for the Sport trim) of passenger volume, placing this Subaru at the top of its class for interior room.
Only after driving the Legacy and enjoying a quiet but stimulating ride, I managed to look through some of the industry’s literature to see what other drivers, owners, and professional groups thought about the vehicle.
There were five comments that pretty much followed my thoughts about the Legacy and its quality economic, comfort, and safety abilities.
The Legacy is the longest-lasting sedan in its class and has been the best-selling all-wheel-drive midsize sedan for the past 10 years (manufacturer’s literature). The IIHS indicated that the Subaru Legacy has been a Top Safety Pick for the last 11 years (2006-2016).
Meanwhile, Autotrader says the Legacy, even though it is AWD, figures at the top of the class in fuel economy. Finally, Kelly Blue Book states that Legacy has “The best resale value in its class for 2016.”
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $21,995 for the base 2.5i and at $25,995 for the 2.5i Sport model.
Limited Warranty:
3-year/36,000-mile Basic Warranty
5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Warranty
5-year/Unlimited mileage Rust Perforation Warranty
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or at [email protected]
