1999 Subaru Legacy Review
1999 Subaru Legacy Review

Used Legacy for sale
Appraise This CarSubaru Legacy model years
Subaru Legacy types
- Wagon
- Sedan
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- All-wheel drive, all the time. Sharp styling. Throaty engine note.
Cons
- Aging interior design. Too much glossy plastic inside.
What’s new
Subaru celebrates 30 years of selling cars in the United States by adding special editions to the Legacy lineup. The L sedan and wagon are available with a package of goodies that includes power moonroof, alloy wheels, rear spoiler or roof rack, body-color trim, power antenna and seat height adjuster. New colors include Sandstone Metallic and Winestone Pearl. The 2.5GT Limited is newly available with a manual transmission, while all 2.5GT, Limited and Outback models receive standard remote keyless entry.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1999 Subaru Legacy Brighton 4dr Wagon AWD and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$168/mo for Legacy Brighton
Legacy Brighton
vs
$168/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Subaru distances itself from mainstream automakers by emphasizing its all-wheel drive (AWD) models, thus carving out a unique niche which other companies are just now beginning to address. A wise move, since loyal Subaru buyers stick with the brand partially because of the wide variety of AWD models in the company's stable. In the early 90s, the company attempted to steal market share from Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Mazda with bread-and-butter front-wheel drive models. The two-wheelers failed dismally.
These days, Subaru is enjoying rising success in the United States, in part due to consumer awareness of the safety benefits of all-wheel drive vehicles, and in part because of the popularity of the sport utility vehicle. In 1996, Subaru introduced a jacked-up, duded-out edition of the hot-selling Legacy station wagon. Called the Outback, it was sold as the world's first sport utility wagon. (Evidently, Subaru marketing gurus, like much of the buying public, have forgotten the AMC Eagle Sportswagon of the early 80s.) Since the introduction of the Outback, Subaru sales have climbed steadily each year.
If ain't broke, don't fix it, goes the old adage. Subaru is taking this advice for 1999. In the summer of 1998, the Sport Utility Sedan (SUS) debuted, essentially a Legacy four-door wearing an Outback costume. Later, a couple of new 30th Anniversary models available in L trim arrived in showrooms with a power moonroof, alloy wheels, and other standard accoutrements. New colors called Sandstone Metallic and Winestone Pearl were added to the paint chart, while all 2.5GT, Limited and Outback received standard remote keyless entry. Also new for 1999 was a manually shifted version of the 2.5GT Limited sedan.
Two engines are available in Legacy models. Brighton and L have a 2.2-liter, 137-horsepower boxer under the hood. Step up to the 2.5GT, SUS or the Outback and you'll enjoy a 165-horsepower 2.5-liter flat four that provides entertaining acceleration around town, particularly with the manual transmission.
Bargains can be had in the Legacy lineup. The L model comes equipped with cruise control, tachometer, power door locks, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. The real deal is the Brighton wagon. With all-wheel drive, a 40-watt sound system and air conditioning all standard, this model is priced much lower than most other two-wheel drive wagons on the market. Add some alloy wheels, and nobody will know it's the cheapest Legacy available. Unfortunately, ABS is not available on the Brighton.
Subaru has a good thing going with the Legacy, which offers a little something for everyone. Roomy, comfortable, and loaded with utility, the Legacy's standard all-wheel drive should make you think twice about that Taurus, RAV4, or CR-V.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1999 Subaru Legacy.
5 star(43%)
4 star(32%)
3 star(21%)
2 star(4%)
1 star(0%)
84 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3.25 out of 5 stars
very dissappointed in the quality
samiam, 04/22/2004
1999 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
subaru does not select quality parts
when producing its vehicles. Head
gaskets went bad (expensive repair),
alternator went bad (dangerous
situation), wheel joint went bad and the
cylinder guides are now going, meaning
it will need the heads replaced (very
expensive repair). I will never
purchase another Subaru product and I
will be getting rid of this one
immediately. also … found out many other
Subaru owners had to replace their head
gaskets and alternator for this year Subaru.
4.38 out of 5 stars
1999 Outback Legacy Wagon
Elissa Augello, 04/10/2015
1999 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
Unlike many of the reviews, I bought my Outback brand new. It currently has 87k miles on it and has never stranded me anywhere. I change the oil religiously and keep up with the maintenance. When you buy a used car, you never know how the persons) before you have driven or maintained the car. As old as she is, I still enjoy driving her. Too bad the new Outback's do not have manual … transmissions. I guest I will have to keep driving her until she blows up.
3.38 out of 5 stars
Beware of the headgasket
josh259, 11/14/2011
1999 Subaru Legacy 30th Anniversary 4dr Sedan AWD
When I bought my 1999 Subaru (with only 70,000 miles) all my friends talked about how reliable they are and how great they are in the snow. But no one mentioned the common headgasket problem. Subarus are infamous for their head gasket problems in the 2.5L engines. My car was fine for the first week or so after buying it. Then it started overheating and I had to regularly add coolant even … though there were no leaks. After investigating, I've determined it is the headgasket. This will cost me a minimum of $1,000. If you find that you are losing coolant through your coolant reserve tank, chances are exhaust it building up pressure in your radiator causing the coolant to back up into the reserve
3.88 out of 5 stars
Just what I needed
WJM, 06/11/2010
1999 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
I purchased this vehicle about a month ago and have been loving it! It has 129,000 miles on it and it drives great! I went from an Acura RSX to a station wagon, so I obviously didn't buy it for style. I love the way it drives and haven't had any problems with it so far. The only thing I am disappointed in is the gas-mileage. 21 MPG is pretty bad for a 4-cylinder. The rear latch for the … hatch is broken and I can only purchase a new one from the dealer, which will cost me about $180, a total rip-off if you ask me. Not ever wanting a truck, this vehicle is great for home-improvement projects. If this holds up I would buy another one.
1999 Legacy Highlights
Wagon
Brighton
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 22 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $168/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 36.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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