Used 2013 Subaru Legacy Consumer Reviews
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After 10 years you learn all about Subaru
Sam S, 02/21/2019
updated 01/16/2024
2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
We have owned our car since new in 2013. In that time, the car started burning oil at 40,000 miles. This happens to about 15% of all Subaru owners and they don't advertise or admit it. I knew this was a risk in buying this car but it did take place on our H6 engine. All I do is every 1000 miles between oil changes (every 5000 miles with synthetic although Subaru corporate claims you can go 7500 miles on non-synthetic) is check the oil level. Also, confirmed with Subaru corporate you can put an additional 0.9 quarts of oil in the car with no bad side effects upon changing the oil. It burns about that much every 5000 miles so when it is time for an oil change, it is still about full having burned off the extra 0.9 quarts. Besides that problem however, the car has run quite well and it does handle the snow and climbing a mountain daily very well. Of course, being acceptable to burn nearly a quart of oil every 5000 miles should not be the case but that is the way it is with Subaru. Also note this car is not as comfortable as driving other cars, like Buick, Honda, or Toyota. The seats on long trips are adequate but nothing more. The electronics leveraging Harmon Kardon for the entertainment/GPS/Bluetooth technology is klutzy and generally works but not well. The recently (purchased) GPS software upgrade works better and now is better, but there are still concerns. When you start the car and backup it puts a black box up telling you Bluetooth is active (or not). Before the upgrade it blocked the whole screen and made it useless (you have to resort to looking over your shoulder like you used to - or stop and wait for it to go away). With the update, it now blocks about 33% of the screen so it is better and you can keep backing up knowing the middle of the screen will be blocked when you start backing up after starting up the car. Another issue is the Bluetooth itself. Even if the phone is registered with the car, it will not always link to this Bluetooth system. As a result, sometimes after starting the car you have to manually link up the Bluetooth to use it while driving. What we like about this car as it is reliable - nothing has broken in 107,000 miles of driving. What we don't like is the constant oil consumption and the poor usability of the electronics. In buying from other brands they are all superior in execution. I know Subaru recognized this and in the next generation Legacy built their own electronics designed interior, it does not help this generation. Last the climate controls are decent when it gets cold, as the car stays warm down to -10 Fahrenheit, but in the summer the AC has trouble keeping up above 95 degrees which fortunately does not happen frequently where we live. Still a comfortable sedan that is holding up. In the eighth year we now have 119,000 miles and the master brake cylinder failed, a $500 repair and the first repair needed. Still burns oil and is still generally reliable. Also had fail the rear wheel bearing ($500) and the front struts ($1000) as the roads in CT cause suspension problems on any car after about 125,000 miles. Edit update: Now at 9 years old it has not really developed any other concerns at this time. The battery needs replacing, which is maintenance as did the tires and some rubber seals which wear out at this mileage on any car I have owned. Now after 10 years the suspension needed replacing. Rear wheel bearings, front struts, front springs. Also the engine coils were cracking and needed replacing. This all happened between 130,000 and 140,000. A total of $5000 over the last year, almost the value of the car. The last half year and 6000 miles no more issues. So we are keeping it for now having been told the H6 engine with 5 speed transmission should last 200,000. After 10.5 years and now 143,000 miles no further concerns. The past year the car has been trouble-free again. With the suspension problems out of the way it appears it is a nice reliable car for us.
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Best kept secret in mid-size cars
carbr8r, 01/26/2013
2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Very worthwhile investment. With 3,000 miles on the car, I am getting 33 MPG on the Hwy and 21 in the city for a combined 27 MPG. I got the navigation with Eyesight and the Harman Kardon stereo and it makes for a much more attractive dash layout. This car is a blast to drive! The boxer engine has a nice note under heavy acceleration. The seats are very comfortable front and back. The HVAC works excellent, and the controls for the Bluetooth, nav, handsfree, and audio system are very easy to learn and use. Steering is tight and responsive. Build quality is excellent - no rattles or squeaks at all. And snow? This car loves it! It sticks to dry, wet, or slippery roads like glue.
Best Deal out there: Legacy
talkgtr, 02/27/2013
2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
Our new 2013 legacy is fun to drive, looks great and is comfortable. I come for a long line of SAABs and am spoiled by great seats, the Legacy isn't as plush but they are firm and offer very good support. The Nav system is better than our Honda Odyssey. On my first tank of gas I've averaging 25.2 in mostly city driving. This is the Limited model w/ upgraded stereo, works great w/ my iPhone 4s, downloaded my phone book w/o issue. With a EQ few tweaks, it sounds fine. I had shopped the Impreza but the Legacy is just more car, quieter on the road, better seats and stereo. Very happy w/ my choice.
Perfect If You're Looking For An AWD Sedan
Bridget, 05/27/2016
updated 12/01/2016
2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I just purchased a 2013 Legacy with only 14k miles. I previously owned a 2008 Ford Escape. I wanted a car with better gas mileage that also had AWD. I was originally looking at Crosstreks, however, they are hard to come by pre-owned and the Legacy was a great deal. This is a great car if AWD is a must for you and you don't want to spend a lot of money. I wouldn't recommend the Legacy if you are looking for a real sporty/peppy ride. I don't find it boring but the CVT took me a while to get used to. It feels a little sluggish at times and is awkward in stop and go traffic. It's also pretty noisy. The steering is solid/heavy and you feel glued to the ground. The visibility/mobility is better than any other car I have owned. I can switch lanes very easily on congested highways. It's also super comfortable and roomy. Overall, I like the Legacy as it has everything that is important to me. It has AWD, good gas mileage and was under $20K. I also like it because it's different. I didn't want to drive what everyone else out there has. I can see why Legacy has such a loyal following. It's a unique driving experience and that can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. I made out pretty good and will probably look at Subaru's again.
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Great Car
ohio441, 01/04/2014
2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had the 2013 4-cyl. Legacy Premium for about 7 months now, and love the car. Picked it up for $22k including the all-weather mats (recommended). The main reason I bought it was the AWD, since I live where it snows a lot. The car is a beast in the snow, even with the regular tires. It was 11 degrees today with the car sitting outside, and it started without a hitch and plowed through about 5 inches of snow on the driveway to get to the street. It has plenty of room - it's larger on the inside than it seems from the outside, and the trunk is large too. It's comfortable, solid and well-handling to drive.
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