2018 Subaru Legacy Review

Name: 2018 Subaru Legacy Review
Brand: Subaru
Price: 14995 USD
Rating: 4.2 (44 reviews)

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Sedan F3-4 Normal

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Sedan Front Straight

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive for extra wet-weather traction
Excellent outward visibility
Easy-to-use infotainment systems

Cons

Engines down on power compared to competitors

What’s new

Revised for 2018, the Subaru Legacy has freshened front and rear styling, higher-quality interior materials, a larger 6.5-inch standard display with smartphone integration, and a more powerful air-conditioning system. Subaru says it's also retuned the Legacy for smoother acceleration, a more comfortable ride quality, sportier steering feel, and reduced wind and road noise at highway speeds.

Vehicle overview

Thanks to the Legacy's all-wheel-drive system, Subaru's midsize sedan makes a lot of sense for those living in areas where the weather frequently makes the road slippery. But its available tech and safety features will appeal to anyone.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$134/mo

$170/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

All-wheel drive is standard on every Legacy. This is the car's biggest differentiator among its competitors; only a few other cars in this class offer it. Otherwise, the Legacy features roomy seating, a comfortable road-going demeanor and the latest in-car technology. Every 2018 Legacy has a 6.5-inch display with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. A larger 8-inch system that supports multitouch and navigation is optional.

The main drawback to the Legacy is engine choice. The Legacy's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is economical but not very powerful. You get more power from the 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, but it's still not as quick as other sedans with upgraded engines, and it's thirsty. Overall, though, we like the Legacy. Even if you live in a place where it's sunny 365 days a year, the car's mix of features, interior room and safety features makes it a worthwhile choice.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2015 Subaru Legacy Premium (2.5L flat-4 | CVT automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Subaru Legacy has received some revisions, including suspension and steering changes, larger and more capable infotainment screens, and more extensive noise reduction measures. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Subaru Legacy.

Driving

Acceleration is tepid from the Legacy's four-cylinder engine, but it's pretty smooth and relatively quiet. The continuously variable automatic transmission performs "shifts" so it feels more like a traditional automatic. Handling and steering are acceptable.

Acceleration

The 2.5-liter engine makes 175 hp. Expect a zero-to-60-mph time of about 9.5 seconds. This Legacy is one of the slowest cars in the class, and it feels like it out on the road.

Braking

Strong performance at our track, stopping in just 114 feet with all-season tires. The brakes never felt all that strong on the road, with a spongy pedal, but they were easy to modulate to come to a smooth stop.

Steering

Steering has an intuitive operation and good weighting, and it feels natural in its action. The Legacy turns into corners nicely, but not so quick that it's abrupt.

Handling

This Legacy is no sport sedan, but it has easy-to-control manners, despite considerable body roll around turns.

Comfort

Seat comfort is excellent front and rear, and we were especially impressed with the soft and grippy cloth material. The cabin is fairly quiet. The engine is subdued in most situations, but it can get loud at high rpm.

Seat comfort

The front seats have good cushioning, covered with soft, high-quality cloth. Minimal lateral support. The door and center armrests have thick padding. The rear seats have good comfort and nice upper-back support, although the seatback rake is a bit upright.

Noise & vibration

The Legacy has a quiet highway ride with minimal tire noise and barely perceptible engine noise. The CVT is good about not pegging revs during acceleration, which is nice because the engine can get thrashy at high rpm.

Interior

It's an airy cabin, with not only ample room for passengers but also slim roof pillars for better visibility. There are plenty of handy small-item storage bins, too.

Utility

Cargo volume is generous due to the airy trunk. On the inside, numerous pockets and compartments ensure there's someplace for all your personal belongings.

Small-item storage

The door pockets are narrow but feature bottle holders. The good-size front bin has a security door. The armrest bin is easily accessible; the deep compartment in front of the shifter easily holds a phone and wallet.

Cargo space

The trunk opens wide to reveal a large opening and holds a decent 15 cubic feet. The rear seats are split 60/40, with a seatback release located in the trunk. The center pass-through is wide but not tall.

Technology

With a large standard screen and smartphone mirroring for both Apple and Android phones, the Legacy also features Bluetooth and various apps that use your phone's data connection.

2018 Subaru Legacy models

The 2018 Subaru Legacy is a five-passenger midsize sedan available with two engines and five trim levels: the base 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Sport, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. Legacy 2.5i models have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (175 hp and 174 lb-ft) while the 3.6R has a 3.6-liter six-cylinder (256 hp and 246 lb-ft). All Legacys come with a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The 2.5i feature set includes 17-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, a rearview camera, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and a four-speaker sound system with a USB port, an auxiliary audio jack, a CD player, HD and satellite radio and an iPod interface.

The 2.5i Premium adds 17-inch alloy wheels, an All-Weather package (heated front seats, heated mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer), dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen interface, an additional USB port and six speakers for the sound system.

The 2.5i Sport is pretty similar to the Premium but has 18-inch wheels, LED foglights, a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a variety of exterior and interior trim flourishes.

The 2.5i Limited reverts to the Premium's styling but makes certain safety tech standard, such as a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert. Also standard are an upgraded suspension, power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, heated rear seats, leather upholstery and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. With the 3.6R Limited, you also get the six-cylinder engine and turn-adapting LED headlights.

Optional for the Legacy Premium and above is Subaru's EyeSight safety package. Depending on the trim, it can bundle blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and intervention, and front and rear collision warning with emergency automatic braking. A navigation system is also optional.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Subaru Legacy.

5 (59%)

4 (18%)

3 (9%)

2 (6%)

1 (8%)

4.2

44 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 44 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Underrated Car

Aldo, 12/06/2017

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I think the knock others give any Legacy with the 2.5 engine needs to be challenged. I have found that I have plenty of power and can't understand why there are those reviews that call for more. It simply makes no sense. I have all the get up and go I'd ever want. The car is comfortable, quiet, and loaded with technology. The EyeSight system works flawlessly in every way and the …

Great car for a great price

Ric, 12/04/2017

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I tested the new Camry, Accord, and Sonata before deciding to purchase the Subaru Legacy. There were many reasons that included overall value, safety, performance, and reliability. In addition, the Harmon-Kardon sound system is superior to all of the other offerings. While I am still breaking the car in, I am getting better MPG than I anticipated, and the safety features give me great …

A nice well balanced sedan

Rick, 02/07/2018

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

If you are shopping for a classy, updated, contemporary sedan, look at the 2018 Subaru Legacy limited. I’m coming from a 2015 Legacy which I liked very much. This 2018 Legacy has a much tighter suspension and quicker handling. It has good acceleration quite acceptable for everyday routine driving. I was also impressed that road highway noise has been reduced over my 2015 Legacy. …

Surprising 4 cylinder

Bill Askew, 04/06/2018

2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Edmunds rates the 4 cylinder engine as Con. I disagree completely. Based on the Edmunds review I wanted the 6 cylinder. However, after driving the 4 cylinder I found the power as good or better than my previous VW with a 200 HP turbo 4. This Legacy has plenty of power even on the highway accelerating from an on ramp. The CVT transmission is amazing as it can actually be shifted like …

See all 44 reviews of the Subaru Legacy

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2018 Legacy Highlights

Trim:

2.5i

Base MSRP	$22,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$134/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Legacy models:

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology: Includes a variety of driver aids, including lane departure intervention and emergency automatic braking for imminent forward collisions.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive: Sends power to any of the four wheels with the most grip. Keeps the car pointing in the right direction when the roads are wet.
Blind-Spot Detection: Warns you if you're about to move into into an occupied lane. Is paired with rear cross-traffic alert to warn you of rear crossing traffic.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2018 Subaru Legacy Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Comfort

Seat comfort

Noise & vibration

Interior

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Technology

Which Legacy does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Subaru Legacy models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Underrated Car

Great car for a great price

A nice well balanced sedan

Surprising 4 cylinder

2018 Legacy Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Subaru Legacy 2.5i 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) 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 $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}