hamburger icon

2017 Subaru Legacy

OEM Exterior
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior Standard
OEM Exterior
OEM Interior
Photos Colors
Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2017 2.5i 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $21,995
2017 2.5i Premium 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $23,995
2017 2.5i Sport 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $25,995
2017 2.5i Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $28,840
2017 3.6R Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $31,640

Overview

Totally redesigned for the 2015 model year, Legacy is one of the few passenger cars with standard all-wheel drive, which has been Subaru’s most notable benefit. Closely related to the Outback wagon, the midsize Legacy sedan has long provided excellent all-around value. The Legacy has plenty of available safety features and a reputation for fuel-efficiency. For any sedan shopper seeking a lot of practical car for the money, Subaru’s Legacy needs to occupy a prominent spot on the shopping list.

What's New for 2017

Subaru’s larger sedan adds two new trim levels for 2017: Sport and Touring. The Legacy 2.5i Sport features some unique styling touches, including a two-tone interior, dark gray grille, and sport-styled 18-inch wheels. The Touring edition serves as the new “flagship” model. Reverse automatic braking is a new active-safety feature, available as part of the EyeSight package.

Choosing Your Subaru Legacy

In its current form, Legacy styling is more enticing than in the past, with a slippery profile that helps boost fuel economy. Most Legacy sedans hold a 2.5-liter four-cylinder “boxer” (flat, or horizontally-opposed) engine, which sends 175 horsepower to an automated continuously variable transmission (CVT) that incorporates manual mode and paddle shifters. An Active Grille Shutter system aims to improve gas mileage by reducing wind resistance. The top-rung Legacy 3.6R Limited contains a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a high-torque CVT.

Subaru’s available EyeSight system includes adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-departure and sway warning, reverse automatic braking, and Lane Keep assist. If the EyeSight camera detects drifting, Lane Keep directs the vehicle back into its correct lane.

Fuel economy is estimated at 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway (29 mpg combined) with the four-cylinder engine, but only 20/28 mpg city/highway (23 mpg combined) with the six-cylinder.

Six trim levels are offered:

Subaru Legacy

2.5i

Starting at $22,815 (including destination charge), the entry-level Legacy has the 2.5-liter engine and a selection of powered components. The 6.2-inch touchscreen radio includes four speakers, a CD player, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, iPod control with USB and auxiliary inputs, and HD radio. A rearview backup camera is standard. So are split-folding rear seats, 17-inch steel wheels, and automatic headlights.

Subaru Legacy

2.5i Premium

Adding $2,000 to the 2.5i price, the Premium edition features heated front seats and mirrors, a 10-way power driver’s seat, windshield de-icer, and 17-inch alloy wheels. Also standard are a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift handle, woodgrain trim, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Options include navigation, a moonroof, and Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance package.

Subaru Legacy

2.5i Sport

Priced at $26,815, the new 2.5i Sport has a unique dark gray grille, chrome rocker-panel trim, and new sport-styled 18-inch wheels. The two-tone Sport cabin features a carbon-fiber appearance on the dashboard and door panels, with piano-black trim around the switches.

Subaru Legacy

2.5i Limited

For $29,660, the Limited adds perforated leather-trimmed seat upholstery, a driver’s seat memory, heated rear seats, foglamps, woodgrain trim, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The 576-watt Harman Kardon Surround audio system plays through a dozen speakers. Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert also are standard, including lane-change assist. Navigation, EyeSight, and a moonroof are optional, as is pushbutton start with PIN code access.

Subaru Legacy

2.5i Touring

Topping the pricing structure at $35,995, Subaru’s new “flagship” Legacy has several distinctive styling touches, including a dark gray grille insert, machine-finished 18-inch wheels with dark gray accents, and low-profile roof rails, and chromed lower cladding. Interiors feature brown leather-trimmed upholstery with contrasting ivory stitching, accented by unique woodgraining and piano-black switch trim. Subaru’s 3.6-liter engine and high-torque CVT can substitute for the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

Subaru Legacy
author image
Contributing Editor
Read Less

Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

If the American vehicle market was a fairer place, the Subaru Legacy would be in the thick of the fight for the family-car sales crown. The all-wheel-drive Legacy is an all-around excellent sedan: solid, comfortable, reliable, and extremely capable regardless of weather or road conditions. It possesses a number of clear advantages over its rivals and deserves more consideration from potential customers, even those well outside Subaru-heavy enclaves like Vermont and Oregon.

Pricing and Equipment

The Legacy is a four-door sedans whose body panels are stamped out and welded together in Lafayette, Indiana. Underneath that rather plain-looking sheet metal is an effective collection of Subaru trademarks. Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or an optional 3.6-liter V6.

Your choice of said engins spins an all-wheel drive system through an automated continuously variable transmission (CVT). The chassis is contemporary—independent suspension all around, anti-lock disc brakes—and tuned for everyday comfort and stability. EPA fuel economy estimates come in at 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway for the four-cylinder and 20/28 for the V6.

MSRP for the base Legacy 2.5i—which includes a multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera—is a very reasonable $22,815. Navigation and Subaru's impressive EyeSight system are available on the Premium ($24,815) along with a few improved standard features, the Sport adopts a slightly more assertive attitude for $26,815, and the Limited brings leather seats and other upscale features for $29,660, or $32,460 when equipped with the V6. (All prices include destination.)

Performance Pros

Subaru Legacy

Subaru's all-wheel drive system is still the Legacy's most distinctive feature, but that well-tuned collection of axles and computer controls is only the start of a mechanical package that works extremely well in the real world, especially when that world gets rough and cold and difficult. It's not a sports sedan, but the Legacy answers the concerns of everyday driving as well as—or better than—anything in its class.

  • The Legacy is completely unflappable in normal use. It's stable and secure regardless of conditions, and seems to become even more competent as roads grow more treacherous.
  • Subaru's CVT sets the industry standard, providing effective power transfer without excessive delay or unsettling reactions. Further down the driveline, the brand's trademark all-wheel drive system now features computer-controlled torque vectoring to distribute power in the most effective manner.
  • Even with the suspension dialed in for normal suburban cruising and the possibility of rough roads, the Legacy's handling is well-balanced and accurate with good steering feel.

Performance Cons

  • Stable and secure performance is admittedly unexciting. The Legacy's notable weight and conservative tuning approach make it about as stimulating as mint tea.
  • Hot acceleration runs are not the Legacy's mission in life; the 2.5-liter does an adequate job of providing motivation, but don't expect much more.
  • The Limited's V6 doesn't live up to its impressive-on-paper power output. The big motor is smooth, but doesn't feel as torquey or powerful as we think it should. The extra cylinders do make their presence known at the gas pump, however.

Interior Pros

Subaru Legacy

The functionality of the chassis is mirrored in the straightforward, well-considered, and roomy interior. The Legacy's cabin is a deeply logical arrangement of durable materials set up for maximum usability. There's not much here to tease your senses, but from a pure function perspective everything is where it should be and—again—it all works very well.

  • Interior dimensions push up against the official limit of a midsize car. The Legacy is pleasantly spacious, offering more room than most of its competitors.
  • Extensive noise management techniques make for a hushed and civilized space.
  • The touchscreen infotainment system is very user-friendly, with large icons and swipe-and-tap controls.
  • There are no fewer than eight cupholders nestled in the interior. If you need more room for drinks, you should probably stay in the kitchen.

Interior Cons

  • Mirroring no-nonsense exterior, the Legacy's interior favors plain function and order over style. While more attractive than the cabin of the previous-generation Legacy, we still wish the aesthetics could approach the exceptional standard set by the car's abilities.
  • The seats could use a bit more sculpting and support.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

The Legacy has outgrown most of its old quirky stereotypes without losing its sincere and straightforward character. There is nothing contrived or superficial about the Legacy—it does exactly what it's supposed to do and it does it very, very well.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

Subaru's mainstream-manufacturer ambitions come wrapped in a shape that unfortunately confuses mainstream with bland. A car this good deserves some panache and distinctiveness in its presentation.

The Bottom Line

On its merits, the Legacy deserves far more attention and respect than it currently gets. As a purely functional device in everyday life, it's among the very best in its class. Crank up the bad weather, and its advantages becomes even more compelling. If you care about safely moving yourself and your family from place to place regardless of conditions and can live with (or even enjoy) being one step away from the mainstream, the Legacy is a top pick.

Read Less

Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.5L H-4 / 175 HP / 174 ft.lbs.
Transmission
Lineartronic 6-spd sequential shift control CVT w/OD
Drive Type
Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
25 / 34 / 29 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.5L H-4 / 175 HP / 174 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
25 / 34 / 29 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Double Wishbone
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
18.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$71
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
15.0 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
105 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
188.8 "
Exterior Width
72.4 "
Exterior Height
59.0 "
Front Headroom
40.0 "
Rear Headroom
37.0 "
Front Legroom
42.9 "
Rear Legroom
38.1 "
Front Shoulder Room
58.1 "
Rear Shoulder Room
57.3 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,470 Lbs.
Wheel Base
108 "
Turning Radius
18.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
17.0 " Steel / 17.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote / Power Remote Driver / Power Remote Passenger
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Chrome
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust
Stainless Steel / Stainless Steel With Polished Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm/hd, Seek-scan
Speakers
4 / 6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2017 Subaru Legacy for Sale

2 vehicles found within 100 miles of your area
Subaru
2.5i Premium
Color: Gray
Price

$12,390

Mileage

111,000 mi

Map location icon

Dapper Car Sales (16 mi)

Phone: (323) 452-3909
Subaru
Premium
Color: Gray
Price

$16,885

Mileage

31,236 mi

Map location icon

Regency USA Inc (13 mi)

Phone: (424) 287-2848

Other Subaru Legacy Listings

We have expanded the search to include other Subaru Legacy years that you might be interested in.

Subaru
Touring XT
Color: Crystal White Pearl
Price

$28,460

Mileage

37,090 mi

Map location icon

Nissan of Mission Hills (24 mi)

Phone: (747) 600-2312
See All Used Car Listings

Insider Information

We have information you must know before you buy the Legacy. We want to send it to you, along with other pricing insights.

Sign Me Up

I agree to receive emails from CarsDirect. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. We will not spam you, and will never sell your email. Privacy Policy.

Thank you. You are now subscribed to our Pricing Insider updates.