2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Subaru Legacy doesn't get the fanfare of the brand's signature wagons or hatchbacks, but it remains a staple in the lineup regardless, a way for sedan fans to get their fix of Subaru's renowned all-wheel-drive system. Last year, Subaru reaffirmed their commitment to their midsize sedan by introducing an all-new, seventh-generation model.

Being so recently redesigned, the 2021 model sees hardly any changes worth noting. The only major updates are standard adaptive headlights and a rear seat reminder chime.

The Legacy family comprises six trim levels: Legacy, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Pricing ranges from $23,820 including destination for a base model to $37,070 for a Touring XT.

Driven a Subaru in the past 20 years? If so, the engine options are bound to look familiar. The standard motor is a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder that has powered almost every Legacy to wear the name. The top two trims

On the top two trims, Subaru uses a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder. It's the same basic engine used on the lower trims, with the biggest difference – aside from the turbo sitting atop the motor – being a different crankshaft that slightly reduces displacement.

With both engines, a continuously variable transmission is standard. It shuttles power to all four wheels all the time. A full-time, all-wheel-drive setup like this is still a novelty in the midsize sedan segment. The Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry are the only other options to offer all-wheel drive, and neither system is a full-time affair.

The Legacy seats five, but the passenger sitting in back-middle seat might not be too comfortable. Nearly 40 inches of rear leg room is spacious for the segment.

The trunk holds 15.1 cubic feet, and the rear seatbacks fold down to better haul bulky items.

Subaru bundles its suite of active safety features under the EyeSight moniker, and it's something all Legacy sedans come standard with. The feature group includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Upper trims come standard with additional features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, and reverse automatic emergency braking. These features are optional on the lower two trims.

The IIHS crash tested the Legacy soon after the current generation debuted last year and were impressed with its ability to withstand an accident. It named models with the now-standard adaptive headlights as a Top Safety Pick Plus. The NHTSA was no less generous in their scoring, awarding the sedan five stars overall.

The base model divides infotainment duties between a pair of 7-inch display screens, but the rest of the lineup gets an 11.6-inch affair as standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is Bluetooth and two USB ports. The big screen can be split to show two displays at once, so drivers can view more than one app or menu simultaneously. Navigation is standard on the Touring and optional elsewhere.

The cheapest Legacy doesn't include much and is bereft of even a trim name. Among its few noteworthy features are the 2.5-liter boxer four, all-wheel drive, cloth upholstery, 17-inch wheels, and adaptive LED lighting. Black exterior trim for the mirror caps and grille call out this model as the lowest on the totem pole.

Moving into the Premium brings body-color trim, the 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. Heated side mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer make this model better suited to the winter climates that many Subaru models are subjected to.

A $2,595 option package bundles a moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, navigation, keyless entry, and fog lights.

The middle of the lineup is best represented by the Sport. It doesn't get any additional horsepower to support its name, but it does boast of a small lip spoiler, 18-inch wheels, uniquely patterned cloth upholstery, keyless entry, and fog lights.

The active-safety features available on the Premium are available here and are again bundled with the navigation and moonroof. The package costs $2,295.

The Limited is the most expensive way to get a 2.5-liter Legacy. It's also the most luxurious of the non-turbo models, equipped as it is with leather upholstery, the active safety features previously optional, a power passenger seat, heated rear seats, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The Limited XT swaps out the 2.5-liter engine for the turbo 2.4-liter. It also adds a heated steering wheel, moonroof, and navigation.

The most expensive Legacy gets turbo power, Nappa leather upholstery, navigation, a moonroof, ventilated front seats, and a surround-view camera. There are no options to choose from, as every feature available on the Legacy is already standard.

Compare Legacy Trims Side-By-Side