2014 Subaru Legacy review, reviews, specs, prices and photos (2023)

John Voelcker

14 augustus 2014

I like this

• Sporty driving
• Standard four-wheel drive
• Spacious interior, large trunk
• Good gas mileage for AWD

Dislikes

• Unobtrusive style
• Performance of 2.5i only average
• The most expensive 3.6R models have few features

Kooptip

The 2014 Legacy 2.5i sedan comes with a 2.5-liter four- and six-speed manual transmission and sporty handling; it's an understated sports saloon at a remarkably low price, if you don't mind the over-the-top looks and plain but plain interior.

features and specifications

With its replacement unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February, and the redesigned 2015 models already arriving at this point, the 2014 Subaru Legacy is approaching its due date; but that doesn't mean it's not a strong entry in the mid-size saloon realm. Like its successor, the 2014 Legacy remains the only midsize sedan to offer all-wheel drive as standard in every model. Despite that added technology, gas mileage figures are among the best in the segment, though that's an ever-changing goal as automakers upgrade their new cars to meet increasingly stringent fuel economy regulations.

In its final year, the 2014 Legacy remained largely unchanged after a number of improvements and new features the previous year. These included the well-reviewed EyeSight camera system, a number of infotainment upgrades and some additional electronic safety systems. Refinements to the suspension also improved handling and made the ride and handling smoother. But the biggest change was that of an all-new generation of 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines - and that's how Subaru boosted the Legacy's previously uncompetitive fuel efficiency numbers.

The exterior design of the five-year-old Legacy matches the profile of most mid-sized sedans, with a long hood and short trunk that follows a steeply raked rear window. The Legacy has a somewhat flat shape, with extremely exaggerated wheel arches. The front carries Subaru's signature hexagonal grille, a slightly chunky shape that underscores the car's sturdiness while also giving it a slightly more aggressive look than before. But you have to be a Subaru expert to tell the difference between the least expensive base 2.5i model and the more expensive and slightly more luxurious Limited models. Apart from the specific alloy wheels, they are almost identical to the eye.

Inside, the interior is simple and the switches and dash are pleasantly intuitive. The gauges are round and easy to read, and the audio system sits high in the center console for easy access. It is flanked by vents that mirror the upward shape of the headlights, and on top models there's a dark gloss wood finish that adds a touch of luxury to the otherwise practical interior.

The Legacy offers two engines and the car takes on very different personalities depending on which one is specified. Most of the Legacies are sold with a 173 horsepower 2.5-liter flat four. They're nimble, economical and - ultimately - sensible, like most Subarus, but behind the wheel they're not as exciting. By contrast, the 256bhp six-cylinder in the 3.6R model delivers a surge of smooth power and puts the more expensive Legacies in competition with some higher-end mid-size saloons – where the sensible interior and limited feature list might hurt all but diehard Subaru fans. (Of which there is a growing number, as Subaru has nearly doubled its market share in recent years.)

Among the midsize sedans, the Legacy stands out on the sporty side. Subarus drives pretty well overall, and the Legacy benefits from its low-mounted engine and sedan ground clearance rather than the Outback's ride height. The car hangs well in corners and flat turns, and the steering is responsive and precise. You'll notice the heavier front end in the 3.6R six-cylinder model; the four is definitely a better balanced and more neutral driving car. Last year's suspension upgrades improved agility while both making it easier to drive over broken or choppy road surfaces and reducing cabin noise.

Every four-door Subaru's all-wheel-drive system is known as a safety feature in rain, snow and ice, but Subaru added new safety features last year to help keep the Legacy competitive in a rapidly changing segment of the market. The EyeSight system uses a stereo camera to process images that warn the car of lane departure, adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking.

Four adults can comfortably ride in the Legacy, which has one of the more spacious rear compartments of any midsize sedan, including wide-opening doors that make it easy to get in and out. The front seats are simply excellent, even in the low-end base models, and taller drivers will find that the lower seat cushions are plenty long - an area where some makers cheat. The ride is on the firm side, but smooth enough on most types of pavement, and the cabin noise is among the lowest in the mid-range, although the five-year-old Legacy has lost some ground to newer competitors. The Legacy's trunk is also large, almost 15 cubic feet.

Like most Subarus, the 2014 Legacy comes in Base, Premium, and Limited trim levels. Even the base 2.5i model, for just over $20,000, includes audio and cruise control switches on the steering wheel, automatic headlights, a 60/40 split rear seat backrest, and a Hill Holder system that applies the brakes. sets as the The car stops on a hill, until the driver accelerates to drive away. The standard four-speaker audio system features Bluetooth pairing and audio streaming, iPod controls and a USB charging port. For 2014 models, Subaru made the previously optional All-Weather Package standard on the Premium trim level; it bundles heated mirrors and front seats with de-icing wipers.

Most Legacies will likely be Premium or mid-range, but at the top of the range, the Limited models include such fine details as dual-zone climate control, rear seat air conditioning ducts, electroluminescent gauges, leather upholstery, four-way electric reclining front passenger seat and a 440-watt Harman/Kardon nine-speaker audio system with its own 4.3-inch in-dash display. Options include an in-dash GPS navigation system with real-time traffic data and an electric sunroof.

2014 Subaru Legacy

Styling

The 2014 Subaru Legacy has roughly the same footprint and interior space as leading midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But the five-year-old styling is both conservative and exaggerated, with flat sides broken by huge, cartoonish wheel arches and an aggressive hexagonal grille flanked by swept headlights. Apart from the alloy wheels, there's not much difference externally between the base 2.5i model and the top-of-the-line Limited version.

And the lines are so square and basic that the Legacy against the dashing Hyundai Sonata or the elegant new Ford Fusion simply disappears.

Inside, however, the Legacy fares much better. The cockpit is nicely proportioned and from the driver's seat the various controls of the Legacy are intuitive. The simple, round gauges are housed in a box behind the wheel, the climate controls are self-explanatory and the audio system sits high in the center console between wing-shaped vents.

Subaru has toned down the most extreme forms of the expansive interior it launched on the earlier Tribeca and then the latest generation Forester. While you'll never mistake the Legacy for a German car inside, it all works just fine. The more expensive models now have a glossy, dark wood finish for a touch of elegance and more functionality.

2014 Subaru Legacy

Performance

It's not intended to be a performance sedan, but the 2014 Subaru Legacy can almost be thought of as a civilian sports sedan. The excellent (and standard) all-wheel grip, responsive handling and low center of gravity resulting from the horizontally opposed 'boxer' four-cylinder or six-cylinder engines make for a driving experience far more engaging than the average Camry, Accord or Sonata .

Only two engines are offered in the Legacy. The base engine is a new 173 hp four-cylinder engine designed for improved driveability and responsiveness across a wider rev range. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission – unusual in itself for a mid-size saloon, and a feature that adds to the sportiness – but the four are best matched with the new Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). We think Subaru's CVT is one of the best of the breed, without the roaring engine and noise that others find hard to live with.

Gas mileage for this combination is a commendable 27 mpg combined (24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway), good for an all-wheel-drive midsize sedan. (Compare that to the Ford Fusion AWD model with a combined rating of 25 mpg.) Opting for the six-speed manual transmission adds athleticism and fun, but detracts from efficiency, with a lower combined score of 24 mpg.

The second engine, in the models designated as 3.6R, is a six-cylinder 3.6-liter cylinder that has been adopted unchanged for several years. It produces 256 horsepower and the only transmission option is a five-speed automatic. Legacy six-cylinder models are refined and smooth, but not quite as fast as other mid-sized sedans with V-6 engines - and you pay at the pump, with a low EPA rating of just 20 mpg combined.

Subarus have always done well, and the Legacy is closer to the curb than the high-riding Outback wagon. The cornering is flat, the handling is tenacious and the steering is nicely weighted, responsive and precise. The suspension, retuned last year, is on the firm side, but provides a good ride with little cabin noise.

The four is definitely a better balanced, lighter and smoother car than the six, but not as fast. The six-cylinder models feel nose-heavy in tight corners. The retuned suspension provides a smoother ride on broken or uneven road surfaces, and according to Subaru, body roll has been reduced by up to 40 percent.

2014 Subaru Legacy

Comfort and quality

The 2014 Subaru Legacy offers a spacious interior and good ride quality, along with good handling, but the interior materials don't quite live up to the standard of some competitors' top models.

The Legacy has a particularly large rear cabin, comfortably accommodating four full-grown adults on long car journeys - and also allowing them to get in and out easily, through the large openings in the rear doors. Rear headroom and legroom dimensions are among the highest of any midsize sedan, and the front seats are among the best of any mass-market sedan. Last year they got a new, more luxurious fabric pattern – no more grandma's brocade chair look – and the bottom cushions are long, a blessing for tall residents.

Cabin noise is well suppressed in the Legacy under most conditions, effectively filtering out rough road surfaces, broken pavement and potholes. The ride is on the firm side, but remains smooth enough for comfort. Subaru has provided plenty of bins, pockets, pockets and cup holders for all the gear drivers and passengers carry, and the trunk is roomy too.

If the Legacy has a weak point, it's simply the simple materials used in the cabin. Subarus are primarily practical vehicles, and simple, non-luxury cabin materials will suit most buyers just fine. Much of the interior is hard plastic, which is acceptable for base models starting at just over $20,000. But with the bigger engine and limited trim level, that's a letdown for a higher-priced car - and frankly the interior pales badly in comparison to rivals like the Ford Fusion.

All Subaru Legacies sold in the US are built in Indiana; the build quality is excellent, in our experience.

2014 Subaru Legacy

Safety

One of the most important safety features of the 2014 Subaru Legacy is the standard four-wheel drive system, which is only offered as an option by one other midsize sedan and none at all. For the 2014 model year, a number of active safety systems were added to keep the car competitive as electronic systems proliferate as standard equipment as well as optional equipment.

All 2014 Legacy models are equipped with front and side airbags, side curtain airbags that cover the window opening, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and electronic stability control. A valuable feature is Subaru's signature Hill Holder, which prevents the car from rolling when stopped on a slope by applying the brakes until the driver begins to accelerate.

While the Legacy has achieved top marks in crash safety tests for years, a new and tougher test means it no longer gets the top ratings uniformly in every test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the Legacy five out of five stars in all of its tests: total, frontal impact, side impact, and rollover.

In contrast, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Legacy the highest "Good" rating in all categories, including front, side and rear impact tests, plus the roof strength test. Models for 2013 and 2014 (built after August 2012) only achieved an 'Acceptable' rating in the new and more severe Frontal Small Overlap Test - but the IIHS still retained the Legacy as a Top Safety Pick+ model for the year.

New last year was the optional EyeSight system, which uses images from a stereo camera system to provide lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking. At speeds of 30 km/h or less, the EyeSight system can even detect pedestrians or other objects in the road ahead and automatically come to a stop. Above that speed, the system reduces the force and speed of each impact. Lane Departure and Sway Warning not only warns drivers if they are drifting out of lane, but also serves as an indicator that they may be getting drowsy.