Subaru Legacy GT sedan: Jekyll and Hyde limousine

Ask around what are the three most popular executive sedans and you’ll most likely get three very common answers: the popular Toyota Camry, the traditional executive sedan from Japan, the Hyundai Sonata, a brave and very stylish alternative and, lastly, the Subaru Legacy, simply because it looks so different, most people fail to understand its raison d ’etre.

It’s popular to enthusiasts for reasons only they truly appreciate: rarity, the Symmetrical AWD system, and of course, the horizontally opposed 2.5-liter 4-cam boxer engine it shares with the Forester cross-over compact SUV, the WRX and the all-conquering tarmac terrorist that is the STI.

To say the Legacy is fast and corners like it’s on rails is an understatement. The suspension is a perfect balance of sportily firm and controlled as well as refined and comfortable. But it’s the off-beat exhaust burble characteristic to the boxer engine that catches the casual bystander off-guard, even when it’s toned down considerably. My driver asks me if the car is palyado, and I smile, while I try to explain to him how the engine is laid out. He obviously doesn’t understand why the engine is laid out so, and why anyone would go to the hassle of doing that if the engine will sound palyado which perfectly describes how most people fail to understand what the Legacy is. It’s sorely misunderstood.

WITH FEATURES like a beautiful body, classy interior not to mention a powerful engine, the Legacy GT Sedan is great, unique, very fast and fun—far more engaging to drive than any of its competitors.

Fortunately, a growing number of people are beginning to understand the Legacy. The power output of 265 ps and 350 NM of torque seem comparable to most V6-equipped executive sedans, but pour in some 100RON Octane fuel and power output jumps considerably as turbocharged engines love nothing more than chugging down high-octane fuel, producing more torque and power gains compared to normally-aspirated V6 engines. You can also increase sensitivity/aggression of the Legacy’s driving feel by twisting the Subaru Intelligent Drive System or SI-Drive into Sport Sharp Mode, where the engine revs higher before changing up, and the automatic transmission holds onto the gear longer and higher up the rev range as well as downshifting aggressively to aid in engine braking when braking hard, perfect for assaulting your favorite piece of winding road such as the respective Marcos Highways in Tanay, Rizal, or Baguio up north. Leave it on Intelligent Mode and it does far better at conserving fuel thanks to oodles of easily accessed torque that only a turbocharged engine can give compared to a normally aspirated one. From an engineering point of view, turbochargers are an easy cheat, but devastatingly effective in producing easily accessed torque and stratospheric horsepower figures. And that is what there is to understand about the Legacy: it’s a true Jekyll and Hyde limousine that can wing it in everyday traffic comfortably for its occupants, yet deliver an exhilarating drive on the open road when it beckons and you’re in the mood more consistent with a sports car than a luxo-barge.

The inside is typical of executive sedans: soft leather interior, high-quality plastics with a splash of silver lining to liven up what could have been a drab interior, with a 365-mm 3-spoke steering wheel that houses auxiliary controls for audio and cruise control. There is reach and rake adjustment, plus paddle shifters for the 5-speed automatic, handy when you’re going up and down a snaking piece of road quickly, or the odd foray onto the track. The seats are excellent and are the most supportive and well-bolstered in its class, perhaps the only give-away of the Legacy’s sporting intent should you overlook the small SI Drive knob in the center console. The driver’s seat features 10-way power operation, has dual-zone climate control system and a premium sound system with 8-speakers and MP3 device connectivity via auxiliary input 3.5-mm jack. There are a good number of small storage spaces inside for your gadgets, drinks and reading materials so that your occupants can also have a great time while you enjoy your drive in the Legacy. The trunk easily swallows four 9-inch golf bags and has a slot through the center armrest that allows you to load long objects easily. Underneath the carpet, you can also store more gear so it doesn’t fly around the cavernous trunk.

18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels with low-profile 225/45R18 Bridgestone REO50A performance tires suspend the Legacy and give it sharp responsiveness and feel on the road. The brakes though are barely able to contain the Legacy’s performance potential. A quick call to a number of Legacy owners confirm this and many of them have switched to more aggressive brake pads, stainless-steel brake lines and high-performance brake fluid to improve feel, consistency and overall performance.

The outside doesn’t help the cause. It does indeed look handsome and confident in its own way, but ultimately appealing to a crowd a generation younger than most people who can actually afford it. Perhaps in five to seven years, the Legacy will have a far greater following when the late 20-something to early 30s crowd move into a point in their lives where they can afford a Legacy. There’s a bit of Subaru idiosyncrasy, a bit of Japan-techno-TRON, and a bit of anime-mecha in the sheet-metal. Chrome trim is used sparingly and tastefully, unlike the other over-chromed executive sedans that look tacky, cheesy and cheap because of the overdone chrome treatment.

Another big appeal is the Legacy’s ability to get tuned. A few careful mods and a good amount of ECU tweaking with a dyno session can gain you an easy 50 HP and almost 100 NM of torque. That’s serious power gains indeed! Again, no other car in this class gives you that much power gain.

The Legacy is great, it’s unique, very fast and fun, far more engaging to drive than any of its competitors. This will be in many people’s wish list in the years to come.