New York: 2010 Subaru Legacy all grown up
by Alex Nunez on Apr 8th 2009 at 2:29PM 
2010 Subaru Legacy – Click above for high-res image gallery
The New York Auto Show is the backdrop for the 2010 Subaru Legacy's unveiling, and we just checked it out on the display stand downstairs here at the Jacob Javits Center. The red car you see in the gallery below is a Legacy 2.5 GT equipped with the six-speed manual gearbox, while the dark gray car above is a PZEV-certified base model. The new Legacy is clearly a step up from the car it replaces. It's taller, longer and wider, which makes for more room inside than the old car, which in turn makes for a more compelling rival to the cavernous Accord. The interior's trimmed out with decent plastics, a thick-rimmed wheel, a relatively uncluttered center stack (as opposed to the Accord's loaded Scrabble board) and nice leather seats. The mere presence of that manual shifter makes it all the more welcoming. (Man, if only you could get this trim and setup in a wagon...)
Outside, the new Legacy's got a new, distinctive front end with big eyes and that familiar corporate grille. The 2.5 GT's hood scoop jazzes things up a little, too. In profile, the 2010 Legacy is inoffensive and will blend into the family-sedan crowd nicely. The rear end features large taillamps and, in the case of the 2.5GT, dual exhaust outlets. Open the trunk and you'll find a nice, large opening with thoughtfully-placed release handles for the rear seats (no need to drop them from inside the passenger compartment, which is a nice touch.) In all, the 2010 Subaru Legacy's restyling is far less controversial than the one underwent recently by the Impreza, though we're still going to miss the outgoing car's clean, handsome lines. That said, the new car is better-positioned to do battle in this hugely-competitive segment, and we expect that Subaru is eager to throw its hat in the ring against the Accord and Camry.
Gallery: New York: 2010 Subaru Legacy
Gallery: 2010 Subaru Legacy
Photos Copyright ©2009 Alex Nunez / Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
artso06 2:35PM (4/08/2009)
Don't mind it. Conservative interior but nice
However i can only think of one word to explain it...Bug-eyed. The whole design seems a little to reliant on the large graphics (headlight, tail lights, grils. etc.)
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tapeworm0net 12:57AM (4/09/2009)
I would be more worried about the fact that a rediculous number of 09 legacy gt and wrx's have had catastrophic failure in the motors from rod bearing issues, and this seems to be sharing the same motor 2.5l turbo. 50 09 wrxs so far at nasioc.com.
Jason 2:36PM (4/08/2009)
WTF was Subaru thinking?
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Taglane 2:38PM (4/08/2009)
They were thinking how they could smoke weed without it affecting their work.
Quattroporte 2:47PM (4/08/2009)
Who buys a Subaru for its looks?
Kumar 2:49PM (4/08/2009)
They were probably thinking bland = mainstream = more sales. Everyone likes a niche car except the company selling it unless it sells in boatloads, which the Legacy doesn't.
It's not like we didn't see this coming with the increase in size of the Impreza line. Time will tell if the same type of buyer (new to Subaru) that digs the Forester will like the Legacy too.
In this new car market, we want them to like it, ensuring a specB version for the diehards. ;)
Rob 5:02PM (4/08/2009)
Who knows. The previous generation was elegant, attractive, well proportioned, and I didn't hear ANYBODY complaining about it's looks. So what do they do? Bring out something uglier, that sits higher, that is so avant garde it is not even remotely elegant. It looks like an insect. A really ugly one, like a praying mantis.
xcrunk 2:38PM (4/08/2009)
Hey, it's a Chevy Malibu.
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Taglane 2:39PM (4/08/2009)
Awww. dude. Honestly that's the meanest thing you've said.
homunculus 2:38PM (4/08/2009)
another bastard child of the '03 g35, the design that keeps on giving.
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Xcountryflyer 3:28PM (4/08/2009)
That thought crossed my mind too. Subaru must be spending all their energy on the mechanics, b/c it is certainly not on the exterior of their blah vehicles. The interior doesn't really seem up to par with the latest midsize competitors either.
Dorseto 2:41PM (4/08/2009)
Lights looks like a cheap Saturn L-series. Ugh!
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Kumar 2:42PM (4/08/2009)
Not bad. I like the interior improvements a lot more than the outside. If the wagon isn't too porky on the back end it should be a winner, especially with a 6 speed manual attached to the diesel.
The outgoing model is a great drive, but a little cramped for most over 6 feet tall.
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andrinoe 2:46PM (4/08/2009)
It grew up to be a Toyota Camry, what about them apples ; )
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JDMlover 3:24PM (4/08/2009)
The camry looks better.....
and if i may say...the Se Sport V6 camry looks very nice.
9600baud 3:38PM (4/08/2009)
my thoughts exactly... another frigging blandmobile. i hate the auto industry lately. slap on a toyota, hyundai, whatever badge on it and i coudnt tell the difference.
GusTurbo 2:47PM (4/08/2009)
The headlights make it look like an angry Sebring.
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Kanos 2:47PM (4/08/2009)
Look at that wheel gap in the back, must be at least 5 inches... I didn't think this was the outback model!! Seriously Subaru, the performance 2.5 GT model does not need the same ground clearance as a jeep! Would help the looks so much if they would just drop it a couple inches. Overall though, its not bad.. but not great. I liked the look on my 2005 Legacy GT better.
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Abe 2:47PM (4/08/2009)
With the exception of the interior, this is just plain ugly. The previous one was one of the more elegant looking mid-size sedans out there.
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Mark 2:48PM (4/08/2009)
Why would Subaru copy the design of the ugliest car on the road, the Chrysler Sebring? The new Legacy looks just like the Sebring, front and rear. Apparently Subaru decided not to learn from Chrysler's mistake.
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