Autoblog

Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:24:00 EST

The launch of the new XV Crosstrek may be the bigger news for Subaru here at the New York Auto Show, and the BRZ coupe may still be getting the lion's share of the attention, but the Legacy and its high-riding counterpart, the Outback, have also debuted here in Manhattan with a series of updates.

Most noticeable (that term being a relative one) is the pair's revised front fascia, but behind the new look is a fresh boxer four that replaces the old one in the 2.5i model, now producing three more horsepower and four more pound-feet of torque (173 hp/174 lb-ft.) while returning improved fuel economy. An updated CVT is the principal transmission for the 2.5-liter four, with a six-speed manual available, both driving all four wheels in typical Fuji Heavy Industries style. The available 3.6-liter flat six carries over with a five-speed automatic. Subaru says it has also revisited the suspensions on both models for improved ride comfort and performance.

There's also a suite of new electronics packed into the revised Legacy and Outback, including everything from new active safety technology features like lane departure warning and collision mitigation to improved audio system connectivity.

Sadly, Subaru has axed the enthusiast-minded Legacy 2.5GT model for 2013.

Continue reading Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT

Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Simplicity of switchgear a welcome trait

Chris Paukert — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Long-Term Garage

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

After spending a week circumnavigating the country in a pair of BMW sedans on One Lap of America a couple of weeks back, you might think that the drive home to Detroit from South Bend would've been a bit of a disappointment. On the contrary, we were glad to see our long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT, and have been so every day since then. Not that we didn't enjoy the 550i (2010 model) or remember why we absolutely love the 335d, but there's a lot to be said for simplicity over unnecessary complication.

For one, the cruise control switchgear on the steering wheel spoke in the Subie is infinitely easier to use than the hidden stalk on the Bimmers. The Legacy's arrangement is a model of ergonomic excellence, whereas the BMW necessitated that we give step-by-step how-to directions to our co-drivers from the back seat. Repeatedly.

And don't even get us started on the differences in navigation systems. While the 2.5GT's is far from perfect, its touchscreen is still much easier to negotiate than either of the two generations of iDrive we experienced in the BMWs - much improved though they are. We do wish that higher functions (address entry, etc.) could be accessed on the move - at least when there is more than one person in the car. Why can't automakers learn that this safety 'feature' should have an automatic override tied to the passenger seat weight sensor that's already there to govern airbag deployment?

Did we mention how much we like the utterly intuitive dual-zone HVAC controls? Crisp display, a couple of rockers and a handful of buttons - it's simplicity itself.

One area where our Subaru is arguably oversimplified is with its sunroof controls: It has two single-function switches - one for tilt, and one for slide open/close. Unless it's a small cost win, we can't see why there isn't a unified dual function switch as on most other cars. At least they are differentiated in look and feel for less fumbling about.

Autoblog Long-Term Introduction: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

Long-Term Update: Touring our Subaru Legacy 2.5GT's birthplace

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Hill holder a great feature, but why an idiot lamp?

More Long-Term Updates:

Visit the our long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT page

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Simplicity of switchgear a welcome trait originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: The key is robustness and simplicity

Chris Paukert — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Design/Style, Long-Term Garage

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Car keys have gone from bare hunks of uninteresting metal to multi-function, pieces of auto jewelry and pocket brand totems. Some are beautifully rendered small works of art (e.g. Aston Martin's chunk of crystal), while others are overwrought and oversized, taking up too much pocket or purse space because they have separate keys and oversized fobs.

The best ones are both convenient and consistent with the automaker's brand values, and in that spirit, our long-term Subaru Legacy 2.5GT's key nails it. Like Subaru cars themselves, the key is practical, robust, and not oversized. Nothing flips out like a switchblade, it doesn't have a gigantic separate fob that creates a big lump in your jeans, and it doesn't weigh a ton, either. It's just a simple wave-cut key with a commendably small head that features four buttons - Lock, Unlock, Trunk, and a recessed red Panic button. Simple, effective, and to the point - not unlike Subaru cars themselves. Your status probably won't go up by flashing it at the local martini bar or valet display stand, but if you care about that sort of thing, you're probably not a typical Subaru shopper anyway.

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: The key is robustness and simplicity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Automatic hill-holder is a great feature, but why the idiot lamp?

Chris Paukert — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Subaru, Long-Term Garage

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Like all new-for-2010 Subaru Legacy models, our long-term 2.5GT has an electronic parking brake that has a hill holder feature. We think these are great, particularly on manual transmission cars like ours, where rollback on uphill starts can be require a bit of pedal dancing that's particularly nerve-racking for newer stick-shift drivers. It's also mighty convenient for those that live in hilly areas where incline starts are a frequent occurrence.

So... great feature, right? Yes, but why does switching it on illuminate a green indicator lamp in the gauge cluster, and why does it turn itself off every time you turn off the car? We understand the advantage of a defeat button (usage is potentially ill-advised if you're towing something or carrying a heavy load), but we would prefer that once the feature is activated, that it stay that way until the driver specifies otherwise.

Oddly enough, Subaru actually offered a mechanical hill holder on its cars long before going to an electronic parking brake, but as best we can remember, that system wasn't defeatable. Still, we don't recall hearing anyone grouse about it staying on all the time, and we're not sure why the default setting for this new system is off, or why it requires an idiot lamp at all. As it is, we've stopped using it regularly to avoid the extra light in the cluster. That, and we couldn't get The Smiths' "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" bounding through our head every time we used it.

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Automatic hill-holder is a great feature, but why the idiot lamp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments