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

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.