Overview
Save for the standard all-wheel drive, the 2022 Legacy omits much of what makes a modern Subaru a modern Subaru. On the brand’s family sedan, you will not find a lifted suspension. You will also not see any black plastic wheel-well cladding. For those of you looking for those features, we’ll direct your attention to the Outback station wagon and the Forester SUV. The Legacy is for those who prefer the on-road look and appreciate the traditional sedan body style. To go along with its conventional shape, the Legacy offers a spacious cabin with plentiful safety and driver-assistance features, not to mention a host of connectivity features. Practicality isn’t quite up there with its boxier siblings, but it’s competitive with other popular sedans, such as the Honda Accord, the Hyundai Sonata, and the Toyota Camry.
What’s New for 2022?
The base model of the Legacy gains standard 17-inch aluminum wheels for 2022, and Premium and Sport trims now come with air vents on the back of the center console for rear-seat passengers. The Sport also now comes standard with a power sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, and rear automated emergency braking.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Although we’d love to spring for the more powerful turbocharged engine, it comes only in Limited XT and Touring XT models. The midrange Sport offers a better balance between price and features. It includes 18-inch wheels, a power sunroof, LED fog lamps, a rear spoiler, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry with push-button start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, rear automated emergency braking, and cloth upholstery with red contrast stitching.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
A 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is standard and makes 182 horsepower. Limited XT and Touring XT models come with a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. All Legacy models have all-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). We’ve tested both engines now, and what a difference a turbo makes. The Touring XT managed to hit 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds while the non-turbo Sport required a lackluster 8.0 seconds. Regardless of which engine is under the hood, the new Legacy boasts slightly improved handling dynamics over the last generation and a similarly compliant ride.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The non-turbo cars achieve higher fuel-economy estimates from the EPA—27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined—but the turbocharged models aren’t far behind at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. In our real-world 200-mile highway fuel-economy tests, both powertrains delivered 34 mpg, 1 mpg short of the Accord 2.0T’s result. That said, the Subaru and Honda pale in comparison with the 2.5-liter-equipped Camry SE, which delivered an impressive 45 mpg. For more information about the Legacy’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Though the measurements may not show it, the Legacy’s cabin feels much bigger than the last generation’s, particularly in the back. While its design is still on the dowdy side, the Legacy’s interior is functional, with well-chosen materials throughout. Cloth upholstery is standard, but the high-end Limited and Touring models have leather. The front seats are well sculpted and comfortable, and the upper trims feature a manual thigh extension for the driver’s seat, a boon to long-legged buyers. The trunk is generously sized and held eight carry-on suitcases in our testing, one more than the Accord and two more than the Camry.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Base models use a version of Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system that features dual 7.0-inch displays. The one-rung-up Premium model has the company’s latest 11.6-inch vertically oriented infotainment display that looks as if it had been borrowed from a Volvo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come standard. And while in-dash navigation is only standard on the Limited XT and Touring XT models, it’s optional on all but the base Legacy. A four-speaker stereo is standard, Premium and Sport models come with a six-speaker setup, and anything above that gets a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Legacy is a great choice when it comes to safety. All Legacy models come with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features. For more information about the Legacy’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control with lane-centering capability
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Subaru’s standard warranty package is pretty basic but matches what most rivals in this class offer. The Hyundai Sonata and the Kia K5 both provide longer warranty terms, and the Camry comes with two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance