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MANY car manufacturers struggle to combine style and technology with affordability, but with its new Legacy model, Subaru appear to have cracked it.
Driving the sleek 2.5i-S model around the island, I felt like I was behind the wheel of a luxury motor but with the knowledge that I could actually purchase this one myself rather than my usual ritual of a dreamy day punctured by the depressing reality of climbing into by derelict, dusty motor back at the showroom when the reality of my budget sinks in!
The exterior has been completely redesigned to offer a much more contemporary design that distinguishes it from its competitors in the midsize sedan segment. The body is sleek and sporty, with smooth and trim lines peppering the bodywork. The Legacy also features a particularly attractive front that combines the grille and bumper into one smooth hexagonal shape.
The interior is where the Legacy really earns its corn, though. The manufacturing bosses should really have called this the Subaru TARDIS, as the amount of space inside the car is incredible. I measure in at over 6ft tall and therefore had the electrical-powered, eight-way leather memory seats pushed back almost as far back as they could go, and as a quick test I recruited my friend of similar height to sit behind me and he had ample room to spare, with no part of his legs touching the seat in front.
Just as you think boot space must have been sacrificed for this level of backseat comfort, popping it open led to general amazement as it stretched deep into the interior. Fear not when packing the suitcases in for a family holiday, you’ll have room for the pets too!
Taking another look at the car from the outside, it’s astonishing to believe this externally-compact motor can have the most cabin space of any car in its segment.
Under the bonnet, the 2.5-litre four-stroke engine chugs along nicely, packing 175bhp and 235Nm of torque to give you plenty of oomph on the highway without guzzling petrol like a beast. The tiptronic gearbox comes as standard, with smooth transitions in automatic mode and comfortable steel paddles if you fancy the more authentic manual experience.
As a tech nerd, the infotainment system plays a large part in my enjoyment of a drive, and the Legacy 2.5i-S packs the largest screen I’ve ever seen in a car, measuring a whopping seven inches (6.2 in the base and mid-range models).
Aside from playing a catchy jingle when you press the push start ignition and it bursts into life, it lets you access AM/FM radio, CD, USB, AUX, Bluetooth and GPS navigation through its intuitive menus. So often I decry how cumbersome touch screens can be to use, especially while driving, but the designers of this system have put efficiency first here.
The 2015 Legacy introduces new safety features to ensure a relaxing and trustworthy drive. Day running lights come as standard, as do light and rain sensors, while a new rollover sensor deploys airbags along the side curtain if an imminent rollover is detected. Dual-zone automatic climate control will also prevent you having to take your eyes off the road to squabble with your passenger over the interior temperature!
Driving the Legacy, it struck me how smoothly the car handled corners and how responsive the steering felt. It has a hint of heaviness, which is my personal preference as I like a bit of ‘give’ in my drive; I don’t want to feel like I’m driving a go-kart and be able to turn the steering wheel with just my little finger!
It turns out this is due to the motor’s Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system (now standard across all Subaru products), which controls torque distribution in response to various driving conditions to ensure effortless driving around Manama’s tight and twisty turns.
Featuring sporty and luxurious aesthetics on the outside, swathes of space on the inside, all supported by cutting-edge and simple-to-use technology, there will be no better marriage of elegance and budget than this.
The basic Legacy option, the 2.5i, costs just BD7990, while the middle option features a reverse camera, xenon lights with headlamps washers and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for BD8450. The Sport option comes in at BD9700, with extras including chrome trim, 18-inch alloy wheels (an extra inch than the other models), a sun roof and Harman/Kardon speakers that produce crystal sound quality.
On another note, I would personally like to thank the friendly Subaru staff for their enthusiasm and professionalism, particularly my liaison Mutaz Al Ansari, brand sales manager.
So often test drives begin with signing a form, receiving the key and then being left alone to discover the car and stumbling across features with frustration. Not here; I was welcomed as an old friend and offered a full rundown of the car and its features from an expert with extensive knowledge. It made a huge difference to my enjoyment of the car, and with a team who are a credit to their profession and a new model that offers incredible value for its features, Subaru and the Legacy would be my first port of call if I was to purchase a new car tomorrow.
The Subaru Legacy is available from the Subaru showroom in Sitra. For more information, call 17736222 or visit www.motorcity.com.bh
