2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Quick Spin

Subaru must have an interesting take on the current car market. In recent years, they've seen droves of Americans overshoot what they needed on their way to what they wanted - moose-like, 4WD sport-utes with more off-road capabilities than their drivers, and less fuel efficiency than the average locomotive. For whatever reasons, the tide seems to be turning, and car-based all-wheel-drive vehicles are becoming in vogue. Many snow-belters are finding out that the best of all worlds is all-wheel drive (so they don't get stuck) but installed in a car (and not a big truck). Basically, the market is coming back to where Subaru has been all along.

Exclusively all-wheel drive and mostly known for station wagons, Subaru fields a full complement of sedans, ranging from the Impreza compact to the midsize Outback and Legacy. All new for 2005, this is the fourth generation Legacy, and it's available in four trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Limited, GT and GT Limited. We test-drove a loaded 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited model in the wintery weather of upstate New York.

Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005