Design

While its green credentials may get many buyers to consider it, there's a lot more to like about these new fourth-generation Legacy sedans and wagons than their ultra-low emissions. For starters, this new model has stepped out of the shadow of its rough-and-ready Outback sibling with a restyled exterior that gives it a distinctly different character.

Designers started the Legacy's makeover by stretching the wheelbase by about an inch and the overall length by nearly two inches. They added a sleeker body with a more pronounced wedge shape and sporty styling cues such as projector-style headlamps, a front air dam and side sill extensions, and standard 16-inch alloy wheels. The result is a visual sophistication we think many buyers who dismissed the Subaru brand as purely utilitarian will find pleasantly surprising.

That same sophistication is carried into the interior with clean, uncluttered styling and top-quality materials. Where many past Subaru models could be considered almost painfully plain, the Legacy 2.5i's cabin has a distinctly upscale look that belies its status as an entry-level model.

The designers' attention to detail is especially evident in classy touches like silver bezels around the four gauges in the instrument panel, matte gray metallic trim with bright silver accents, soft touch plastics, and high-quality cloth on the seats and headliner. The interior also has just as much substance as it does style, with practical touches like sun visor extensions and an array of storage options including a dual-level glovebox, front door map pockets, and a couple of small cubbies in the dash and center console suitable for loose change, garage door openers, and the like. The cover on the center armrest also lifts up to reveal a bin sized to carry CD jewel cases and equipped with a 12-volt power outlet for charging a cell phone.