2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Review

Subaru drops the ball when it comes to the details


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Nuts and Bolts

Essentially the same engine as found in the racy WRX but tuned differently for use in the Legacy, the 2.5 GT’s 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled boxer engine features variable valve timing and as much as 13.5 psi of boost. It makes 250 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 250 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm, running on premium fuel and fed by a functional hood scoop that draws cool air into the intercooler. The EPA says you can expect to get 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway regardless of which model or transmission you choose. We got an average of 20 miles per gallon during our testing.

A strengthened five-speed manual transmission with a dual-mass flywheel is standard and a five-speed automatic transmission with Sportshift manual control is optional. Sportshift allows the driver to change gears via the gear selector or buttons on the steering wheel. Choose the automatic and you’ll get a lateral-g sensor and cornering logic software designed to hold a gear for better performance during spirited driving.

Either transmission sends power to all four wheels through one of two Subaru symmetrical AWD systems. Models with a manual transmission are equipped with a viscous-coupling locking center differential that distributes power in an equal 50/50 front and rear split. The system variably distributes power to the front or rear as needed. With the automatic, a Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system employs a planetary center differential and an electronically controlled continuously variable hydraulic transfer clutch. Under normal conditions, more engine power goes to the rear wheels for handling agility, but power can move forward when the rears slip.

Underpinnings include a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear equipped with stabilizer bars. The brake rotors are larger than a standard Legacy, and the rear discs are vented for improved cooling. The 2.5 GT’s engine-speed sensing power rack-and-pinion steering also gets a quicker ratio for improved off-center response. Upsized 17-inch alloy wheels wear P215/45 Bridgestone Potenza RE92 mud-and-snow all-season tires.

About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.