2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Quick Spin

Comfort and Utility


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TO THE POINT What’s New? The 2005 Subaru Legacy is completely redesigned, and the 2.5 GT version is the new turbocharged flagship sedan
Selling Points: Available as a wagon, standard AWD, interior materials, Sportshift operation, excellent steering, terrific balance between ride quality and road feel.
Deal Breakers: No stability control or brake assist, wagon’s sunroof is tilt-only over front seats, poorly-designed controls, tight cabin,, sedan lacks utility, turbo lag is obvious with automatic.
Our Advice: Splits the difference between entry-luxe compact sports sedan and midsize family hauler, but is a compromise that serves neither goal.

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Click to enlarge. 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT

Comfort and Utility The Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT has comfortable seats, but the way they are positioned in the small interior makes it hard to recommend this vehicle to anyone of greater-than-average stature. This car needs to be bigger inside.

Comfort is another area of contention when it comes to the redesigned 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT. The seats themselves are excellent, with terrific support. But in front, more seat track travel is needed to accommodate drivers over six-feet tall. Our test driver felt crammed into the Legacy, which was also difficult to get into and out of due to the restricted amount of space. Plus, the leather on the Momo sport steering wheel isn’t soft, and there are lots of seams that make it uncomfortable to hold. The Legacy’s soft padded upper door panels are nice, but in tighter turns the driver’s left leg uncomfortably braces against the pod containing the power window and door buttons.

Matters get worse in the small rear seat. The rear door opening is small and shaped in such a way that larger adults need to contort themselves to keep from scraping their backs on the intrusive rear roof pillars. Once you get inside, only your toes will fit under the front seat, and if you wear longer than a 32-inch inseam your knees will be in full contact with the hard front seatbacks. Our editor summed it up this way: “I’d be pretty ticked off if I got stuck in the back seat of a Legacy for more than about 15 minutes.”

Utility, always a Legacy strong point, is retained in the redesigned 2005 wagon with the exception of a complete lack of rear seat storage areas. The sedan, unlike many competitors, lacks a folding rear seat, much less a folding front passenger’s seat. Up front, there’s a two-tiered glovebox, visor straps, and decently-sized door bins. However, the center console bin is small, sized for little more than CD jewel cases and equipped with a 12-volt outlet.

Wagons feature a slick one-stage 60/40 split folding rear seat that creates a flat load floor without lifting the rear seat cushion. Luggage compartments in both models have grocery bag hooks, and the wagons get a cargo light and quarter storage pockets. Both body styles feature a low liftover height, making it easier to stuff 11.4 cubic feet of cargo into the sedan and up to 66.2 cubes in wagons (61.7 on the Limited due to the power sunroof). Note, however, that the sedan’s trunk lid lacks a handle to use for closing without getting your hands dirty.