Why The 2015 Subaru Legacy Looks Different

2015 Subaru Legacy.

Snub nose, swoopy rear roofline.  Subaru, the automaker that has always marched to a different drummer, has joined the parade with the 2015 Legacy, coming up with a car that, if you swapped the badges, could be mistaken for a Nissan Altima.

2015 Subaru Legacy.

That's not bad company for Subaru to be in, though.  Even with a hot streak in sales the past year or so, Subaru does not sell nearly as many Legacys as Nissan sells Altimas.  And with coupe-like rooflines becoming a design feature on more and more sedans, it makes sense for Subaru to adapt.

Never a company to slavishly follow fashion, Subaru, it should be noted, is not surrendering and making a car like any other.  The 2015 Legacy is still very much a Subaru, with all-wheel drive standard and a package that is just different enough from Altima, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Mazda 6 to stand out as not just another Japanese family sedan.

Our test vehicle was the 3.6R Limited, which is the top of the line six-cylinder, with a base price of $29,595. Below that are the four-cylinder 2.5i Limited, starting at $26,495, the 2.5i Premium at $23,495 and the 2.5i, which begins at $21,695. The four-cylinder models get an EPA-estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city and 36 on the highway.  The 3.6R is estimated at 20 city/28 highway.  It's smooth and powerful, though at 256 horsepower, it is by no means overpowered.  Longtime Subaru owners will probably be just fine with one of the 2.5i models and the additional fuel economy.

2015 Subaru Legacy.

The extra money for the 3.6R Limited goes to the engine and to a considerable list of standard equipment, including 18-inch alloy wheels, perforated leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, rear-seat climate control vents, a 576-watt Harmon/Kardon audio system with 12 speakers, blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, HID headlights, a 7-inch touchscreen display and a backup camera.

Our test vehicle had only one option package, which bunles a moonroof, keyless access and pushbutton start with navigation for $2,195.  Including $795 destination and delivery charge, the as-tested price was $32,585.

As I said in my review of the Subaru Outback this past spring, Subaru is a car with integrity. The new set of clothes for the Legacy doesn't change a bit of the goodness beneath.