Subaru Legacy Review // Solid, dependable and... different

[@AeronN7]

Nice. Didn't know Ed Norton did car reviews!

[@richiesworld1]

Careful. You might get curb stomped!

[@jchalmes]

Legacy Outback 3rd gen here, petrol, 3.0R (245bhp). Almost 17y old, well maintained of course and a pleasure to drive.

[@mraducostin]

It a delight to see your presentation! Thank you!

[@edimist1]

I have the Legacy 2.0D, manual, model '12, bought new. Very practical car. Literally unbreakable. Like you said it comes with a lot of features that are only optional on other brands. Have 95k on it and although it's 12 years old still love it. I have upgraded the infotainment with android auto to make it feel more modern. Only problems so far the diesel particle filter which needed replacement and the xenon reflector that got burned. Other than that so far no other issues to report. Had a BMW 316ti compact before, only after 5 years of ownership it started having issues. Not many legacys exist around so that makes it a unique car. Plan to keep it as long as it drives.

[@samfreeman7892]

Mate do you tow with it? Looking to tow a small trailer every now and then

[@edimist1]

@@samfreeman7892 Yes I do occasionally small trailer... No issues at all

[@loucarter5160]

Good to hear, I’ve got a 179k’er… and it’s a joy. How’d you go about upgrading the infotainment? Also my radio makes a buzz noise occasionally for minute or so… ever had that?

[@edimist1]

@@loucarter5160 for the infotainment I changed to a PIONEER AVH-Z9200DAB. Other wiring accessories needed were : - Custom 28-pin harness to retain Backup camera, steering wheel controls, auxiliary connections -Modified Pioneer Direct Wire adapter with antenna amplifier wires -USB adapter -ASWC-1 Steering Wheel control module ; bought from autoharnesshouse

[@adriancarter2863]

Have a ‘10 Plate Subaru Outback 2.5i AWD NavPlus Estate, pimped out with all the genuine Subaru Outback options. Live in rural Perth & Kinross where such a car as a daily driver is an absolute must. During the Winter months, run on a spare set of matching alloys with full M&S Winter tyres and Snow Chains/Shovel in the boot. Went for the Outback for its extra ground clearance and 2.5i Petrol engine. Didn’t want an oil burner for environmental concerns, plus the 2.0TD Boxer Diesel has a reputation of going “pop!” at around 100,000 miles. eBay/Gumtree littered with ’dead’ diesel Legacy’s. Very seriously considered a similarly aged Volvo XC70 D5. Dad had a Volvo V40 Estate, so familiar with the brand. What put me off the XC70 was all that gimmicky black plastic external cladding and the pop-up SatNav Screen which dangerously obscures forward visibility, especially when watching out for walkers and cyclists on our narrow country roads. The Subaru Outback looks just more refined than the Volvo, is equally as comfortable and well equipped, and comes with Subaru’s legendary Permanent AWD System. Bit of a no brainer really :)

[@JJonCars]

Nice one, perfect car for your location, especially with those tyres :)

[@Bobcat9]

In a manual Legacy (and Outback) with the driver's seatbelt fastened, it is not necessary to use the parking brake switch to disengage the parking brake. Simply release the clutch while tapping the throttle and it will disengage itself, just like the hill-assist brake will release itself under the same condition.

[@cal6252]

like a videogame

[@johnash826]

We had the previous model with the normal not CVT auto gearbox! Much better.

[@philcushion6592]

Just ordered 2013 2.0gt dit from Japan which currently is sat on a ship somehwere near panama. Will be arriving in uk 17thDec. Happy Christmas, can't wait. 300bhp version

[@JJonCars]

Happy Christmas, great present to yourself! 300 BHP 😁

[@marioruiz4337]

The US Market needs this as a wagon 😭😭

[@Sean-f1j3k]

Very good review. Nice looking big motor.

[@JJonCars]

Thank you! Agreed

[@JacobTab_S7_Plus-sg4ju]

I have a Legacy 2.5 GT sedan aut. ( Wagner & Borg not CVT) my first Subaru it drives really Nice.

[@leebrown6623]

Nice car jj great content as always

[@JJonCars]

Cheers Lee! 😊

[@christopherbogart6179]

I have a 2013 outback 3.6r limited with eyesight. Technically, an outback Brf model for usa.

[@matthewross7828]

"Crap loads of headroom" 😂😂😂

[@BackToWar100]

Subaru Legacy Kombi/ Outback Active 2014 76k for 10k . Auto model 2.5 180hp.

[@Hallowsaw]

I own a 3.6r in the states. It drives great but it gets garbage mpg. At absolute best it gets 27 mpg. You can get that in some rwd sports cars.

[@JJonCars]

I'm not surprised! Still, nice car though I imagine

[@Kacpa2]

Currently i have Subaru XV 2.0i(same motor as this legavy i imagine). I plan to get previous generation Legacy 3.0R Spec B. It came with H6 and manual and had still a manual handbrake. Its quite hard to comeby.

[@marki_mark3410]

So in American they sell it as the Outback and it’s got a bunch of plastic body cladding. However I’m in the process of putting the Legacy Sedan bumpers and rockers on my 2010 outback.

[@JJonCars]

They sell that version here too :) It's the same car but with taller suspension and as you say, plastic body cladding

[@MrSunnyBhoy]

Nice car, there's a levorg which I think is the modern version, going to see a review of that, looks the same tbh.

[@JJonCars]

Ah yeah. Strangely named car, the Levorg!

[@Nite-owl]

Mighty car mods recently bought one and engine swapped it with a specially tuned 3.6 (iirc).

[@tyranasazi3818]

When I saw the hood scoop I thought cool a GT review but then I saw the single exhaust and realised it's the diesel. The most boring possible version of this car. I have a 2013 GT Premium wagon. 5 speed auto, Si-drive selector, and Subaru Eyesight. Anyone looking for a 5gen should be getting the 2013 GT premium imho.

[@VtVt-sn4mw]

Thanks I didnt know that the backseatis adjustable

[@JJonCars]

No probs!

[@simonk337]

Not sure where you are based, but I've a JDM version with the 2.5 turbo if you want to try it (5eat auto box with flappy paddles) It's known as the GT-S and I'm down on the south coast.

[@JJonCars]

Thanks Simon! You're a bit of a distance from the North West, but if I ever happened to be down that way I'd certainly give it a go, sounds like an awesome car.

[@segapc1994]

"Yeah cheers for that m8" 🤣

[@mustsilm]

Nice turtleneck

[@peromalmstrom7668]

Apology, as question not related to Subaru. How have you been getting-on with your All Season tyres, in recent warmer spells (Apart from last few days!!)? 1st World problem... I have a new BMW X3 arriving in 4 weeks. From factory, in UK market, you have no tyre choice, comes with summer. Issue, is 21 inch wheels, as I'm normally a Continental Tyre fan, but they don't do All Season for 21 inch, so will have to go to another manufacture brand. For past 10+ years, I've religiously changed between summer & winter tyres (Knowledge of requirement growing-up in the Highlands of Scotland) and kept away from All Season. You were positive about them in your winter video, just wondered (Though not summer yet) how you have found them in recent warmer weather (Even if climate is all messed-up!)? Thanks, P

[@JJonCars]

No problem! First thought is - how many miles do you do a year? If it's not too many then I really would recommend Michelin Cross Climates. But perhaps if you do loads of miles, it makes sense to switch to summer/winter, as you might end up wearing the cross climates down during the summer months and then they won't be as effective. Honestly, I can't tell any difference with them - the car is just as quiet at speed as on the summer tyres, it handles absolutely fine. But the Accord ain't a sports car (or even close), and I don't really drive it like one 😄 Like you say it's not gotten really warm or hot yet so can't comment on that yet. But from everything I've seen about them, they're really quite close to summer tyres (but of course not quite as good). Only other thing is, if you drive your car hard and want ultimate grip etc, then summer tyres in summer is of course better.

[@TH-bj1pb]

If I have a Subaru Legacy? I have three. 😳

[@JJonCars]

Haha, nice!

[@voorstenkamp]

6 foot is 182.88 cm

[@JJonCars]

I am 184cm - 6' 0.5"

[@voorstenkamp]

@@JJonCars just making sure you weren't padding those stats

[@PetrolPatrol]

Tells you what gear you're in, even in a manual?! Why would you need that?? XD

[@JJonCars]

I really don't know haha. Maybe they left it in from the auto version...

[@imhoman8423]

one engine is ok. the rest of the line-up is a joke

[@cipryan96]

Which one?

[@imhoman8423]

@@cipryan96 EZ30/36. Best to avoid all the rest.

[@MrPitiboy]

@@imhoman8423 The only 2 engines I would avoid is the EE20 (diesel) because it's extremely unreliable and the EZ36 because of its notorious tendency to leak oil. The rest are reliable, but the EZ30 is a step above the rest of course. Sincerely, a Subaru mechanic.