BANGKOK, THAILAND – 

Among the Japanese carmakers, Subaru probably have some of the more loyal customers in the automotive sphere. The Impreza fanboys are well-known, but even the other cars in Subaru’s line-up have garnered their fare share of fans through the years.

The Legacy, for instance, has remained an evergreen favourite for Subaru fans ever since its introduction 25 years ago. Its appeal lied in the simple fact that it was different, and therefore stood out from the rest. It boasted some impressive motorsport pedigree (the first-generation pre-dated the Impreza in the World Rally Championship) and a unique selling point in offering standard all-wheel-drive, something which helped it gain popularity in markets where such a feature was certainly welcome in tricky weather conditions.

Indeed, the Legacy is one of those cars which found a unique formula, and has stuck to it ever since. The car has gently evolved over the years, offering subtle changes over each successive generation, with the exception of the last one which was widely panned for its awkward styling. That certainly alienated some of its fan base, but there remained some loyal believers who stuck to the Legacy brand.

The new sixth-generation version featured here looks set to steer the Legacy back towards the path of normalcy. Certainly, for one, its looks are now less controversial and more agreeable perhaps. Sure, the large grille dominates the front end design, but overall it doesn’t look as awkward as its predecessor, and in fact does give the car a bit of presence. The slightly sloping rear roofline leads towards a sleek-looking rear end which bears a bit of resemblance to the Nissan Sylphy, which is no bad thing in our opinion.

Moving on inside, Subaru has moved to improve the overall quality of the Legacy’s interior vastly, and while there are a still few areas of cheap plastics around, you get the sense that Subaru has really stepped up their efforts to offer a premium product, and in some places the cabin does feel somewhat upmarket. Controls are laid out clearly, with a multi-function screen offering access to the audio and navigation system.

Such is the newness of the latest Legacy to Subaru, its regional distributor in Asia, Motor Image Enterprises, did not have full specifications of the car yet during its launch and first drive preview in Bangkok, Thailand. What we do know is that the variant bound for Singapore when it arrives in the second quarter of 2015 will have a 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine with 175bhp and 235Nm of torque. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures were unavailable, while its 0-100km/h acceleration time of about 8.8 seconds is an estimated figure.

Certainly, it does feel pretty brisk off the line, at least up till about 70km/h (the highest we were allowed to hit on the closed circuit), but judgement on performance will be reserved until we manage to get a longer test drive. What we could determine though, was that the Legacy offers a pretty good ride, and relatively sharp handling when put through a slalom course. The steering is quick and responsive enough, and while it might be an exaggeration to say that the Legacy corners on rails, the all-wheel-drive system ensures that the car will not lose traction through sudden directional change manoeuvres.

There’s actually much to like about the new sixth-generation Legacy, chiefly its sweet ride and handling balance, and certainly, on this form, it wouldn’t surprise us at all if the Legacy can not only retain its appeal to its existing fan base, but also attract new customers as well.

ADDENDUM: Subaru and Motor Image have replied with revised specs for the new Legacy, and they have been amended and reflected in the spec sheet below.

NEED TO KNOW

Engine 2,498cc, 16V, horizontally-opposed four
Power 175bhp at 5800rpm
Torque 235Nm at 4000rpm
Gearbox Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Top Speed 210km/h
0-100kmh 9.6 seconds
Fuel efficiency 7.7L/100km
CO2 177g/km

Price To Be Announced
Availability Q2 2015

Also Consider: Honda Accord 2.4, Mazda6 2.5