Smooth and responsive

I know car rating is very subjective. I "upgraded" from a 1994 Escort hatchback, so I may overrate the Legacy a little despite attempts to stay objective.

A baby does not fit in a truck or 2 door hatchback safely nor conveniently, it is time to consider a real "family car". After the news reported the Legacy was rated best in its class for safety, I checked with Edmunds.com and other websites for opinions. Most Subaru owners tend to buy another Subaru, good. Many owners also swear by the all-wheel-drive (AWD) ability and engine reliability of Subaru cars.

When it comes to safety, AWD only helps when you need to accelerate on a slippery surface. It does not improve traction when you brake. I did not argue with the salesperson anyway (sigh). However, the Legacy does come with good antilock brakes with a respectable stopping distance. Crash test results also indicate the strength of the chassis and passenger cage. I don't think it can beat a Volvo, though.

Subaru claims that they subscribe to the Mercedes suspension philosophy: comfort without compromising handling. Well, Mercedes cars still ride better than the Legacy. However, the Legacy ride quality is definitely comparable to the Audi A4(VW Passat) and Volvo V40/S40. A friend indicated the suspension is comparable to that of the 2000 Accord. Wind noise finds its way in the cabin at highway speed, but otherwise the interior is quiet enough for normal conversations when traveling at 70mph. The handling is quite responsive, but the steering wheel takes too many turns.

The flat-four engine develops about 160hp max. It is adequate for normal driving. The automatic transmission is quite smooth except during hard acceleration. It does take time to downshift and accelerate from 4th to 3rd at 50mph or so. This is annoying when you need to change to a faster lane on highway.

The interior is well engineered. My wife and I are short people, yet we find it easy to see out and drive in the Legacy. In comparison, the Volvo V40/S40 felt like a tank with its big dashboard. At the same time, my 6' friend has no problem fitting into the front or rear seat with headroom to spare. This is more than I can say about the Escort. The rear seat is not as wide as the Accord or Camry, but it is sufficient.

The rear seat of the Legacy wagon folds down flat after flipping the seat cushion forward. This is great for loading and transporting long and heavy objects. The length of the fully flat surface is 5'7" or so, long enough for me to sleep on. The minimum width of the flat surface is about 43", wider than that of a Nissan pickup!

The 2000 Legacies all come with the same 2.5L engine. This is an improvement over previous years when only the outback and GT featured the 2.5L engine. I choose the L trim because it has four wheel disk brake (over the Brighton) but less expensive ($3000 less than an outback). Also comes with tilt wheel, power lock, power window, tachometer and roof rack (but not cross bars).

For those of you who change oil at home, the Legacy is quite easy to deal with. Both the filter and drain plug are easily accessed from the bottom. The drain plug is HUGE, so watch out for motor oil gush when you remove it!

The Legacy L wagon is a safe and civic (read NOT MACHO nor WEIRD) family car that can also go skiing. The cargo space is very practical for a small family. However, it is probably too cramped for one adult and two car seats in the rear. The 2.5L engine develops sufficient power for everyday driving, but probably not sufficient if you want thrills (try the 5sp).