2010 subaru Legacy Sports Tourer reviews

Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 2.0 diesel 2010

Subaru produce some of the best-engineered cars available today. Almost over-engineered, it’s small wonder that they are renowned for their reliability and top quality. When it comes to customer satisfaction they are in a different league from products sold by the ’stack ’em high, sell ’em cheap’ dealership chains. Most are sold by the traditional small motor business - often family owned - where they live or die by the way they treat their customers. This marque is usually bought by motorists who know quality when they see it and who are not impressed by young shavers of salesmen who don’t know what a ’boxer’ engine is - but are happy to stitch you up with a finance agreement that doesn’t end until Doomsday. The new Legacy Tourer certainly boxes clever under the bonnet, with the new 4 cylinder 2.0 litre diesel horizontally-opposed ’boxer’ engine. It is certainly a connoisseur’s choice of motorcar - and at prices between £26,995 and £28,205 it’s no bargain: just good solid value. Subarus have never been marketed as real off-road motorcars even though all-wheel drive is standard; but the beauty of a truly practical vehicle like this is that it provides all-year-round mobility in the snow and ice of winter, combined with the kind of handling characteristics so desirable when the sun is out and those twisty roads are beckoning. So - forget any notions about ’Well it’s a 4x4 so it should go off-roading’. The Legacy Tourer simply doesn’t have the ground clearance: and neither should it have. It’s a splendid car that benefits from four-wheel drive through all the advantages of road-holding and ultimate safety. And talking of safety, there’s a huge benefit from the Cradle Mounted System for the engine and front suspension. In a heavy front impact the engine and gearbox are guided UNDER the cabin; improving occupants chances of survival. Inside the luxurious and stylish cabin there’s ’spot on’ logical and easy to understand and use, controls and instruments so you feel straightaway at ease. The multi adjustable front and rear reclining seats make the Legacy Tourer a most practical estate - not as voluminous as some: but then ’plenty’ is enough. If you need more, then buy a van. But what’s it like to drive? I hear you ask. Well, quite simply it feels like a solidly planted secure car with compliant suspension that ensures a comfortable ride: and it’s also surprisingly quiet and smooth - making for relaxed cruising at any speed. Ask any motor engineer and they’ll tell you that the horizontally opposed ’boxer’ engine configuration has many inherent benefits; not the least of which is good balance. The very short crank limits vibration - and, therefore, noise - so it makes this possibly the quietest 4cylinder diesel car around. It’s a fairly high revving diesel which some might find unusual, but that’s all to it’s advantage in letting you drive enthusiastically - enjoying not so much the torque (of which there is ample) but the 148bhp. The six-speed gearbox just feels solid and ubreakable with changes that are ’positive’ but without the super slickness you might find in some other Japanese marques. If you’re so inclined, you can make the most of the nicely balanced chassis, brilliant grip and overall dynamics by driving like Dr. Deranged up to warp factor three (120mph) - but you wouldn’t want to because the Lagacy’s strengths lie in the ’all round’ competence that makes such lunacy the last thing on your mind: this is a motorcar for Captain Sensible. So, if you appreciate quality that comes with a better class of concept and a real pedigree, a long drive in this carriage might deliver you to that happy palace of your dreams. You certainly won’t get bogged down with the common herd along the way thanks to 4x4 cleverness that will extricate you from any possible impediment. If Toad was your neighbour I’m sure he’d be hopping mad with envy and wanting one for himself because, in truth, it’s the only way to go. The ’4x4’ has been done many times before but never as well as this. Subaru has made the mould and bowled its rivals over.