While we initially questioned the need for a Subaru Legacy sedan with the jacked-up ride height of the Outback, we did fall for the Legacy 3.6X when we road tested it just over a year ago.
It was a car that didn’t seem to serve a logical purpose, but worked remarkably well anyway. It was a car aimed at a tiny, tiny niche (people who want ground clearance, but don’t want a wagon…) that actually seemed to make sense when you drove it.
It also helped that it was basically a Legacy, which also meant it was just a good car to begin with.
Now Subaru have extended the concept by making the Legacy X available with the smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer four-cylinder engine, as opposed to the 3.6-litre six in the earlier car.
The 2.5-litre engine pumps out 127kW of power and 235Nm of torque, compared to the 191kW/350Nm of the 3.6-litre six, and is hooked up to Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT transmission.
The net result of this is a car that is pretty much exactly the same as the six-cylinder car, but slower and it doesn’t sound as good. But it also consumes considerably less fuel as a consequence – 7.9L/100km as opposed to the six’s 10.3.
The 2.5X is still a pleasantly Subaru-ish sedan, albeit without the 3.6’s mid-range urge, but when the six-cylinder car only costs $3,000 more, we would probably choose the bigger-engined car’s relaxed demeanour, superior performance and proper (albeit ageing) transmission.
Still, if you really need a sedan with an increased ride height and can’t stomach the fuel consumption of a six, then you won’t go far wrong with the 2.5X. You will also be a member of a very select group of people with needs THAT specific…
Price: $54,990
Engine: 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol
Power/torque: 127kW/235Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
0-100km/h: n/a
Fuel consumption: 7.9L/100km
CO2 emissions: 132g/km
