We review the Subaru Legacy from price to economy and all its features

SUBARU have always built cars that stuck two fingers up at the establishment.

Their hugely-successful Impreza is the ultimate car porn for the boy racer. It’s a teenager on wheels, full of testosterone and more grunt than guile.

It’s rally good …. the new Subaru Legacy

So it was appropriate that Subaru should hold their latest model launch at Cameron House, scene of Scottish football’s Bevvygate scandal last year.

And the Japanese firm, nicknamed Scooby, reckon they have grown up.

They are aiming to make their family cars the new centre of attention in the range to prove they are not just a one-man team with the cult Impreza.

We were the first to get our hands on their new Legacy family saloon this week and it’s impressive. Subaru have taken all the rally expertise and technology from the Impreza — which powered Colin McRae to the World Rally title in 1995 — and put it in their family cars. But what’s so special about Subaru? Their hidden talent is under the bonnet.

Their boxer engine, a set-up only shared with Porsche, is situated low down in the chassis so has a lower centre of gravity, meaning less roll and better handling.

It is also paired with all-wheel-drive for extra grip and ability in all conditions.

It’s those qualities that have made the Legacy a big hit around the world — more than 3.5million have been sold in 20 years.

And they are making a big impact on the UK again. With the Justy hatch, Impreza hatch, Legacy saloon and estate, Legacy Outback crossover and Forester 4×4, their sales have boomed by 72 PER CENT in the first three months of this year compared to 2009, while the current Legacy is up 223 PER CENT.

Their Forester is the top-selling SUV in Australia — a country known for its tough terrain — while it’s been a record year in Canada.

The Impreza still remains the bad boy. I drove the STi which hits 60mph in just over five seconds and goes up to 155mph.

As the Impreza boy racer becomes a man, he can have the same technological ability in his family cars. Subaru hope that will make their new Legacy a hit as they head for a scrap with the family car big boys and give them a V-sign… for victory.

IT’S a tough job to take on the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class.

But Subaru are attempting to re-brand the Legacy so that this latest generation is a serious contender in a tough market.

It’s all-new from the ground up. It is not only bigger than before, but also better built and more powerful.

See the Legacy on the road and it has plenty of presence. It’s chunkier and more muscular than the model it replaces.

Pedestrian crash laws have forced Subaru to redesign the front end, and the bonnet is raised by 100mm as a result.

There are shades of the Honda Accord in the shape and design — and that is a huge compliment.

It’s still a bit too boxy at the back-end for my liking, but it’s a much more handsome car than before.

It’s nearly 100mm longer, 50mm wider and 80mm higher than before, plus the wheelbase is 80mm longer.

As a result, there’s more space inside, especially in the rear. The designers have also focused on improving quality — and, to a certain extent, they’ve succeeded.

The interior is also improved. There’s a better feel than before.

That includes soft leather on the seats and a polished aluminium-style finish for the centre console. But some of the materials are very cheap-looking and it’s still a long way behind the standard offered by the German big boys and mainstream models like the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. I drove the 2-litre diesel — the only version which will go on sale in the UK. Under the bonnet, the Legacy gets a 150bhp engine which delivers silky-smooth power — 0-62mph in just under 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 120mph.

But crucially for Subaru this engine is far more economical than they’ve been able to offer before — it will give you 46mpg and the emissions are 161g/km.

In-gear response is also impressive and, on the road, the Legacy feels even more planted. In addition to a four-wheel-drive transmission, it features a new suspension set-up.

The Legacy turns into corners more sharply, while the rear end stays low and flat and generates more grip than ever before.

While it is true that the new power steering could do with more weight, the ride comfort is excellent. In truth this Legacy cannot yet be considered a proper rival to the Germans — it lacks the quality feel and badge value.

But it’s a much better car all-round and, because of its outstanding ability with four-wheel-drive, the Legacy will be a very useful car for rural family drivers.

It’s not cheap — prices start at just under £25,000, and that makes it more expensive than the market-leading Mondeo and Insignia.

And the Subaru is not as attractive a car as either of those.

But this Legacy is the sort of Ronaldinho of the family saloon sector. It might not be the prettiest, but it definitely has the most ability.