Subaru Legacy GT Limited Review

Megan Benoit
by Megan Benoit

Let’s face it: Subaru isn’t known for building physically attractive automobiles. Their products are the automotive equivalent of the “butter face” girl: everything is great “but her” face. Fortunately, the new Legacy GT (LGT) avoids the brand’s heavy-handed airplane-inspired refreshes, or the new Tribeca’s po-faced Pacifica pandering. The Legacy GT’s not-so-B9 makeover puts the model in prime position for the legions of more mature automotive enthusiasts desperately seeking Subie.

With redesigned headlights and taillights and a larger, chrome-ified grille opening, the LGT looks like an edgier, more aggressive Camry (before Toyota beat it with an ugly stick). The LGT’s hood scoop is a restrained version of the STi’s gi-nomous nasal passage. The equally undemonstrative aerodynamic addendum doesn’t invite Civic-driving young’uns to a stoplight race.

More signs you’re in a Subie designed for grownups: the LGT’s portals close with a Germanic whumph. Subaru’s also replaced the nasty ass plastic blighting their rally replicars and off-roaders with soft touch polymers, though the quality has dropped slightly since the ‘05 update. The LGT’s eminently grippable, leather-wrapped steering wheel and moderately bolstered leather seats are a cut above the WRX’. In short, while the LGT’s cabin won’t keep Audi’s haptic hit squad up at night, Volvo knows who’s eating their lunch.

To help justify sticker escalation, Subie’s added a standard telescoping wheel, front/rear climate control and [optional] memory seats and navigation. More basically, the LGT’s astonishingly large front cupholders can accommodate your Big Gulp, sunglasses, cell phone and iPod with room to spare. The door’s equally outsized grab handles add a wikkid— and useful— touch.

The LGT’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is a detuned (smaller turbo) version of the STi’s bonkers powerplant. Subaru attempted to remediate the sluggish nature of their five-speed automatic by providing the “Subaru Intelligent Drive” system, or rather, the “Slow, Interfering Drive” system. The frugal-friendly “Intelligent” setting generates a flatter torque curve. “Sport” and “Sharp” dial it up a notch, providing access to all 243 horses and more acceptable go-pedal response.

If you really want to see ‘er fly, stick to the manual. Even on Sport Sharp, the automatic is over a second slower to sixty from rest. Even shiny new paddle-shifters and rev-matched downshifting can’t fix the harsh reality of a sluggish slushbox. Subaru needs to take a cue from VW, call up Borg Warner and bless the LGT with a DSG paddle shift gearbox or similar.

Symmetrical all-wheel drive provides all-areas access to the four-door’s thrust, helping it to rapidly outpace similarly-powered FWD cars (I’m looking at you Mazdaspeed3). The LGT’s accelerative head rush and throaty exhaust growl are addictive enough to render turbo lag forgivable, if not forgettable.

Fast? During a trip through the mountains, only another LGT (with local knowledge) could show us a clean set of tailpipes. Fun? See: previous sentence. If the previous LGT stuck to the road like a sucker fish to a stone, the new model adds a dab of super glue. For ’08, Subaru fitted A-pillar braces and stiffer bushings. The more rigid body and tighter suspension endow the LGT with almost STi-quality handling– though the LGT’s long body occasionally gives corner carvers the unsettling feeling that the rear end is about to beat them to the finish line.

While there’s enough body roll at speed to encourage queasy passengers to check the rear seat pockets for a barf bag, daily driving is a doddle, with excellent composure over moderate lumps and bumps. The LGT’s steering is light and responsive, providing excellent road feel. The previously mushy brake pedal provides ample stopping power, but you won’t want to.

Speaking of Volvo, safety is now one of Subaru’s main selling points. While you can’t fault the LGT’s official crash test ratings (five stars all round), electronic alphabet soup (ABS, EBD, VDC, TCS, TPMS, plus LSD in the spec.B), passenger safety cell or full complement of airbags (side curtains for all), there’s a big old chink in the LGT’s armor: tires.

The LGT’s all-season Potenza RE92’s give pistonheads all the dry pavement death grip they’ll ever need. On snow pack or ice, it’s an entirely different story– without a guaranteed happy ending. This website has said it many times: even the world’s best four-wheel drive system– and Subie’s certainly qualifies for that honor– is no substitute for proper winter footwear. Full stop. Or not, as the case may be.

When the fourth-generation LGT was released, it was America’s best-value sub-$50k sporting sedan– especially when you considered its all-wheel drive. The LGT’s punch also made it a suitable STi alternative for penny pinching hoons. With laudable entries like the Mazdaspeed6 undercutting the LGT’s steadily-increasing price ($33k as tested), buyers may wonder if the LGT is worth the price of admission. It is. From the driver’s seat at least, the LGT is a genuine stunner.

Megan Benoit
Megan Benoit

I'm a computer security geek raised in Nebraska and recently transplanted to Atlanta. I like me some cars, got into car geekery a few years ago and haven't looked back since. I also volunteer at a local ferret shelter and participate in various charity and fund-raising events related to that.

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  • Huy Huy on Feb 03, 2008

    boxer = reliable boxer turbo = not reliable i was one of the very first WRX owners and not only did my transmission fail, but my engine went shortly after i paid a fortune to replace the transmission. (it all happened after the warranty passed) i had issues with the transmission not shifting into gear and bad oil consumption since day 1, yet the dealerships said it was all normal. i never made it to the 3000 mile oil change intervals because i had barely any oil on the dipstick after 2000 miles, but Subaru insisted this was normal. perhaps I had a dud and every other subaru was perfect, but the dealerships had many chances to fix it and did not. as such, i will never buy another Subaru. maybe they have changed, but they lost me as a customer. PS. I knew 5 others whom had transmission failures. Two were lucky enough to have it fail within a few thousand miles and got it covered by warranty.

  • Christine22 Christine22 on Jun 18, 2011

    I'm looking to purchase a subaru but the new ones are way out of my price range. I test drove an 11 mazda6 and wasnt impressed (my sister has an 06mazda v6 and i like the look and drive better) i've found a couple 08 subaru legacy gt with 30,000k or less on them. What do you think would be a better investment 2011 mazda6 or a 08 subaru LGT with >30,000miles. also is there a big difference in service to the LGT cost wise

  • Lorenzo Are they calling it a K4? That's a mountain in the Himalayas! Stick with names!
  • MaintenanceCosts It's going to have to go downmarket a bit not to step on the Land Cruiser's toes.
  • Lorenzo Since EVs don't come in for oil changes, their owners don't have their tires rotated regularly, something the dealers would have done. That's the biggest reason they need to buy a new set of tires sooner, not that EVs wear out tires appreciably faster.
  • THX1136 Always liked the Mustang though I've never owned one. I remember my 13 yo self grabbing some Ford literature that Oct which included the brochure for the Mustang. Using my youthful imagination I traced the 'centerfold' photo of the car AND extending the roof line back to turn it into a small wagon version. At the time I thought it would be a cool variant to offer. What was I thinking?!
  • GregLocock That's a bodge, not a solution. Your diff now has bits of broken off metal floating around in it.
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