The 2018 Subaru Legacy's exterior gets some modest updates and a mix of new technology.
For those in the auto industry, as well as those in the new car market, time seems to be moving faster these days, automakers rushing model updates into showrooms at an ever quicker pace.
Take the Subaru Legacy. The popular Japanese sedan went through a complete makeover in 2015. But a mid-cycle refresh will roll out at the Chicago Auto Show just a week from now. The 2018 Legacy is just one of an assortment of all-new or refreshed products flowing out from Subaru, with an all-new version of the Crosstrek line set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in barely a month.
The Legacy has long been a solid pillar for the small Japanese maker, so keeping it fresh is critical, and the 2018 update brings a number of updates, from revised front and rear styling to new handling, headlight and infotainment technologies.
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Offering an advance look at the 2018 Subaru Legacy, the maker suggests its goal was to deliver a vehicle that is now “sportier, yet more elegant.”
An updated infotainment system is the highlight of the '18 Legacy's interior.
On the design front, the 2018 update gets new bumpers, as well as a lower, wider version of the familiar Subaru hexagonal grille framed by new “Konoji LED running lamps. There’s also a new, optional Steering Responsive Headlight system. This version of Legacy LED lamps “aims the lights into turns as the driver steers,” Subaru explains.
The 2018 Legacy Limited model, with the optional EyeSight safety suite, also will now offer High Beam Assist, which automatically turns the high beams on or off, depending upon traffic.
Inside updates are modest, focusing on the use of more refined materials. That should, nonetheless, be welcome news to buyers. Long criticized for using too many hard plastic cabin parts, Subaru began moving in a more refined direction with the 2015 remake of the Legacy.
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Subaru claims it has retuned the 2018 Legacy’s chassis to make it both quieter and more responsive. That includes updated dampers that should help reduce body roll in corners. The maker also claims to have made the feel of the electric power system smoother and more linear.
Considering what research suggests today’s new car buyers want, Subaru is adding a variety of new tech features to the 2018 Legacy. That includes the latest version of the Starlink multimedia system. The display screen is ever-so-slightly larger, at 6.5 inches – with an 8-inch screen available as an option.
The Legacy went through a complete makeover for the 2015 model-year.
The maker claims improvements to the system’s speech recognition software, while the 2018 model also gets both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities. Also factor in a variety of navigation, social media and other apps, including Yelp.
The 2018 Subaru Legacy carries over the current powertrain mix, including the 2.5-liter, 175-hp Boxer engine in the Legacy 2.5i. Active grille shutters now help improve fuel economy. The alternative package is the 3.6-liter six in the Legacy 3.6R. It makes 256 hp and 247 pound-feet of torque.
All powertrains come with Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system.
Expect to find out more during the 2018 Subaru Legacy debut in Chicago next week. Pricing is expected closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date later this year.
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