First Test: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited, 3.6R Limited

With the launch of its all-new, fifth-generation Legacy, a flagship sedan that now offers competitive performance, passenger volume, and fuel economy, Subaru is poised to make inroads in a segment in which it sold just 64,997 units in 2009. Compare that to '09 sales of the Toyota Camry (356,824) and the Honda Accord (290,056), and the Legacy is unquestionably a small-time player. Nevertheless, 65,000 cars is still a respectable number, and Subaru is confident its new Legacy has the goods to boost that sales figure. Based on our time spent with a four-cylinder Legacy 2.5i Limited and six-cylinder 3.6R Limited, Subaru has every right to be confident.

Given that the Gen V Legacy has grown only 1.4 inches in length and around 50 pounds in curb weight, it doesn't appear much larger than its predecessor. But, thanks to a 3.2-inch stretched wheelbase, a 3.6-inch wider breadth, a 3.2-inch taller roofline, and some clever packaging, the 2010 boasts 9.5 cubic feet of additional passenger volume and 3.9 inches of additional rear legroom. "There's a nice blend of rear-seat support and comfort (not too flat, not too shapely)," says technical editor Kim Reynolds. Tech director Frank Markus adds, "Loads of rear-seat foot room and a great center armrest." The rear doors now offer 15 inches of additional entry/exit space; the trunk has swelled 3.3 cubic feet to 14.7; and the 60/40-split back seat folds flat.

Engineers at Fuji Heavy Industries incorporated 39 percent more high-strength steel, a new control-arm rear suspension, and framed windows in the new Legacy, ensuring it's the most robust, buttoned-down, and serene Subaru sedan to date. Says Reynolds: "On the road, it's always there with you on the same page, on the same letter of the same word. Some of these other cars in the segment require a lot of negotiating to get them to cooperate; not the Legacy." Contributing to these welcome dynamics are standard four-wheel disc brakes, 17-inch alloys with all-season 215/50 Bridgestone Turanzas (wider 225s on the 3.6R), a quick 14.5:1 steering ratio, and front and rear tracks stretched 2.7 and 3.3 inches, respectively.

In our objective lateral-acceleration handling test, both the 3452-pound 2.5i and 3556-pound 3.6R recorded a very respectable 0.82 g. In the four-cylinder class, only the new, sporty Hyundai Sonata SE matches the 2.5i's grip, while in the six-cylinder segment, only the Nissan Altima 3.5 SE (0.83 g) can beat the 3.6R. If there's one nit to pick, it's with the Subaru's behavior when traversing mid- to high-speed sweepers on somewhat bumpy pavement -- they often get unsettled, triggering the stability control. "Chassis kind of knuckles under when pushed, calling for lots of stability-control intervention," notes Markus. Associate Web producer Carlos Lago says, "Bobs, weaves, and bounces in response to mid-corner bumps, though suspension is compliant at sane speeds." In addition to an especially comfortable ride, the Subaru's brakes proved up to task. Both cars erased 60 mph in just 121 feet.

Power for the $25,690 2.5i Limited comes from a 2.5-liter 170-horse flat-4 that motivates a continuously variable hydraulic clutch all-wheel-drive system via Subaru's new Lineartronic CVT. At the drag strip, our $29,511 2.5i Limited tester needed 9.3 seconds to scoot from 0 to 60 and 17.1 ticks at 83.2 mph to eclipse the quarter mile. Among its 16-valve peers, the 2.5i is somewhat of a slug -- most sedans in the class hit 60 in well under 9.0 -- but its long list of standard equipment (keyless entry, stability control, auto headlights, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, electronic parking brake with hill holder, power seats, leather, dual-zone auto climate control) provides some solace. That said, the all-new in-house CVT, which boasts a more durable chain rather than belt pulley system, is impressively smooth and responsive, and does an excellent job optimizing the power. It even delivers superior fuel economy compared to that of the manual-tranny Legacy (23/31 mpg versus 19/27) and offers shift paddles for full manual control of the flat-4's ratios.

If you care more about speed than fuel economy (and you have some extra Benjamins in the bank account), then the 3.6R is the Legacy of choice. Our $28,690 3.6R Limited sample ($31,685 as tested), equipped with a 3.6-liter 256-horse flat-6 mated to a five-speed auto and planetary gear-type variable torque distribution (VTD) all-wheel-drive system, needed just 6.9 seconds to reach 60 and 15.3 at 93.1 mph to annihilate the quarter mile. There are quicker six-cylinder family sedans than the 3.6R -- the Camry SE V-6, for instance, nabs 60 in only 6.2 and the quarter in 14.6 at 96.8 -- but only one (Ford Fusion) offers all-wheel drive. Further, a Fusion Sport AWD, which starts at $29,080 and uses a 263-horse V-6 paired with a six-speed auto to achieve 17/24 mpg, can't match the Subaru's base price ($28,690) or its fuel economy (18/25).

Downsides to the Legacy pair? In addition to aforementioned criticism, some of our editors found the exterior styling to be less than desirable ("Wow, those cartoonish semi-circle things on the fenders are unfortunate,") while others were not entirely impressed with the interior ("Interior is ergonomically fine and offers all the goodies, but seems a mishmash of colors and themes. Not sure the faux wood is cutting it."). Moreover, a few felt the flat-4 wasn't the most euphonious power plant ("Engine sound is gravely, un-sexy."), and a couple found the trunk opening could have been bigger ("Deep trunk but opening looks too tight to swallow an ice chest.").

While Subaru views the more niche Mazda6 and VW Passat as the Legacy's main rivals, such mainstreamers as Accord, Camry, Altima, and Fusion will no doubt get cross-shopped as well. Sure, the 2.5i could stand to offer a more pleasing engine note, and the 3.6R would probably be better with a six-speed (and, arguably, both could be more handsome), but each comes standard with all-wheel drive and is competitive in terms of interior room, value, and fuel economy. For those reasons, the new Legacy is a serious player that deserves a serious look.