Ssshh, quietly now, one of the most subtle success stories in the American auto industry is taking place and practically no one is noticing. Except of course, the principals involved, who are jubilant beyond belief — as they should be. That old, reliable, under-the-radar brand from Japan, but with cars built here in Indiana, is making a run at eclipsing some of its other niche competitors. Yes, Subaru is on a roll — a big roll — and most people don’t even know.
Numbers matter — and big numbers matter more. The accounting side of business, work and government is the metric for measuring success, or failure. It can be nasty, the whole business scenario, but if you don’t know the numbers you can’t be a player, you can’t bargain, you can’t succeed.
So it is quite significant that Subaru has flown under the radar screen and has, so far this year, beaten the total sales of Chrysler, Ram Trucks, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Buick and a whole lot more automakers. It doesn’t seem like Subaru is just a regional brand anymore.
Key to this success — the highest sales levels ever recorded by Subaru in the American market — are several small significant points.
First Subaru worked to revise its exterior styling to come somewhat closer to the domestic-norm, while still evoking some unique Subaru-esque qualities. Secondly, Subaru decided that its interiors needed serious updating in both efficiency and levels of refinement. While not yet a threat to Audi, the folks at Subaru need not be embarrassed anymore. And thirdly, while it was paramount to maintain its quirky boxer-engine layout and full-time all-wheel drive (more about this in a minute), Subaru has been smart enough to recognize that the market was going to want greater fuel efficiency in its cars at some point. That time has arrived and several Subarus have marked increases in EPA economy ratings.
Many of these revisions hearken back to 2009 when Subaru rolled out the latest Legacy sedan, a larger, more mainstream offering that shouted to the class stalwarts that the brand didn’t want to play around the midsize segment perimeter anymore.
And while Legacy sales have improved, the other products in Subaru’s lineup have, too, so the Legacy — once the main product — is now the slowest selling car of four. Only the dated Tribeca midsize crossover sells slower than the Legacy, leaving the Outback, Forester and all-new Impreza out front of the company’s four-door sedan.
With over 80,000 new cars sold in the first three months of the year, a healthy 17 percent gain over last year at this time, Subaru is unveiling two more entries to its lineup. Unveiled in April was Subaru’s first rear-drive-only car, a sporty 2+2 coupe built with Toyota called the BRZ. Expecting to cost around $25,000 to start, the BRZ will offer handling like Mazda’s Miata, but with a fixed roof. Subaru is also planning a sportier, more rugged compact crossover based on the Impreza platform for early this fall.
The Legacy made a big splash when it debuted three years ago because it was so — conventional. A Legacy GT sample with the five-speed manual transmission was fun to drive, roomy inside and nicely appointed. It was what the market asked for, a Legacy that was closer to a Camry or Accord, yet it still offered all-wheel drive.
Unfortunately, the new car market was in the midst of a three-year swoon during the height of the recession and the Legacy didn’t have the legs to carry it to the top of the midsize segment — or the middle for that matter. Still, critics adored the newest Legacy and Subaru built on those acclaims and was able to sell more of everything — except the Tribeca.
Now, we get the chance to drive the premium R sedan with the larger 3.6-liter flat-six engine. With 86 horsepower more than the base 170-hp boxer four engine, the 3.6R has some serious punch on tap, yet the car is not the hot ticket for best performance. That model is the Legacy GT with a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter four, an engine that punches out a raucous 265 hp with a six-speed manual transmission to keep sporting drivers engaged.
The main attribute of the 3.6-engine is midrange torque, which the six-cylinder has in greater reserve than the base motor. Fuel economy, as you might expect, is lower; 23/31-mpg for the base 2.5-liter boxer engine, 18/25-mpg for the larger six-cylinder.
Otherwise, the 3.6R delivers a similarly composed ride compared to the 2.5-model cars, yet the handling seemed less precise, less agile to a notable degree. The 3.6R is a few hundred pounds heavier and that weight seemed evident all of the time you are driving the 3.6R. Traction and grip were never a challenge, and body lean is well damped. But the lithe moves that the 2.5i delivered three years ago were but a fond memory while piloting the heavier 3.6R.
The Legacy offers comfortable seating and good interior spacing. Tire thrum, however, was often evident, while the stereo system seemed to need a bit more beef to overcome the ambient sound levels on the road. Stereo operating buttons, though, were larger and more convenient to use here, overcoming a gripe that has often been shared about other Subarus.
The optional navigation system is integrated into the display screen for the audio system. This requires that you acknowledge use of these components every time you start the car, forcing you to make two punches on the screen or the panel goes blank. This is not forward progress for in-car electronics and the lawyers that mandate these acts for self-preservation should be forced to shovel horse manure during holiday parades.
Legacy pricing starts at $19,995 for a 2.5i with a manual gearbox. Add $1,000 for an automatic. The best-selling 2.5i Premium lists for $22,295 and is a better buy since it includes the automated CVT transmission. The 3.6R begins at $25,095 while the 2.5 GT is $31,595. Actual mileage during the Legacy’s visit ranged from 23.5 mpg to 26.1 mpg.
In a world where we talk good, better and best, the Legacy is better than ever before, yet not the best in its class. It is a very good car in search of some more tinkering and evolving. Perhaps the anticipated DNA of the BRZ will trickle into the Legacy and it too will help the brand achieve its secretive sales goals.
Courtesy of FenceViewer.com
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