Which Years Of Used Subaru Legacys Are Most Reliable?
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Subaru has built a brand of rugged and all-rounder vehicles. One of Subaru’s main selling points is the standard all-wheel drive, making their cars the go-to option for many outdoor junkies and shoppers who want a reliable, rugged vehicle. With that said, one of the longest-running flagship Subaru models is the Legacy midsize sedan.
If you’re looking for a dependable sedan that delivers a mix of passenger space, cargo room, and fuel economy, the Subaru Legacy is undoubtedly worth looking into. However, with so many model years to choose from, you’re probably wondering about the most reliable Subaru Legacy year.
For today’s post, we look at some of the recent Subaru Legacy generations and pick out the most reliable model years and the ones you may avoid. Let’s take a look.
2000-2004 Subaru Legacy
The third-gen Legacy is a good lineup for those looking for a well-rounded performing midsize sedan. Handling and steering are excellent, and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is adequate but nothing exciting. The best part is that all these models have standard AWD for better winter traction.
For this generation, we recommend checking out the 2004 Legacy, which is the most reliable model of the bunch. With decent fuel economy and reliability ratings, the 2004 model is certainly the most reliable Subaru Legacy year for this generation. For a used model, you’re looking at a price range of $3,050 - $4,150, which offers a spectacular value for the money.
Another noteworthy model for this generation is the 2000 Legacy. While it’s older and looks basic, the 2000 Legacy is one reliable midsize sedan and an excellent first car for young drivers. With an average price between $2,900 - $2,975, you’ll get a lot of car for the price.
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2005-2009 Subaru Legacy
The 2005-2009 years have also been kind to the Legacy sedan, with a few standout model years in terms of reliability. This Legacy generation boasts good handling and pin-point steering, with a relatively supple ride even on rougher roads. Also worth noting is that this generation marked the discontinuation of the 2007 Legacy wagon due to the rising popularity of the Subaru Outback.
Most of the Legacy models for this generation are reliable. For the most reliable Subaru Legacy year in this lineup, we recommend picking up the 2006 and 2007 model years due to their excellent reliability ratings and fuel economy. Both 2006 and 2007 Subaru Legacy models received the “Seal of Awesome” award from CarComplaints.com.
Meanwhile, the 2009 model is one of the worst Legacy years to avoid, thanks to its many reliability woes. For starters, many drivers complained about engine failure regarding this model. Some reported that the engine failure happened out of nowhere. Head gasket leaks were also common for this model year.
THE SUBARU LEGACY YEARS TO AVOID
We’ve taken a look at some of the worst Subaru Legacy years to avoid so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
2010-2014 Subaru Legacy
The fifth-generation Legacy was noted as one of the best lineups for the midsize sedan. By 2010, the Legacy was known for being an accommodating and easy-to-live-with family sedan. So which is the most reliable Subaru Legacy year in this generation?
Frankly, it’s hard to go wrong with any model from the fifth-gen Legacy. However, if you’re going to avoid models from this batch, the 2010 and 2011 years may be worth skipping. The 2010 Legacy suffered from faulty headlights, and the CVT transmission proved to be quite a headache for many owners. Meanwhile, the 2011 Legacy was more of a rehash of the 2010 model in terms of reliability issues. It still had the annoying headlights issue as well as transmission issues.
As for the good years, the 2013 Legacy is a CR Recommended pick by Consumer Reports with a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 – although it had a lower customer satisfaction rating of 2.0 out of 5.0. It did great in many common reliability trouble spots such as engine, transmission, and drive system.
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2015-2019 Subaru Legacy
The sixth generation of the Legacy had some welcome refinement to an already highly practical family sedan. It boasted an improved interior, roomy passenger space, and high ride quality.
As for the models to avoid, we marked the 2015 Legacy as one of the models to avoid, simply due to many driver complaints. However, it’s worth noting that this is still an excellent used midsize sedan, and its issues were mostly minor. It’s also a recommended model by Consumer Reports, so it’s still worth checking out for a reasonable price.
As for our top picks, this generation had two of the best Legacy models you can buy as used: the 2016 and 2017 years. For starters, the 2016 model is recommended by Consumer Reports with a perfect reliability score and a 3.0 out of 5.0 customer satisfaction rating. In addition, CR cited many highs for this model, including excellent visibility and standard AWD.
Also recommended by CR, the 2017 is also a great used family sedan that shares many positive qualities with the 2016 model year.
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2020-Present Subaru Legacy
The current generation Legacy is one of the most compelling sedan lineups in the market. At this point, Subaru more than knows what it’s doing and has turned the Legacy into a staple in the midsize sedan segment.
With that said, the 2020 year is one of our top picks for the best Legacy models. Many of the previous reliability woes of the Subaru sedan have been addressed. Now you have a solid all-rounder with a spacious interior, tech upgrades, and enhanced safety features.
In addition, the 2021 is also a highly rated family sedan that earned the “CR Recommended” badge. It scored 4.0 out of 5.0 in reliability and 3.0 out of 5.0 in customer satisfaction. Best of all, the 2020 and 2021 model years have a fuel efficiency rating of 28 mpg – which is fantastic in today’s skyrocketing gas prices.
That wraps up our rundown of the most reliable Subaru Legacy year in each generation. Overall, the Legacy is a highly reliable sedan with a top-notch value proposition. Just make sure you choose the right model year to avoid future headaches.
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