Editor’s note: You may also want to read Autotrader’s Subaru Legacy review for the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 model years.
If you’re in the market for a reliable, safe and well-equipped family sedan, you have a number of excellent choices. But if you live where snow and ice routinely blanket the road, then a 2014 Subaru Legacy sedan stands head and shoulders above the rest. With its big trunk and roomy rear seat, the Legacy is every bit the equal of the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry and the Chevrolet Malibu. However, the Legacy one-ups all these competitors with its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD). And thanks in large part to its available continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and flat 4-cylinder boxer engine, the Legacy doesn’t punish at the pump, achieving an impressive 32 miles per gallon on the highway.
Those who like to row their own gears can opt for a 6-speed manual, but its long throws and tall gears make it a poor choice versus the more fuel-efficient CVT. You can also buy the 2014 Legacy with a 6-cylinder engine in the 3.6R model. This model forgoes the CVT in favor of a traditional 5-speed automatic, but it’s still competitive with other V6 sedans in this class.
For 2014, the Legacy Premium gained the All-Weather package (heated seats, mirrors and windshield-wiper deicers) as standard, along with a new audio unit featuring a 4.2-inch LCD screen. EyeSight was made available on the Premium trim, as was navigation and a rear backup camera. See the 2014 Subaru Legacy models for sale near you
What We Like
Standard AWD; good fuel economy with the 4-cylinder; roomy rear seat; powerful 6-cylinder option; excellent safety ratings; strong resale value; EyeSight driver-assist system
What We Don’t
4-cylinder model feels slow; complex navigation and audio system; beige-colored cloth seats are a magnet for stains; no hybrid option
Fuel Economy & Engine Specs
Subaru outfitted the base 2014 Legacy 2.5i with a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed boxer engine that’s good for 173 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy with the 6-speed manual is a respectable 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg hwy, while the CVT earns an even better 24 mpg city/32 mpg hwy.
The Legacy 3.6R features a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine paired with a traditional 5-speed automatic transmission. Producing 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, this engine is rated at a mere 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy.
Standard Features & Options
The 2014 Legacy is offered in two models: 2.5i and 3.6R. Models in the 2.5i category include the base, Premium, Limited and Sport trims, while the 3.6R is offered only in Limited trim.
The Legacy 2.5i comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, 16-in wheels with plastic covers, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a tilt-telescopic steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, a 4-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with Bluetooth and an iPod/USB port, air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry and a manual height-adjustable driver’s seat. Standard safety features include 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic traction and stability control and front, front side-impact and side-curtain airbags. A CVT automatic is optional, as are 17-in alloy wheels and fog lights.
The Legacy 2.5i Premium adds a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, 17-in alloy wheels, a 6-speaker audio-system upgrade, satellite radio, the All-Weather package, a driver’s-side auto up/down power window and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Optional equipment for the Premium trim includes the CVT with steering-wheel paddle shifters, fog lights, a rearview camera, EyeSight, navigation and a power sunroof.
The 2.5i Sport adds fog lights, carbon-fiber dash trim, 18-in alloy wheels, an aluminum pedal kit and the All-Weather package.
The 2.5i Limited brings leather seats, 440-watt 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio, 17-in alloy wheels, a 4-way power passenger seat, Bluetooth, an upgraded instrument cluster, wood trim, automatic climate control, fog lights and the CVT.
The 3.6R Limited adds a 6-cylinder engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission and the same equipment as the 2.5i Limited.
Optional on the Premium and Limited trims are a power sunroof, voice-activated touchscreen navigation with a rearview camera and the EyeSight driver-assist system, which brings adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane-departure warning.
Pricing
The Subaru Legacy holds excellent resale value, on par with the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry and far better than the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford Fusion and the Nissan Altima. The 3.6R holds slightly stronger values than the 2.5i, and the Limited trim holds slightly higher values than the Premium. For a good idea of the Legacy’s price range, we suggest checking the used-car values at KBB.com. You can also search the Autotrader Classifieds to see what models are currently for sale in your area.
Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the following recall for the 2014 Subaru Legacy:
A recall was issued for the 3.6R due to the possibility that the parking rod inside the automatic transmission may come loose, preventing the transmission from being shifted out of the Park position.
Recall repairs are required by law, even if the vehicle is out of warranty. Your dealer can check to see if the repairs were performed, and if not, they’ll fix the car at no charge to you. You can also check the NHTSA website; simply enter your vehicle’s identification number for a list of performed recall repairs.
Safety Ratings & Warranties
The NHTSA gave the 2014 Legacy a 5-star overall rating, with five stars in the rollover, front- and side-impact crash tests. The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2014 Legacy its highest rating of Good in all categories but the small-overlap front crash test, where it earned an Acceptable rating. The IIHS named the Legacy a Top Safety Pick, giving it a Superior rating in the crash-avoidance and mitigation test when equipped with the EyeSight system.
All Subaru Legacy models left the factory with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you purchase your Legacy through Subaru’s certified pre-owned vehicle program, the powertrain warranty period is extended to 7 years/100,000 miles, and owners have the option to buy plans that will cover electrical issues, steering, suspension, brakes, air conditioning and the fuel system.
Other Cars to Consider
2014 Honda Accord — The Accord remains the gold standard in this class, offering excellent safety, resale value and reliability ratings, as well as superior fuel economy, although there’s no AWD or advanced collision-avoidance system. There is, however, a sporty coupe version, as well as two hybrid models.
2014 Ford Fusion — The Fusion is also highly rated and much sleeker-looking than the Legacy. AWD is optional, and we like Ford’s navigation and audio setup better than Subaru’s. The Fusion offers a choice of two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines but no V6. There are also hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.
2014 Toyota Camry — The 2014 Camry is more exciting to look at than the Legacy, and it’s a solid performer that can match or beat the Subaru in every category that matters. Although the Camry doesn’t offer AWD, it does come in a hybrid version.
Autotrader’s Advice
If power isn’t a big priority, we think most people will be quite pleased with the performance and fuel economy of the 2.5i Premium. If you can swing the extra cash, finding a model with the EyeSight system is worth every penny. We strongly suggest avoiding models with the beige cloth interior, as the seats are prone to showing stains and dirt. If you want leather, the Limited trim is the only way to get it.
