Just in time for the new millennium, Subaru has finally shucked off the gimmicky add-ons that always made it look a bit geeky alongside its Japanese competitors from Honda and Toyota.
The new 2000 Subaru Legacy GT Limited is as sleek and smooth as any Accord or Camry or even, dare I say it, BMW. No ersatz air scoop on the hood, no unneeded "wing" on the trunk lid, no phony "ground effects" body cladding.The new GT is the best looking Subaru ever. Now if they'd just change their logo badge with all those stars . . .
One thing that hasn't changed is Subaru's full-time all-wheel drive. It's a niche that Subaru carved out for themselves years ago and has come to define the marque in a crowded marketplace. So much so, that they have given up making cars without it. If you buy a Subie, any Subie, you get all-wheel drive.
But the new "third generation" Subaru Legacy isn't just a body makeover. The chassis features a new and stiffer body structure (called "Ring-Shaped Reinforcement" by Subaru) that does as much to make ride and handling BMWesque as does its new uncluttered styling.
More importantly, the stiffened body structure provides increased protection in a variety of collisions, including frontal offset, side and rear. Side protection was further boosted by adding two safety beams, reinforcing the shoulder area of the front doors, incorporating a beam in the rear doors and adding a stronger wheel arch.
The Limited models, such as my test car, also have as standard equipment the first front-seat side-impact air bags ever used by Subaru. Like Volvo, Subaru prides itself as a company on the cutting edge of auto safety.
Under the hood resides the venerable four-cylinder "Boxer" (horizontally opposed cylinders) that has been powering Subarus for years, but the 2.5 is a redesigned version, first introduced in the Forester sport-utility and Impreza 2.5 RS performance coupe.
Subaru says the new "Phase II" version 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque provides the muscle of a V6 but actually gobbles less gasoline than the double overhead cam model. The
redesigned engine produces more low-end and mid-range torque, where you need it most in traffic, and throttle response has been improved at all speeds.
My tester was equipped with the five-speed manual transmission, which I would strongly recommend for those whose idea of driving is more than just getting from point A to point B. Its short, slick throws between gears make the GT a lot of fun to drive spiritedly.
Credit the new body's torsional strength, a new multi-link rear suspension and a rubber-mounted subframe that virtually eliminates noise and vibration even in hard cornering. For a company that many thought wouldn't make it to the 21st century, Subaru has done a marvelous job of reinventing itself as a substantial niche player with a hard-core following of faithful owners.
The interior of the new GT has also been upgraded to reflect the less-is-more look of the outside. My tester was painted jet black with black leather, and it is a classy and dramatic package. (Sure, black is hard to keep clean, but it sure looks great after a wash job.)
The only thing breaking up the mono-ebony look on the inside are some wood accents on the dash, console and doors. They are probably not real wood but, if not, they are close enough for me. Wood accents are standard fare for luxury cars these days, and Subaru has handled it tastefully.
If there's any downside to the package it is price. Subaru says its cars represent "outstanding value," but no one is going to buy one because they're cheaper than their competitors, although Subaru says its "weighted average" price is only 1.0 percent higher than 1999 models.
My tester, which is the top of the Legacy line, was base priced at $24,295 plus a $495 destination charge. An automatic transmission would add $790 to the price and an all-weather package is available for $500. It includes heated front seats and exterior mirrors, a windshield wiper and de-icer and limited slip differential.
All 2000 model Legacy and Outback models now come with standard 24-hour roadside assistance, and the cars are emission certified in all 50 states.
Also now standard on Legacy GT sedans is a 6-way power driver's seat as well as the aforementioned limited-slip rear end.
My GT tester had an impressive sound system that included something I've not seen before: an in-dash cassette and single CD player as well as an in-dash six-CD changer.
All Legacy models now have anti-lock brakes as standard equipment, along with air conditioning, tilt-steering wheel, breakaway outside mirrors, larger brakes and tires, power door locks and cruise control.