by David Finlay (22 Feb 02)

The present-generation Subaru Legacy was launched in 1999 as an estate only, with the saloon following a few months later. Subaru has followed a similar path with the 2002 model year update, which was applied to the estate some time ago but has only recently been introduced for the saloon.

New 3D style headlamps, fitted in an effort to make the Legacy more distinctive looking, are among the more visible results of the freshening-up process. GL and GX models now have improved interior trim, while air-conditioning and radio/CD players are now standard fitment on all models.

A considerable amount of work has also been done on the handling, and since this is one of the key features of any Subaru these days it's worth taking a closer look at it. The attention to detail is remarkable. Every Legacy saloon now comes with an aluminium bonnet, which reduces the front-end weight by 7kg, lowers the centre of gravity (already impressive thanks to the flat-four layout of the engine) still further and makes the front of the car more responsive to steering inputs.

The rear suspension gains an extra subframe to improve rigidity when cornering hard. And, of course, every car in the range gives its tyres an easier time than might otherwise be the case by dividing the engine's power among all four wheels.

The result is a car which handles superbly. A brief run in a 2.5 GX showed that however innocent it may look, this is car which can tackle corners in the manner of a particularly well set-up sports car.

Unfortunately, the slow-speed ride quality has suffered. The shock absorbers - very trick units at the front with multi-layer valves - seem more stiffly damped than the springs need them to be, and the Legacy jiggles along poor road surfaces when it should really be able to float over them.

Since the Legacy is meant to be a comfortable everyday car with the ability to corner quickly on rare occasions, I think more attention should be paid to the ride; a small compromise in the handling would be an acceptable price to pay.

The Legacy is divided into two basic types, though there are other options to expand the range. Base model is the 125bhp 2.0 GL which costs £15,750 on the road. The 155bhp 2.5 GX, visibly different from the GL in that it has 16" alloy wheels rather than 15" steel ones, costs £18,750, and it is also available with a Luxury Pack (including climate-control air-conditioning, electric tilt and slide sunroof, cruise control, leather trim, heated front seats, door mirrors and windscreen de-icer) for £19,695.

All these prices assume the five-speed manual gearbox with the hill-holder clutch first introduced several years ago in the Forester. There is also a four-speed automatic transmission, which gives a 60/40 front/rear torque split compared with the 50/50 of the manual and adds an extra £1000 to the on-the-road price of the relevant model.

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