Sports cars are a blast, but for most people, reality looks a lot different. When budgets, commutes, and family duties take priority, a dependable midsize sedan often makes far more sense, and there’s no shame in that, no matter what social media might suggest.
But choosing practical doesn’t mean settling for the same Toyota Camry parked in every other driveway. If you’re the kind of buyer who appreciates something different, the recently discontinued Subaru Legacy deserves a closer look. It delivers the sharp pricing and reliability buyers want while offering a little more character and capability than the default choice.
The Mainstream Midsize Sedan That Flew Under The Radar
2025 Subaru Legacy driving front 3/4 snowSubaru
The Legacy has always been one of the most overlooked players in the midsize sedan segment. It never generated the buzz of the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, yet it quietly built a reputation as a well-engineered, affordable family car with impressive safety (it’s been an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 18 years running).
One feature that always helped it stand out was standard all-wheel drive, something its mainstream rivals rarely offered and a genuine advantage for buyers in snowbelt states. Buyers seeking a little more punch could also opt for available turbocharged power, giving the Legacy surprisingly brisk performance without sacrificing its everyday practicality.
The Legacy has also earned a reputation for long-term durability.Subaru says more than 94 percent of Legacy sedans built over the past 10 years are still on the road, a figure that reflects the model’s proven engineering. Its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system has been refined over decades, while Subaru’s signature Boxer flat-four and flat-six engines remain a known quantity for independent shops and owners alike.
As rivals such as the 2025-on Toyota Camry have transitioned to standard hybrid powertrains, the Legacy’s lack of electrification could make it a simpler, potentially less expensive car to own and maintain as it ages.
2025 Subaru Legacy driving rear 3/4Subaru
Despite its strengths, the Legacy never found the sales success of its rivals, or even Subaru’s own SUVs. Across six generations in the US, demand steadily declined as buyers flocked to high-riding models, falling from more than 87,000 sales in 2005 to just 22,000 in 2025, its final year on the market.
Faced with shrinking demand, Subaru chose to discontinue the sedan rather than invest in another generation. The shift toward SUVs is so strong that the Legacy’s wagon sibling, the Outback, survived by evolving into a full-fledged SUV for its latest generation, which arrived for the 2026 model year.
The Best Time To Buy A Legacy Is Right Now
2025 Subaru Legacy SideSubaru
Subaru confirmed in the fall of 2024 that the 2025 model year would be the Legacy’s last, and the final sedan rolled off the assembly line at Subaru’s plant in Lafayette, Indiana on September 12, 2025. That might sound like bad news, but it’s actually created an interesting buying opportunity.
A quick search of popular classifieds, including the CarBuzz Marketplace, still turns up multiple brand-new examples alongside near-new cars showing little more than delivery miles. Many shoppers shy away from discontinued models, and dealers are often motivated to move remaining inventory, which gives you plenty of room to negotiate.
The best part is that you may not even need to negotiate to score a deal. Most of the remaining Legacy sedans are already priced to sell. The 2025 Legacy started at $26,810, or $27,980 once destination was added, and many of the cars still available are the better-equipped Legacy Premium, which originally carried a $27,195.
Today, plenty of those same cars can be found for under $30,000. The best deal we uncovered was a brand-new Legacy Premium located in Texas with an asking price of just $25,999, though most of the prices trend closer to $30,000.
2025 Subaru Legacy driving front 3/4Subaru
The prices make the Legacy look like an even better deal when compared with its rivals. Finding a new 2025 or 2026 Toyota Camry for less than $33,000 is difficult, despite starting at $28,400 and $29,600, respectively, or $29,595 and $30,795 once destination is included.
The Honda Accord tells a similar story, though you can’t get all-wheel drive with it. Although its base price was $28,295 for 2025 and $28,395 for 2026, rising to $29,490 and $29,590 with destination, most new examples listed for sale also hover around $33,000 or higher. Against those prices, a well-equipped Legacy Premium below $30,000 stands out as one of the best bargains in the midsize sedan market.
2025 Subaru Legacy Trims And Powertrains
2023 Subaru Legacy Interior View DashboardSubaru
The final Legacy lineup offered five trims: Base, Premium, Limited, Sport, and Touring XT. Most versions came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the Sport and Touring XT received a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four rated at 260 hp and 277 lb-ft. With the turbo engine, the Legacy reaches 60 mph in just over six seconds, though you’d better like CVTs as that’s the only transmission across the range.
Inside, the Legacy feels modern thanks to an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen that dominates the dashboard and includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the base trim makes do with two 7.0-inch screens (one for infotainment and the other for climate settings).
The value-focused Premium trim adds conveniences such as a 10-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. One annoyance is that Subaru bundled Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert into a separate option package instead of making it standard on the Premium. If these are important to you, make sure the car you’re considering has the package.
2025 Subaru Legacy interior steering wheelSubaru
If you want more performance, the Sport and Touring XT are the trims to target. Along with the turbocharged engine, the Sport adds unique exterior styling, 18-inch wheels, sport cloth upholstery with red accents, and a power moonroof, while the Touring XT piles on Nappa leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system.
The turbo engine is responsive, though the CVT’s tendency to let the engine drone under hard throttle takes some getting used to. Buyers used to genuine sports sedans may also find the suspension tuning a little too much on the comfort side.
How A Discontinued Sedan Holds Its Value Like A Segment Leader
2020 Subaru Legacy TrunkSubaru
As mentioned earlier, more than nine out of every 10 Legacy sedans built over the past decade are still on the road, and that impressive statistic is backed up by owner feedback. CarComplaints shows relatively few serious issues, especially for recent model years, while RepairPal gives the Legacy an above-average four out of five points for reliability. RepairPal also notes that major repairs are less common than average, reinforcing the Legacy’s reputation as a dependable long-term daily driver.
That reputation has also helped the Legacy hold onto its value better than many buyers might expect. According to CarEdge, the sedan typically retains close to 60 percent of its original value after five years and roughly 40 percent after 10 years.
That’s remarkably close to the benchmark Toyota Camry, which the same source estimates will retain about 63 percent of its value after five years and 43 percent after 10. In other words, despite flying under the radar for much of its life, the Legacy depreciates much like the segment leader.
2023 Subaru Legacy WheelSubaru
Discontinued models can sometimes suffer steeper depreciation as buyers worry about parts and long-term support. The Legacy shouldn’t fall into that trap. Subaru still has an extensive dealer network across the US, and the company has a strong track record of supporting older models with replacement parts. That means the Legacy should remain an easy car to own for years to come, making today’s discounted prices look even more compelling.
The Legacy Was Always Underrated – And That’s Exactly Why You Should Buy One Now
2020 Subaru Legacy. Sedan. Badge. Logo. EmblemSubaru USA
A safe, reliable midsize sedan with standard all-wheel drive for less than a comparable Camry or Accord is a rare find these days. That’s exactly what the discontinued Subaru Legacy offers. Remaining inventory won’t last forever, so if you’ve overlooked Subaru’s forgotten sedan, now may be the best time to give it a second look.
Base Trim Engine
2.5L H4 ICE
Base Trim Transmission
8-SPEED CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
182 HP @5800 RPM
Base Trim Torque
176 LB.-FT. @ 4400 RPM
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
27/35/30 MPG
Infotainment & Features
9 /10
Sources: Subaru, CarComplaints, CarEdge, RepairPal
