Subaru Legacy: history, nicknames and how to spot one

At a glance

101–296 hpPower

5.2–8.1 s0–60 mph

208–243 km/hTop speed

190–400 N·mTorque

1,300–1,704 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.^{4,6,8,10,13,14,15,16}

Engine: 1.6–2.5 L boxer fours, including turbos/diesel; 3.0–3.6 L boxer sixes^4,6,11
Layout: Front-engine; FWD (1989–1999) or AWD (1989–2025)³
Gearbox: 5/6-speed manuals; 4/5-speed automatics; Lineartronic CVT^6,11
Built at: Yajima plant, Japan; SIA Lafayette, Indiana, United States^3,12
Units built: 3,000,000 by March 14, 2005, including Outback¹

The story

Created to replace the Leone and challenge North America's midsize market, the Legacy arrived in 1989 with a new EJ flat-four. Sedan and wagon bodies offered optional full-time AWD; Japan's turbo RS made 217 hp.^1,3,4

GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones^{1,2,3,4,5,6,9,11,14,23,24,25}

Show the numbers

Year	What happened
1971–1994	Subaru Leone
1989–1994	Subaru Legacy (first generation) (BC/BJ/BF)
1993–1999	Subaru Legacy (second generation) (BD/BG/BK)
1995–	Subaru Outback
1998–2004	Subaru Legacy (third generation) (BE/BH/BT)
2003–2009	Subaru Legacy (fourth generation) (BL/BP)
2009–2014	Subaru Legacy (fifth generation) (BM/BR)
2014–2020	Subaru Legacy (sixth generation) (BN)
2019–2025	Subaru Legacy (seventh generation)
1989	100,000 km at 223.345 km/h
1993	GT introduces sequential twin turbos
2005	3 million built, including Outback
2008	2.0D: first passenger-car boxer diesel
2012	2.0GT DIT: 296 hp through a CVT
2019	2020 Legacy: turbo returns, new platform
2025	September 12: the final Legacy

1989
100,000 km at 223.345 km/h
The first-generation Legacy sets an FIA-certified endurance record in January, averaging 223.345 km/h over 100,000 km.¹
1993
GT introduces sequential twin turbos
Japan's GT arrives in October with sequential twins: one boosts low down, the second adds high-rpm power, with a dead zone around 4700–5200 rpm.⁵
2005
3 million built, including Outback
The worldwide production tally reaches 3 million on March 14, counting Outback models.¹
2008
2.0D: first passenger-car boxer diesel
Europe's 2.0D debuts in March with a 148-hp 2.0-liter EE20 and a five-speed manual; highway economy is estimated near 50 mpg.^3,6,7
2012
2.0GT DIT: 296 hp through a CVT
Japan's facelift adds a direct-injection 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo with 400 Nm and a Lineartronic CVT built for higher torque.⁸
2019
2020 Legacy: turbo returns, new platform
The seventh generation adopts Subaru Global Platform and an available 11.6-inch touchscreen alongside its returning turbo option.^9,10
2025
September 12: the final Legacy
A Magnetite Gray Limited with a 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-four and AWD closes the 36-year run at Lafayette, Indiana.²

Every generation

Subaru Leone1971–1994
BC/BJ/BF1989–1994
BD/BG/BK1993–1999
Subaru Outback1995–
BE/BH/BT1998–2004
BL/BP2003–2009
BM/BR2009–2014
Subaru Levorg
BN2014–2020
Subaru Legacy (seventh generation)2019–2025

Power over the years

From 217 hp to 296 hp in 23 years.

^{1,3,4,5,6,8,10,14,15,16,17,18,19}

Show the numbers

Year	Horsepower	Model
1989	217	Japan RS homologation, five-speed
1991	160	U.S. Sport Sedan, EJ22T
1993	247	Japan GT sequential twin-turbo
1996	276	Japan GT-B, manual
1998	276	Japan B4 RSK, manual twin-turbo
2002	289	S401 STI version, six-speed manual
2003	276	Japan 2.0GT twin-scroll, manual
2004	242	3.0R spec B flat-six, six-speed manual
2005	250	U.S. 2.5GT Limited, five-speed manual
2008	281	S402 sedan/wagon, six-speed manual
2012	296	Japan 2.0GT DIT, high-torque CVT
2020	260	XT 2.4-liter turbo

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

Standard

Base / Premium / Limited

2023

182 hp
Performance

B4 RSK / RS30
Performance

2.0GT DIT (Japan)

2012

296 hp
Performance

2.5GT spec.B (North America)
Special

Legacy / Liberty GT tuned by STI

2005–2008
Special

Blitzen: 2.0GT / 3.0R spec.B
Limited

50th Anniversary Edition (US)

2018
Limited

2.5GT tS (Japan)

2010

600 built
Limited

S402

2008

281 hp
Limited

S401 STI version

2002

289 hp

How to spot one

Look for

First-generation sedan: the window line dips at the front doors and kicks up at the rear.⁴
Fourth generation: frameless door glass and a low window line give the cabin an airy look.^6,22
Fifth generation: 3.6R badge at the lower right rear; Boxer Diesel badge at the middle right.¹¹
2020 seventh generation: a hexagonal grille and C-shaped taillights extending onto the trunk lid.⁹

Year by year

2001
Third-generation D-Type cars have a taller grille, altered headlight shapes and a revised bumper around the grille.¹⁴
2006 Japan; 2008 US
Japan gets new bumpers, lights, fenders and grille; the later US sedan update changes bumpers, fenders, taillights and wheels.⁶
2009 / 2010 US model year
Fifth-generation cars gain window frames; wagons lose the glass covering on the rearmost roof pillar.¹¹
2023
The facelift brings a more prominent grille and redesigned LED headlights.¹²
2023 Sport / Touring XT
Sport wears a red grille stripe, gray mirrors, spoiler and 18-inch wheels; Touring XT has satin-chrome mirrors with turn signals.¹²

Don’t confuse it with

Legacy
Subaru Outback
Subaru Outback
Early Legacy-based Outbacks add body cladding, big fog lights and a raised ride height.²

Against its rivals

Legacy vs Acura TSX

0–97 km/h lower is better

Legacy5.7 s

Acura TSX7.5 s
²²
Legacy vs Audi A4 1.8T

0–97 km/h lower is better

Legacy5.7 s

Audi A4 1.8T8.1 s
²²
Legacy vs Volvo S40 T5

0–97 km/h lower is better

Legacy5.7 s

Volvo S40 T56.7 s
²²
Legacy vs Honda Accord 2.0T

0–97 km/h lower is better

Legacy6.1 s

Honda Accord 2.0T5.7 s
¹⁰

Prices

Value today $5.6K–$27.0K^13,32

Price when newAuction saleValue today

^{3,9,10,12,13,15,18,21,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40}

Show the numbers

Year	Price	Amount	Detail
1991	Launch price	$19,294	US Sport Sedan base price, 1991 model year
1991	Price when new	$19,294	US Sport Sedan, base
2005	Price when new	$30,072	US 2.5GT Limited, as tested
2012	Price when new	$33,447	US 2.5GT Limited, sticker total
2018	Price when new	$31,490	US 50th 2.5i Limited MSRP excl D&D
2018	Price when new	$33,840	US 50th 3.6R Limited MSRP excl D&D
2020	Price when new	$27,845	US Sport, base
2020	Price when new	$36,795	US Touring XT, base
2023	Price when new	$24,395	US base MSRP, excl destination
2023	Price when new	$33,895	US Sport MSRP, excl destination
2023	Price when new	$37,695	US Touring XT MSRP, excl destination
2023	Auction sale	$5,750	1993 L 25th Anniversary wagon, 93k miles shown, BaT
2024	Auction sale	$8,300	1996 Touring GT-B, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$8,750	1993 GT Touring Wagon 5-speed, 69k miles, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$6,800	2008 2.5GT spec.B, 123k miles shown, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$6,666	2000 Blitzen 5-speed, about 89k miles shown, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$9,050	1996 Touring GT-B, about 30k miles shown, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$13,065	2007 2.5GT spec.B 6-speed, 141k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$5,600	1995 L sedan automatic, 19k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$27,000	2012 2.5GT Limited 6-speed, 36k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$5,400	2005 2.5GT sedan, 94k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$7,300	2004 L 35th Anniversary wagon, 71k miles, BaT
2026	Value today	$5,600–$27,000

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

Versions
- Why each of the 10 versions matters
Legend
- 11 stories from its legend
- “100,000 km at 223.345 km/h”
- “249.981 km/h at Bonneville”
Generations
- The story of each of the 10 generations
Market
- 4 things to check before buying one

Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 40 sources

FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Ltd. NEWS RELEASE | NewsRelease | Subaru Corporation subaru.co.jp
The Subaru Legacy Has Reached the End of the Production Line caranddriver.com
Subaru Legacy - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Subaru Legacy (first generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Subaru Legacy (second generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Subaru Legacy (fourth generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
2008 Subaru Legacy Diesel - First Drive - Truck Trend motortrend.com
FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Ltd. NEWS RELEASE | NewsRelease | Subaru Corporation subaru.co.jp
WORLD PREMIER OF ALL-NEW 2020 SUBARU LEGACY SEDAN | NewsRelease | Subaru Corporation subaru.co.jp
2020 Subaru Legacy First Test Review: More Than Meets the Eye motortrend.com
Subaru Legacy (fifth generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
SUBARU ANNOUNCES PRICING ON REFRESHED 2023 OUTBACK AND LEGACY MODELS prnewswire.com
No Reserve: 19k-Mile 1995 Subaru Legacy L Sedan for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,600 on June 5, 2026 (Lot #246,196) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
Subaru Legacy (third generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
1991 Subaru Legacy Sport Sedan: Needs More Sport caranddriver.com
2004 Subaru Legacy 3.0R-B review - stirring mid-sizer a premium saloon rival | evo evo.co.uk
LEGACY S401 STI version｜HERITAGE｜STI sti.jp
2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Limited caranddriver.com
S402｜HERITAGE｜STI sti.jp
Buying a used Subaru Liberty (2003-2009) - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
Subaru of America Debuts Limited Edition Models To Commemorate 50th Anniversary prnewswire.com
Tested: 2004 Sports Sedan Comparo caranddriver.com
Subaru Leone - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Subaru Legacy (sixth generation) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
Subaru Liberty used car review | RACV racv.com.au
SUBARU NEWS | ニュースリリース | 株式会社SUBARU（スバル） subaru.co.jp
When McRae created a legacy in New Zealand – DirtFish dirtfish.com
マシンを大幅アップグレードしたSUPER GT仕様の「レガシィB4」 - Car Watch car.watch.impress.co.jp
La historia de Subaru a través de la pantalla (5) - Universo Subaru subaru.es
Rami’s Racing History Celebrates Mexico’s Rich Car Culture in Forza Horizon 5 forza.net
Gran Turismo 6 - List of featured cars gran-turismo.com
36k-Mile Original-Owner 2012 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT Limited for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $27,000 on October 23, 2026 (Lot #270,134) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: JDM 1993 Subaru Legacy GT Touring Wagon 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $8,750 on December 11, 2025 (Lot #223,063) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec.B for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $13,065 on March 31, 2026 (Lot #235,795) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,400 on April 29, 2026 (Lot #240,213) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 1996 Subaru Legacy Touring GT-B for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $9,050 on July 19, 2025 (Lot #201,128) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2004 Subaru Legacy L 35th Anniversary Edition Wagon for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,300 on March 25, 2026 (Lot #235,018) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT spec.B for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $6,800 on December 13, 2025 (Lot #223,374) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 2000 Subaru Legacy Blitzen 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $6,666 on September 28, 2025 (Lot #212,197) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
No Reserve: 1993 Subaru Legacy L 25th Anniversary Wagon for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $5,750 on November 6, 2023 (Lot #126,529) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com

subaru.co.jp
caranddriver.com
en.wikipedia.org
motortrend.com
prnewswire.com
bringatrailer.com
evo.co.uk
sti.jp
carsales.com.au
racv.com.au
dirtfish.com
car.watch.impress.co.jp
subaru.es
forza.net

At a glance

The story

100,000 km at 223.345 km/h

GT introduces sequential twin turbos

3 million built, including Outback

2.0D: first passenger-car boxer diesel

2.0GT DIT: 296 hp through a CVT

2020 Legacy: turbo returns, new platform

September 12: the final Legacy

Every generation

Power over the years

Versions

Base / Premium / Limited

B4 RSK / RS30

2.0GT DIT (Japan)

2.5GT spec.B (North America)

Legacy / Liberty GT tuned by STI

Blitzen: 2.0GT / 3.0R spec.B

50th Anniversary Edition (US)

2.5GT tS (Japan)

S402

S401 STI version

How to spot one

Look for

Year by year

Don’t confuse it with

Subaru Outback

Against its rivals

Prices

The rest of the story is in the app

Versions

Legend

Generations

Market

Sources

Photo credits

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