Exterior changes are limited to new door mirrors, one new paint colour and the addition of a sportier front bumper, grille and dark-tinted headlamp lenses for the top two trims. Confusingly, a face-lifted version - with new-look bumpers and grille - goes on sale in other markets this summer, but these changes won't filter through to UK models until late 2012.
For now, the most significant changes to the Legacy Tourer are to its 2.0-litre diesel engine. A range of new components have made it more efficient; average fuel economy improves from 46.3mpg to 49.6mpg, while CO2 emissions are cut from 161g/km to 149g/km.
Subaru has dropped the entry-level 2.0-litre petrol model, so prices now start at £26,900. The 2.5 petrol model – which has an automatic gearbox as standard – starts at £29,075.
What’s the 2012 Subaru Legacy like to drive?
We drove the 2.0D model. Although it’s cleaner than before, the Legacy’s ‘boxer’ diesel engine (the pistons are placed horizontally, punching outwards) has the same 145bhp output. Performance is respectable, but the engine isn’t as flexible as you might expect, with rather lacklustre responses at low revs.
The engine is a little noisy, too, and sounds clattery at low revs. It’s unobtrusive once you’re up to speed, but the amount of road noise on the motorway means the Legacy isn’t as refined as a Ford Mondeo Estate or Volkswagen Passat Estate.
The Legacy isn’t as good to drive as those two rivals, either. On the plus side, standard four-wheel drive means excellent traction and there’s plenty of grip through corners. The handling is fine, too, but the Legacy always feels its size and the steering is slow to respond at speed.
Our test car was in top-spec SE Navplus trim, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels and sportier Bilstein dampers. In this guise, body control is good, but the ride is firm and sharper low-speed bumps thud through the cabin.
What’s the 2012 Subaru Legacy like inside?
The Legacy is a big car and its cabin is very practical. There’s generous head- and legroom in the front and rear, and a central rear passenger can sit in comfort.
There's a 526-litre loadspace with the rear seats up and 1677 litres when they’re folded, which means the Legacy Tourer is almost as roomy as a Ford Mondeo Estate, and that's saying something. Access is good and it’s easy to fold the rear seats flat.
Things are less rosy up front, because the Legacy’s dashboard looks like it’s from a different era. The controls and instruments are dated and the silver-on-silver colour scheme makes it tricky to find the button you’re after quickly.
Build quality is solid, but the cabin materials are drab and the Legacy’s interior isn’t classy enough for a car that costs close to – and in some cases, more than – £30,000.
Should I buy one?
At £26,900 the entry-level Legacy 2.0D S looks pricey, although there aren’t many rivals that provide standard four-wheel drive and as much space. Standard kit is generous, and includes climate control, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth and electric driver’s seat adjustment. SE trim bumps the price up to £28,850, while the version we drove – the SE Navplus – costs £31,370.
Like all of its models, the Legacy comes with Subaru’s ‘Everything Taken Care of’ (ETCo) package as standard, which includes free minor bodywork and alloy wheel repairs, a monthly wash, and winter wheel and tyre storage.
Ultimately, the Legacy is too expensive to recommend. A Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec costs £4455 less than the entry-level version and is classier, more practical and better to drive. If you must have four-wheel drive, SUVs such as the Audi Q3 are much more appealing.
