Subaru’s fourth generation Legacy range was unveiled to keen viewers at the Durban Motor Show earlier this month, weeks before its official launch.
The new 2-litre turbo and 2.5-litre normally-aspirated four wheel drive sedans will create considerable interest from two areas of the market, says Subaru’s, Teresita van Gaalen. “The advent of the mid-sized sedan will appeal to prospective Subaru purchasers who previously did not want to own an SUV but found the Impreza 2.0 GX too small. The second segment consists of people who place styling and looks high on their priority list.”
Van Gaalen says the brand’s price management policy that has ensured minimal increases of 10,5% vs an industry figure of 36% in the past 30 months. “We are now active in a much wider band that includes the lower level of the luxury market through to the upper levels of the mid-range priced vehicles.”
A total of six Legacy models will be introduced locally, with manual and automatic versions of the 2,5 litre sedan and wagon as well as the executive-spec GT in both body styles. The GT utilises an auto transmission that is claimed to function like a manual when the driver wants it to, and with Subaru’s usual focus on performance we’d expect it to work better than most that make similar claims. They are, generally, not too good. Acceleration to 100 km/hr takes around 7,6 seconds, and those who think the national speed limit is too low can travel at more than double that if the don’t mind selling their houses to pay the fines.
Prices will be announced shortly.