By: IOL Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - Well aware of the kind of cars its local customers prefer, Subaru won't be messing around with any low-end versions of its all-new Legacy.
The sixth-generation sedan reaches South African showrooms in mid-March and the sole engine option will be Subaru's 3.6-litre flat six, priced around the R530 000 mark.
The normally aspirated six delivers 191kW at 6000rpm and 350Nm at 4400rpm and according to Subaru it'll pounce from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds and, when driven more sedately, sip 9.9 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.
Power is channelled to all four wheels by a Lineartronic CVT gearbox and an improved version of Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system. To further sharpen its dynamic pencil, the new Legacy comes with Active Torque Vectoring, which can apply braking pressure to the inside front wheel for extra stability during high-speed cornering.
Yet the Legacy appears to be equally good at the job of comfortably hauling people around and to that end, the new model is quieter, more refined and larger than its predecessor. In fact Subaru's US division claims it has the largest cabin in that country's 'mid-sized' sedan segment.
The new cabin also aims for a more premium feel with its horizontally-themed design, soft-touch materials and improved infotainment system.
Subaru SA has yet to go into detail about the features that will be fitted to the local 3.6R model, but is promising a “full house” helping of luxury items.