The current craze in automotive design that’s widely disliked is the fixation on dark plastic cladding. While it may be easy to clean, it often comes across as low-cost and only masquerades as heightened ground clearance if you squint your eyes, tilt your head, and disregard your automotive knowledge. Subaru has been particularly fond of this trend in recent times, incorporating it into over half of the models it has rolled out since 2017, with the most egregious example being the plastic-heavy, never-to-be-STI WRX. However, Subaru seems to have finally regained its sensibility, evident in the absence of plastic cladding on the revamped 2023 Legacy.
The update arrives just a couple of years into the current Legacy’s lifecycle, refreshing the sedan’s front fascia and LED headlights while enhancing its EyeSight safety technology. It also introduces the newest version of Subaru’s Starlink (not the one associated with space debris) infotainment system through an expansive 11.6-inch touchscreen, for those intrigued by such features. If that piques your interest, wait until you discover the “on-screen controls for audio, HVAC, and vehicle functions.”
Come on, folks—haven’t our repeated criticisms of this issue reached your ears over the years? It’s unmistakably unsafe and demonstrates a focus on following trends rather than spotlighting safety, which has been integral to Subaru’s brand image. The notion of physical buttons wasn’t flawed and didn’t require a remedy.
2023 Subaru Legacy Sport | Subaru
However, it’s not all negative. The refreshed Sport trim boasts Subaru’s enhanced 2.4-liter flat-four engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Teamed with a “sport-tuned suspension,” it’s essentially a WRX for individuals who wisely choose not to commit to a 108-month loan. It still features a CVT, a common feature in many modern WRX models as well.
I find myself genuinely intrigued by how it performs, if you can imagine that. However, considering what I’ve detailed about Subaru’s design preferences, I doubt I’ll have the opportunity to experience it firsthand.
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