April 24, 2024

After 36 Years, Subaru Is Ending The Legacy Model Line


Subaru is discontinuing its longest running model line: the Legacy by 2025. After six generations and 36 years, the mid-sized / executive sedan’s discontinuation comes as the brand focuses its efforts on making more crossovers and SUVs as well as electrified vehicles, including EVs.

In a statement, Subaru says:

Though the Legacy is the longest-running Subaru model line, its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers and Subaru’s transition to electrified and fully electric vehicles. Including the Solterra EV, which debuted in the 2023 model year.

The statement couldn’t have been more accurate. In the U.S. alone, the Legacy sold 25,000 units last year compared to its lifted twin, the Outback which sold more than 160,000. In the Philippines, the Legacy was discontinued by Subaru distributor Motor Image in 2022.

The first-generation Legacy, launched in 1989, began a new era for Subaru with a competitive mid-sized sedan and wagon that featured sleek styling and advanced technology such as multi-point fuel injection, four-wheel disc brakes, fully independent suspension, and available Full-Time AWD. Later, the Legacy Wagon became the foundation for the Subaru Outback.

The demise of the Legacy may have repercussions across the rest of the Subaru line. Its compact sedan and hatchback, the Impreza, may meet a similar fate. Last year, the Impreza sold 34,000 units in the U.S. but that’s small compared to the Crosstrek’s 159,000 figure. The Impreza was quietly killed off in 2020 in the Philippines as well.

4 comments:

  1. Subaru Legacy flopped badly when Subaru moved the production of it in America and turned it into a generic Camry,Accord,Malibu and Altima rival sedan..Subaru also prioritized the Outback wagon over the Legacy sedan

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  2. Damn millenials. Why do they need to have such a hard on with crossovers and SUVs? They're killing the sedans!

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  3. Why oh why? I believe Subaru will focus on SUVs just like most of the automakers.

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  4. If Mazda can make the 6 survive, why can't Subaru do the same with their Legacy?

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