Subaru has a well-deserved reputation for safe and sturdy all-wheel drive vehicles, especially wagons. What’s getting attention these days is Subaru technology, fuel economy, creature comforts and design, especially the family-friendly 2011 Subaru Legacy sedan, which has just been named “Car of the Month” by NADA Guides.
The Subaru Legacy has broken all sales records since its launch, because it is stylish, powerful, fun to drive, and gets an impressive 31mpg highway and 23mpg city. And you can buy in to the basic model for an equally impressive $19,995. So this car also gets my vote for one of best cars under $20,000.
The 2011 Subaru Legacy comes standard with a 170hp 2.5-liter aluminum-alloy 16-valve Boxer engine, or you can upgrade to a 265hp supercharged version, that’s rated at 25mpg highway/18mpg city.
And, it is packed with safety features that include brake assist, traction control and vehicle dynamics control. VDC is a sophisticated algorithm not often found in vehicles at Subaru’s price level, which monitors your speed, steering angles, brake pressure and g-forces and adds or reduces whatever is needed to what Subaru describes as “correct the vehicle”. That’s lawyer-speak for helping you stay on the road. But, as with any safety feature, it’s there to help in an an emergency.
I haven’t had a chance yet to test drive the 2011 Subaru Legacy yet, but when I test drove the 2010 model, I was impressed by the sporty and responsive handling and performance. Here’s a longer review of the 2010 Subaru Legacy on The Car Connection.
The 2011 Subaru Legacy comes standard with 24-hour roadside assistance and a 3yr/36,000-mile warranty and a powertrain warranty for up to five years or 60,000 miles. The base model starts at $19,995, the 3.6R Limited starts at $28,295 and the 2.5GT Limited starts at $31,395.
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