2013 Subaru Legacy: Car Seat Check

Subaru refreshed its Legacy sedan for 2013, but you're not alone if the changes don't look that obvious. The sedan got a modified grille, minor bumper design tweaks and larger fog lights. For families, the big news is its newly available suite of safety features. Subaru's Eyesight system combines adaptive cruise control, an auto braking system and a lane departure warning system.

As in previous years, the sedan's backseat is cavernous. A wide seat-bottom cushion and accessible Latch anchors make this a roomy, comfortable sedan for families.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Subaru Legacy

Subaru's updated-for-2013 Legacy is a handsome-looking sedan with a capable all-wheel-drive system, says Cars.com reviewer Kristin Varela. The interior, however, needs work. Despite the rest of the car being overhauled for the new model year, the cabin looks and feels dated, Varela says.

2013 Subaru Legacy Review

Manual Transmissions Fading Out of Midsize Sedan Lineups

Soon a majority of mainstream midsize sedans will have standard automatic transmissions and no manual transmission option.

It's been a long time coming. The stick shift has stuck around longer on midsize sedans than on other body styles, probably due to the broad appeal of the segment; these cars still make up the most vehicle sales in the U.S. The manual-transmission option also allowed marketing departments to advertise the highest fuel-efficiency figures and the lowest base prices, which were usually found on the manual-equipped models.

2013 Subaru Legacy: Photo Gallery

The Subaru Legacy gets a mild refresh for 2013, bringing the same updates also found on the new 2013 Outback. 

More 2012 New York Auto Show Coverage

Updates include a new four-cylinder engine that's more powerful and fuel efficient. Unfortunately, the Legacy loses its turbocharged 2.5GT trim for the model year. The Legacy goes on sale this summer.

2013 Subaru Outback and Legacy: Up Close

It takes a close inspection to sniff out the styling changes to Subaru's popular midsize cars, the Legacy sedan and Outback wagon. Subaru's winged grille bars jog up at the center, and both cars get larger optional fog lights.

More 2012 New York Auto Show Coverage

The Outback's rear crossbars now have two mounting points 10 inches apart, allowing them to accommodate bikes or longer canoes better than last year's narrower mounting points.

2013 Subaru Legacy at the 2012 New York International Auto Show

• Competes with: Ford Fusion, Suzuki Kizashi, Toyota Camry  
• Looks like: The Legacy grows a pair of eyes  
• Drivetrain: 173-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or CVT; 256-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder with five-speed automatic 
• Hits dealerships: This summer

For the 2013 model year, the Subaru Legacy gets a mild refresh with a slightly redesigned front end, a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder and automatic transmission, and a driver-assist safety program, which includes stereo-vision cameras. Unfortunately for performance junkies, the turbocharged 2.5GT, with its 265-hp, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual, has been dropped for 2013.

More 2012 New York Auto Show Coverage

Up front, the 2013 Subaru Legacy gets new headlights, grille, fog light and bumper designs that tie in better with the all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza.

Subaru Celebrates 25 Years of Manufacturing in the U.S.

This month, Subaru celebrates its 25th anniversary of production in the U.S., according to the carmaker. Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. started in 1987 as a joint-venture between Fuji Heavy Industries (owner of the Subaru brand) and Isuzu.

The car plant originally built Subaru Legacys and Isuzu pickup trucks and Rodeos for U.S. consumption.

Today, the 820-acre facility employees 3,600 workers and can build 360,000 vehicles a year. Currently, the plant builds the Subaru Legacy, Outback and Tribeca as well as the 2012 Toyota Camry, under contract with Toyota, according to Subaru.

Recall Alert: 2012 Subaru Legacy, Outback

Subaru is recalling 381 Legacy and Outback vehicles from the 2012 model year because the side curtain airbags may not inflate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23, 2011, the airbags contain the incorrect propellant mixture. As a result, there may be an insufficient output of compressed gas, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Subaru will notify owners in early April, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain airbag modules for free. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Year-End Deal Reality Check: Subaru

Many major retailers are parading their best deals to boost year-end sales, and automakers are no exception. This means the year’s end can be one of the best times to buy a new car, and if it’s a Subaru, donate to charity as well.

Subaru’s offer includes a good deal for buyers and a chance to do a little good for others. Its "Share the Love" event means qualified buyers can get zero-percent financing, pay no money down on most 2012 Subaru vehicles and the automaker will make a charitable donation in the buyer’s name.

After making your new-car purchase, Subaru will donate $250 to your choice of four charities. The organizations include American Forests, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels and the Special Olympics. So far, Subaru has given almost $15 million to the charities during the last three years.

The zero-percent offer is good on all Subaru vehicles except the redesigned Impreza, though WRX models qualify for zero-percent financing. Instead, qualified Impreza shoppers can take advantage of a 1.9% financing deal. The 2012 Impreza starts at $17,495, excluding a $750 destination charge. Share the Love cannot be combined with any other offers and ends Jan. 3, 2012.

Subaru Issues Recall, Stop-Sale Notice for 2012 Impreza, Legacy, Outback

Subaru has issued a recall for about 31,959 2012 Impreza, Legacy and Outback vehicles as well as a stop-sale order to dealers because there’s too much brake pedal travel in these cars, Subaru spokesman Michael McHale told USA Today. The automaker had alerted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which says it will publish a formal recall notice on its website soon.

NHTSA had received about 130 complaints about the braking troubles. Subaru dealers will replace the faulty master cylinders with new ones once they receive them.

Strong sales and supply problems related to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami have kept Subaru dealers’ inventory low, which in turn is keeping this recall’s numbers low.