US-spec 2009 Subaru Legacy revealed

By George Skentzos | April 01st, 2009

Subaru has chosen a rather inconvenient day to officially unveil the North American version of the new generation Subaru Legacy – April Fool’s day of course, but this is no joke.

The new Legacy – better known as the Liberty in Australia – will be unveiled at the New York International Auto Show on April 9.

The refined Legacy will be exclusively available in the United States and Canada, and will go on sale around June in those markets.

Other markets, including Australia, will receive a different version of the car based on the Japanese domestic specification vehicles.

Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia, said: “Safety, performance and style are all key ingredients in the new generation Liberty mix. Combined with the high quality engineering for which Subaru is renowned, it represents a formidable package.”

The local version is confirmed to be slightly narrower than its US-spec cousin, although it will still be longer and wider than the current model – offering significant increases in passenger and cargo area.

Built on an entirely new platform, several technical innovations will also debut with the new model including a Lineartronic CVT and six-speed manual transmission options on some variants, plus the choice of a 3.6-litre six-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine.

Our very own version will be previewed when the Japanese domestic market versions go on sale in Japan mid-year, with the new Liberty to arrive in Australia by September.

EOTC

Oh great. I have been dying to see what the new Liberty was going to look like. If this is it, well, then it’s very disappointing. Gone are the sporty, sleek and timeless lines of the current model, and here we have something that is along the lines of the Honda Accord (non Euro model). Looks very old man-ish. Bugger.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Please remember that this is the US spec Legacy, and we all know USians have a unique taste in cars. I am willing to bet both bumpers, tail-lights and rear boot will be different in the JDM (and Oz) version.
EOTC

I realy hope you are right, Supercujo.
George

Looks like lexus at the rear and dogs breakfast at the front.
Have they really lost their mind?
Frontman

One can only hope that this is more of an April fools day joke than the CA one!! Sure the lights are supposed to be different on domestic and Aus spec cars, but WTF is with the wheel arch flares??? Seriously Subaru need to go and buy Bangle to replace their current designer. (at least Chris could explain his thoughts as a rational design)
Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

My first thought was I was looking at a Hyundai Genesis , Subaru really are trying to move away from that sporty image arent they ? Pity ! I hope the sales are what there seeking with these changes.
RALLYX

Subaru (FHI)……..let me know when you need a new car-designer!! Once again you have cannibalised a perfectly great design and have come up with this! Liberty/Legacy has always had an individual style, even though it was plain and simple (remember sometimes less is more). Liberty had something to distinguish it from the rest of the cars in its class. This looks no different to the new Mazda6, new Honda Accord Euro or the new Nissan Maxima. Subaru, get some designers with a little more individual ideas on styling. No longer do we Subaru’s with Frameless Glass Doors; a trademark of their individual design philosophy. Unfortunately, Subaru has become the typical run-of –the-mill car manufacturer of recent times in the design department. Their only (and I mean their ONLY) advantage now over any other car manufacturer is their Symmetrical AWD and Boxer Engines, to bad these now come wrapped in typical everyday mundane bodies.
Allan D

Looks a bit like a lexus, mazda 6 or hyundai elantra (the rear anyway). Hopefully the STi tuned version looks better.
Bret

FM I don’t mind the wheelarches, but agree the front is typical US ugly.

At least Subaru are prepared to give the rest of the world a different look to the US, unlike Toyota who foisted the ugly US Camry on us all.
http://internode.on.net Peter

Holy crap – from the current, beautiful design to this monstrosity (however, maybe someone a bit bigger than a midget can fit into this version as opposed to the current car).

Frontman, maybe the arches were built-in ready for the duff-duff brigade to fit 22 inch rims?
Joober@Work

IMO definately out of taste and yes it looks like something from the Kia/Hyundai catalogue. And those wheelarches seriously…

I hope SuperKujo is right on this one…
Dan

Not a fan of this look. Luckily Aus will get a different model. Hopefully it will be as good as the current one. Current Liberty is one of the better looking cars on the market. Despite its age, it still looks modern enough, and attractive. Hopefully Subaru won’t stuff up the formula for us, like they did with this US version.
o

who the hell designed this thing.does Subaru not do design clinics?
Craig

I didn’t realise that Subaru were making Epica’s… Looks an aweful lot like one. Maybe it will help boost Epica sales.
Motorhead

I agree it has the aweful Dame Edna headlights of the Epicac, Lexus style blandness at the rear & wheel arch flares that don’t fit with the lines & just make the standard wheels & tyres look too small like most Toyotas.
Dan

Joober – “IMO definately out of taste and yes it looks like something from the Kia/Hyundai catalogue”

LOL! Gotta laugh whenever there’s an ugly car, it’s immediately compared to a Korean brand. But agreed, it looks out of proportion, the doors and the rear quarter with the odd looking flares, looks like a cut and chop from three different cars. I usually love flared guards, but those look ridiculous!
RALLYX

Nick Senior from Subaru Australia may have got the “Safety and Performance” part right, but “style”, come no Nick pull your head out of the sand mate.

Think Subaru Think! What’s the ‘Number 1’ objective in the Automotive Industry (given all the Design and R&D you put in?) I’ll give you a clue, it’s called “SALES”. And this new contribution is sure to lift the global ailing new-car sales, right?
darren

after looking at it a few times, doesnt actually look too bad. can’t wait to see the Turbo Version but with better bumpers for the Aus market.
Bret

RALLYX, settle on the heavies for poor old Nick S. Don’t forget that these pictures are of the US Legacy, and Nick wa talking about the upcoming Japan/World/Aus version (that he has obviously seen and we haven’t).
Martin

it looks like a terrible mash up of a Mazda6, Lexus IS and the new Accord. And what a stupid grille.
Dan

The headlights are shocking too, look more ridiculous than ones on the 5 series bmw…
Chris

I love the look of my 04 GT even more now. If the Aus Spec Liberty will look like this, its a real shame.
OURS

Wah!!! The front looks like a Holden Epica to me!!!
Tim

Subaru…I am a big fan of your cars. But WTF is this?!?! Whats with the wheel arches, it looks ridiculous and weird – tires look like 14″. I really hope we get something different here in Australia.

Agree with Chris, my ’07 3.0R-B looks 1000 times better than this. Subaru should have learnt the lesson with the Impreza!
Tim

On another note though, this doesnt look too bad. Just reduce those wheel arches and get some decent rims (why does Subaru make the most boring wheels on its new cars?) and you have quite a good, out of the ordinary looking car. Want to see the interior pics, better be as good as the current models!

Spam Word: Subaru
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Peter, why do you say only a midget can fit in the current Liberty? I have an 07 2.5i wagon and I fit fine, all 186cm of me.
http://internode.on.net Peter

Supercujo, I’m 195cm and 125kgs and getting on – can’t bend like I used to. BTW, I’m not knocking the current Liberty – looks and drives are A1, just a tad small.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

Peter, so anything smaller than yourself (giant?) is a midget?

I’m 186cm and 100kg, so I am definitely not small.
http://internode.on.net Peter

SuperC – yeah, I guess I am a “little” oversized and should not refer to people under 6’5″ as midgets, sorry ’bout that.
Sunny

I reckon the design of all new subaru’s have something to do with Toyota involvement in the business.

I read not a while back that subarus are over engineered, which may explain why quality has dropped all of sudden. And mind you I am not talking about design of the car, also drive train and engine performance.

A very good example is what happened with Impreza, subaru released the car with an intention of increasing sales but at what cost ? look what happened to WRX. I really feel sorry for people who actually spent top dollar for WRX last year, just to be told that this years modal will have better kit.

I used to own MY05 RS, and IMO the interior for that car at that time was brilliant. When I test drove new RS, it just has cheap plasticy bits all over.

Now I own a MY08 Liberty GT Spec B, and I am very glad that I have one of these…
RALLYX

BRET, it almost gets personal when I talk ‘Subaru’. I’m a Subaru loyalist, so I get upset when Subaru dishes out example as such. I also get annoyed when Automotive Executives make presumptuous comments about their company products which clearly don’t fit the bill, this being the word “Style”. It has none.
What makes everyone think that the Australia version of the new Liberty will be any different from the U.S. version? How different will it be? I doubt that Subaru will build two different type bodies of the new Liberty, one for Aus/Jap/World and one for the US, it wouldn’t be feasible, especially in today’s economic circumstances. Body-wise the MY10 Liberty won’t differ between markets, maybe cosmetically it will but only too the smaller details on items such as bumpers, grille, lights etc. And Bret where does it say that Nick was talking about the upcoming Japan/World/Aus version that he has obviously seen and we haven’t?
o

drive reported that the US spec is wider than the japan version we get
Devil666

Mercedes called, the SL wants its’ headlights back.

As for the rest: BARF.

The current Liberty is just right.
Andronicus

Front looks like an Epica, rear looks like a new Cerato.
All that equals a pretty boring package.

Why are all the Subaru models so uninspiring? New Impreza is snoozeville, this is beige and that 7 seat wagon thing they unveiled is just plain wrong. And lets not even talk about the lameness of the Tribeca. Who are they trying to be; Toyota?
RALLYX

Andronicus, you are right in saying that Subaru are trying to be; Toyota. This is because the Subaru Execs at ‘Toyota/Subaru’ have now all become like robots and the Toyota Execs are controlling them to produce Subaru badged-Toyotas.
Bret

“O” didn’t you read the article?

“The local version is confirmed to be slightly narrower than its US-spec cousin,… “
Twilight

i absolutely love framless doors. love them, especially when theyre opened and the windows are down, i think theyre sensational – BUT WHY HAVE SUBARU BECOME SO AMERICANISED AND REMOVED THESE?!

btw CA-fans, the current ‘legacy’ over in the US is the same as ours design wise, so ours will indeed look like this, only with different specifications and options… i hope not, but this is most likely the case.

SUBARU, aspiring car designer here, give me a chance. haha, im sure i can do better than this guy!

p.s. im in year 12 in NSW, can anyone out there help me with what courses/uni does a course in automobile design?
Baji

Twilight, the Legacy/Liberty posted above is the US version, which is widebodied. The Auz/Jap Spec one will apparently be larger than the outgoing model, but smaller in size to this one. It will probably also look different (headlights, taillights, etc.)

As for auto design, im not sure if there really is a course for specifically auto design, but a lot of uni’s offer Industrial design courses, which from there u can branch out. Check out Wheels young designer of the year. a lot of the finalists are from melbourne.
Myke

It is not as bad as some of the current Subarus, but it is a bit plain. I’m not a fan either of the Holden Epica headlights. From the side, it looks very Lexus.
greenroom

Legacy. Jeez. You bet. What a dud looker. Say no more.
Jimmy

Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww!!!

Subaru have officially lost the plot. US spec or not, just like the rest of their current line, this thing is DANG.
Alan

Twilight, from what i have read, frameless doors were removed to improve sealing and noise insulation, as Subaru seeks to improve it’s NVH to the same level as other Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda.

I won’t be surprised if our Legacy will be very different, this looks like a US Accord, and look at how different the Japanese and US Accord looks. Hope the Japanese Legacy will be much better than this though. This article mentioned CVT, wonder if that mean no more tradtional auto box? or just for the US market. With Europe preferring manual, Japanese preferring CVT, if US gets CVT, i won’t be surprised if we get CVT too.
Elitist

This and the Camry have become the sensible sedan for Australia.
Police should be using these cars.
Alan

oh, and as for the styling of this US version, i think it’s not bad, certainlly much better than the Impreza and Tribeca. Seems though that Subaru wants to move more upmarket and moving away from the rice car image for its brand, and this can be seen from the more mature styling employed by this car. The truth is, there really isn’t any car in the segment with a truly good looking design.
Alan

By the way, for those who hasn’t seen it, go to

http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/legacy2010.html

to see some interior photo. The centre console with silver plastic looks cheap like all korean cars before i30 was introduced. Looks like Subaru’s interior is probably worse than new korean offerings.
GETREAL

Front looks like Epica, rear is pure Hyundai, this can’t be good
zahmad

As mentioned by others here…this is the ‘US’ Legacy, looking very similar to the US Accord….Australia will get a different version with the likes of the Accord Euro….a completely different target…just like Mazda has a different 6 for the North American market….make sense as Subaru is their rivals!
Dan

GETREAL – “Front looks like Epica, rear is pure Hyundai, this can’t be good”

Yeah, just like anything Korean isn’t.
Falcodore

This thing is a monstrosity. I hope it looks different when it lands here but, going by the Impreza, i doubt it.

As for the Accord euro , in the US its sold as the Acura TL and they uglified that thing something chronic!
Phil

That’s the worst copy of a BMW 5 & 7 Series I’ve seen. The wheel arches are completely out of proportion, and the tracks are way too narrow for the body’s width. Just a mismatch of various elements from different cars (flared guards from Mazda6, tail lights from M3, headlights from Peugeot)…
ChineseDriver

Be positive peoples, at least this one doesn’t looks like a pig(tribeca).

It is quite beautiful for a subaru car.
Damian

It seems that everyone is adopting the Lexus GS design for the ass end of their vehicles. First, Mercedes with their new E Class, and now Subaru with the Liberty. The design of the Liberty is anything but liberating.
http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

The adoption of a CVT should make the Liberty a much nicer car to drive. The current auto is woeful.
Alex

Oh dear. That’s unfortunate.
Ethan

this is rather shiite looking design…
Phil

Oh god, now all Subaru’s are fugly.
trackdaze

Deawoo Epica anyone?
Cupid Stunt

Awful – Totally agree with Frontman. Guess it’s only the yanks that have no taste.
jesse

………is that 2019 Daewoo Epica or something? Since when Subaru start copying Daewoo? (Impreza – Viva similarity anyone?)
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

I think people are forgeting this is the US VERSION!!
so just like the accord compared to the accord EURO
the australian/japanese version will be slightly smaller, better proportioned and sportier looking!! also less awkward american styling..
Which is why they have gone two versions, give america the big ugly version they want and everyone else something a bit better sylyed!!
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

this also looks like a basic spec that we wont recieve eg(no twin exhausts, small wheels)
all australian liberties come with at least 17′ alloys and dual chrome exhausts!! and with the smaller sportier body it will look quite good I think..
Bret

With regards to the CVT, I believe that is for the 2.5l 4 cyl and the 3.6l V6 will get a new 5 speed auto.
Manuals in both will be 6 speed.
GT in 6 speed manual only.
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

Bret I believe your right only the 2.5 atmo 4cyl will get the CVT or 6 speed manual.. The 3.6 boxer 6cyl will be 5 speed auto only and the GT 2.5 turbos will be 5 speed auto or 6 speed sti man box..
o

it is just to tall not everyone is giganto
eh179driver

Hmmmmmm. New Subaru Liberty looks a bit mundane and run of the mill. It was reported about 18 month/two years ago that Toyota had taken a controlling share of Subaru. At the time Subaru were all excited as they need new engine and aut transmisson technology (they make their auto’s in house) and Toyota would help in the areas. All sounded good at the time. Well this Liberty (all be it the US version) looks like Toyota have had a hand in the styling. Gone are the beut frameless doors and other Subaru individuality. It has become typical Toyta bland white goods on wheels. Next Suby will loose the symetrical all wheel drive and go front wheel drive with a typical gutless Corolla donk. Toyota hate individual designs and any hint of excitment.
Good help us all!
Dan

Eh179Driver, over the last 5 years, the only good looking car that came out of Subaru was the Liberty. All Imprezas, Tribeccas, Forresters and so on were never that great in the looks department. Do you seriously believe Subaru fired their previous desingners? Of course not. While Subaru only had one good looking car, now it looks like they got none at all lol!
Ian

You can guarantee that the Liberty we see in Aus later this year will be pretty much exactly this car with minor(if any) detail styling changes. Why Oh Why can’t Subaru get their styling to match their engineering prowess. Surely it can’t be that hard to get a brand new clean sheet styling project right. Mazda have been doing it for years now. This car looks shit.Very bland and poorly proportioned. I love Subaru and my current Liberty, but I’m not sure I can stomach trading to this pig. Even if they do drive well, which I have my doubts about as it seems Subaru are quickly losing their performance edge that built their reputation to where is is(was???).
eh179driver

Dan I agree, to a point. The first Tribeca should never have been driven in daylight. It would frighten young children. But at least Subaru had the guts to design cars that stood out from the crowd and had an indiviuality of design. From what I have seen here they seem to have lost that. The new Legacy/Liberty is just so boring and “humdrum”. It just smacks of Toyota “boringness”. Its such a shame. Apart from the all wheel drive and boxer engine, what now does Suby offer? And my final point is, how long will the boxer engine last?
Alan

Eh179driver, i believe subaru got rid of frameless doors for better noise insulation, and they became more mainstream in the styling to attract a wider audience. Now this probably makes sense in pure business sense, increasing sales from a wider audience, though it is a the risk of losing its identity. Guess only time will tell whether they will succeed and attract more sales, or will they lose sales as their individuality was one of their sale point.
Al Juraj

Tail lights obviously pirated from 3-Series coupe. It also looks quite flabby and unproportioned compared to its predecessor. The only positive thing is a fifth gear in the auto once and for all.
Tim

Al, they have had a 5 Speed Auto in the Liberty for quite a while now. Though not in the base model.
driver

i drive a 99 wrx and have been a long term subaru fan for a while now. reading through all of the comments here, it’s starting to become obvious that the punters have a point in regards to the design failings. looking over at the mazdausa.com site at the new (also widebodied US specc) mazda 6 model – i have to agree.. what is subaru doing? the mazda leaves the legacy for dead in regards to design finesse. on the US spec subaru there are no flowing lines, it’s just a purely functional design. even the ford mondeo looks more modern. i have to say i’m a little disappointed in subaru’s strategy.. why was the 08 wrx launched here in aus and the US when it wasn’t even called that in japan (it was called the S-GT)? the amount of damage done to the brand was phenominal. the amount of times i hear golf GTI owners still gloating (even after the release of the 09 wrx) is so annoying. a good save on the power updates to the 09 model, but the 08 shouldn’t have been allowed in the first place. and i know the awd system costs more than a front wheel drive golf (which is why the golf’s dash is better), but for god’s sake upgrade the cheap dash plastics. i like the look of the forester (which is the class leader). and even the new tribeca (pls overhaul the 70′s french-inspired sweeping dash and fat american seats). don’t mind the impreza hatch now, but the sedan is a little confused with a curved front and angular rear. and subaru, while you’re fixing all these things we’ll have a dsg gearbox too while you’re at it!
Driver

^ been looking at the photos over the last few days and came to a realisation – this legacy (US spec) looks to be competing with the likes of the honda accord (same design theme). so, with that said – looks more apt to be within that ‘class’ segment rather than the ‘style’ segment (of mazda 6, ford mondeo, etc). starting to grow on me, even more so with the fact that the aus spec will be slimmer and have better lines. it will sell well based on their engineering prowess i suppose. but a dsg would be nice too.