Subaru has grown by leaps and bounds over the past four years, and now their Legacy and Outback model ranges are growing too.
For 2017 Subaru has added the Legacy Sport to its lineup. In keeping with most carmakers’ pattern, the Sport moniker doesn’t really mean Sport. It’s more about the looks. The 2017 Legacy Sport will receive shiny black fog light housings, new wheels, a gray grille, extra chrome trim and a two-tone interior with fake carbon fiber and contrasting stitching.
The 2017 Outback Touring goes even more upscale, slotting at the top, above the Outback Limited and offers a much-desired heated steering wheel and a new dark brown perforated leather interior, which fortunately replaces the ivory interior inexplicably required of some Outback exterior colors. On the outside the Touring level gets new chrome rockers, a gray grille along the lines of the Legacy Sport look, unique wheels and a low profile roof rack. A new Brilliant Brown color option is exclusive to the Touring.
More importantly, safety features have been added to both models. The Outback’s highest trim level receives standard EyeSight, blind spot monitors and rear cross traffic alerts, which have been only options in the past. Along with this, all Tourings also get automatic high/low beam headlights and reverse automatic braking.
The Legacy receives additions to its EyeSight system like Reverse Automatic Braking and High Beam Assist, a first for the Legacy line.
Overall, from the outside looking in, there’s not that much to get excited about for the Outback and Legacy, unless faux carbon fiber and new interior colors are important, but those things are what get current owners to trade for the newest model, and may be enough to bring in other buyers stepping outside their normal automotive comfort zone. Engines, transmissions and suspension all stay the same, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for many Subaru fans. Subaru has obviously figured out their market over the past half decade and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.
