Having finally managed to wrestle the keys to the Legacy from Editor Young’s grasp, I took the estate for a week’s holiday in France.
Leaving at 4.30am for a Brittany Ferries crossing, loading the Subaru with a week’s worth of luggage (and four adults) in the dark was tricky because the interior lights really aren’t up to the job. This meant a re-pack during the short wait at Portsmouth once it had become a bit nearer daylight. After a bit of re-jigging, there was even enough space above the rubble to see out of the back window.
Better lighting for interior functions such as the CD slot and heated seat switch would be desirable, too.
While I’m surprised that this pretty well-specced model doesn’t have steering wheel controls for the slightly fiddly stereo, the car’s plus points include comfy seats, plenty of rear legroom, and those great looks that are set off perfectly in black. Fuel economy was disappointing given the straight, if high-speed, run on French autoroutes, though. We averaged 41.0mpg on the way to our destination and sub-40.0mpg on the way back, with the lack of a sixth gear being the main culprit.