CR's 6 Reliable Fuel-Stingy 5 Year-Old Cars - Subaru Legacy Is A Better Pick Now

With new vehicles challenging to find, what are the most reliable and fuel-efficient used midsize sedans? An updated report says the 2018 Subaru Legacy is one of the top five-year-old sedans to put on your shopping list. See why it's a better pick over the 2017 Legacy model year.

What are the best used midsize sedans for shoppers with the new model shortages? According to Consumer Reports (by subscription), with the newly-refreshed 2023 Subaru Legacy sedan hard to find at retailers in the new year, CR says the 2018 Subaru Legacy ranks among the most reliable and fuel-efficient sedans for shoppers this winter.

The 2017 Legacy was a top pick last year, and the 2018 Subaru Legacy is one of the six top sedans that are five years old. Consumer Reports says it's reliable and fuel-efficient. We say it's one of the safest used midsize sedans.

CR's six-best 5-year-old sedans this winter

In addition to the 2018 Subaru Legacy, CR says the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Mazda 6, and Ford Fusion are the top picks for midsize sedan shoppers. Click on each model for more information.

What's new for the 2018 model year?

For the 2018 model year, Legacy received a refresh and new improvements over the 2017 models. It got a revised front and rear styling, a redesigned interior with more premium materials, the ride quality was smoother and quieter, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available steering responsive LED headlights, and new multimedia upgrades.

What is the Legacy fuel mileage?

CR says the Legacy gets an owner-reported 27 mpg. The EPA fuel mileage estimates for the 2018 Legacy are 25/34 city/highway and 29 combined mpg with the 2.5-liter engine. The Legacy 3.6R gets an EPA-estimated 20/28 city/highway and 23 combined mpg.

What is the price of the 2018 Subaru Legacy?

The 5-year-old Subaru Legacy price range is from $17,800 to $22,850, depending on the trim level, miles, and condition.

Consumer Reports says, "The Legacy is unique on this list because of its standard all-wheel drive. Despite the added weight of the drivetrain components, the sedan performed well in our fuel-economy tests, returning 26 mpg overall and 39 mpg on the highway. Overall, it's a car with few compromises, effectively blending an excellent ride, responsive handling, a roomy and quiet interior, great visibility, simple controls, and easy front and rear access. It all adds up to a package that put it among the top performers in our ratings of midsized family sedans at the time."

The 2018 Legacy Vs. 2017 Legacy

What is the best trim level?

CR says to try to find a Premium trim or above built with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system of active safety technology.

Check Legacy's safety tech. It's one of the safest midsize sedans for used sedan shoppers.

The 2018 Legacy earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ safety score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Legacy came with reverse automatic braking, which detects objects when reversing, automatically triggers an alert, and brakes the vehicle to avoid a collision. The improved headlights came with high beam assist and are standard for 2018 Legacy models.

Legacy came with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist safety technology. EyeSight features six technologies to maximize passenger safety: Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure, and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Steering Assist, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

For 2018 check out the Legacy 2.5i Sport

The Subaru Legacy Sport was a new trim level in 2017. Outside, it featured a dark gray grille, fog lights with gloss black housings, and newly designed 18-in. sport-styled wheels. Other Legacy Sport exterior styling upgrades included chrome-accented rocker trim and high-luster silver-finished turn-signal mirrors.

Inside, the Sport trim had a two-tone pairing of gray and black cloth upholstery with blue stitching on the seats, door panels, and steering wheel. It also came with a carbon fiber pattern dash, door panel trim, piano-black door switch panels, and steering wheel switches.

You likely won't find a 2023 Subaru Legacy sedan on retailers' lots this winter, so check out the 2018 model year. Consumer Reports says it's one of the six-most reliable and fuel-efficient midsize sedans. We say it's also one of the safest models you can buy.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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