CR’s 7 Reliable, Fuel Efficient 5-Year-Old Sedans And Why Subaru Legacy Is Your Top Pick Now

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What are the best used midsize sedans you can buy now? Consumer Reports says there are seven that are the best. See why the 2019 Subaru Legacy is now the best pick for used car shoppers.

Which 5-year-old midsize sedans are the best for used car shoppers? I cover the best-used sedan list regularly for used car shoppers. Here is an updated ranking from Consumer Reports (by subscription) that says there are seven they recommend. They include the 2019 Subaru Legacy. Please keep reading to see why it's your best choice now.

How did Consumer Reports assemble the list?

CR picked the most affordable fuel-efficient 5-year-old non-hybrid midsized sedans. All performed well enough in their tests to be recommended when new. And all have average or better reliability, according to CR's Annual Auto Surveys.

Here are the recommended 2019 model year best midsize sedans from Consumer Reports. 

  • Toyota Camry
  • Honda Accord
  • Nissan Altima
  • Kia Optima
  • Mazda 6
  • Subaru Legacy
  • Ford Fusion

What does CR say about the 2019 Legacy?

  • Subaru Legacy 2019
  • Price Range:  $16,625 - $22,575
  • Owner Reported MPG:  28 mpg

"The Legacy is unique 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 very few compromises, effectively blending an excellent ride, responsive handling, a roomy and quiet interior, great visibility, simple controls, and easy front and rear access." 

"This all adds up to a package that put it among the top performers in our ratings of midsized family sedans at the time. Try to find a Premium trim or above built with Subaru's EyeSight system of active safety features."

My Take

Why should you choose the Legacy over the other sedans on the list? 

The 2019 Legacy comes standard with Subaru's excellent Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system for all-weather and severe weather performance. It's a significant advantage for customers who live in cold weather states. If you want to get through snow and ice safely, pick the Legacy. 

Ranked # 2 of 7 in reliability

In addition, Consumer Reports says the Legacy demonstrated average or better reliability in its owner surveys. Legacy is ranked # 2 of 7 in reliability among 2019 Sedans and Hatchbacks.

What is the Legacy fuel mileage?

In Consumer Reports owner surveys, they get a reported overall 28 mpg. The EPA says the 2019 Legacy gets 25/34 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg with the 2.5-liter engine and automatic transmission.

The Legacy has excellent crash test results.

The 2019 Subaru Legacy earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Legacy also received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Legacy's stability and driving dynamics 

Something very few people talk about is Legacy's Boxer engine. The engine sits lower in the chassis than the other sedans, which lowers the center of gravity. This significantly improves stability and driving dynamics. Owners tell me the Legacy "hugs the road" better than the Camry and Accord. Ultimately, you'll be safer in the Legacy. 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this 2019 Subaru Legacy story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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Watch 2019 New York Auto Show: 2020 Subaru Legacy | Consumer Reports

I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

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photo credit: Subaru USA