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The Slumbering Subaru Legacy Could Have One Last Shot Or Not

Just when I thought the Subaru Legacy was coming back from the dead, the sedan slid backward. The Legacy is down again after recording its fifth consecutive month of sales increase. Here is what will wake it up.
2024 Subaru Legacy

I thought we were seeing something special, but it was just a blip in the eventual fall of the sedan. Legacy was on a remarkable upward trend in sales performance. In June, Legacy was up 15.8%; in July (up 34.8%), August (up 45.8%), and September the Legacy jumped a massive 106.9 percent. The 2023 Subaru Legacy midsize sedan was up again in October.  

It looked like something unique was occurring, and then November happened. The Legacy sedan slides backward.

After being up for five months, the Subaru Legacy midsize sedan was down in November. It is still the sixth best-selling model. The Legacy was down 17.2 percent in November, with 1,838 models delivered to customers compared with 2,166 sales in November 2022. Despite the downturn, the Legacy sedan is up 15.4 percent in the first eleven months, with 23,632 models sold to customers in 2023. 

2024 Subaru Legacy in the snow

Is the Legacy only slumbering?

The Legacy's year-over-year 15.4 percent increase is higher than the number one selling Outback, which is up 11.4 percent. Legacy beats the Ascent, now down 2.1 percent in the first eleven months. And the Legacy even beats the hot Crosstrek, up only 1.2 percent for the year.

The Legacy has the best Subaru traits.

I have covered the Legacy's best attributes before. All Legacy trim levels come standard with Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive for all-weather performance. The Legacy also gets the highest safety scores from the IIHS and is fuel efficient.

2024 Subaru Legacy with all-wheel-drive

For buyers still looking for a sedan, here is the 2024 Legacy pricing. For the 2024 model year, the Legacy sedan is still available in five trim levels. The base is priced at $25,985, Premium ($28,285), Sport ($35,585), Limited ($33,035), and Touring XT ($39,285). Destination and delivery fees are included in the price above ($1,090).

My Take.

The Subaru Legacy is down in sales in November, but Subaru will not likely continue the midsize sedan anytime soon in North America. There's still a place for Legacy in Subaru of America's all-wheel-drive lineup, but it would come to life with a new trim level. 

What the sedan needs is a hybrid powertrain. 

Legacy has the all-weather capability, gets the top safety scores, is fuel efficient, and even has a sporty Legacy XT trim level. Imagine what the Legacy would be like with hybrid technology. It would have all the family traits of a Subaru vehicle but would be more eco-friendly. 

I think it would wake up the slumbering model. Will an all-new Legacy hybrid come forward with the next-generation model changes in 2025? Stay tuned. 

Your turn 

Would you be more likely to take a second look at a 2025 Subaru Legacy in a Hybrid trim level?

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this 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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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.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Subaru USA

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