First time I’ve seen this feature – enter your special day, and the car will remind you of it.
Spotted in the 2015 Subaru Impreza.
The 2015 Subaru Legacy
It’s Subaru’s fully-refreshed, entry-level sedan.
– 2.5 L 4-cyl. boxer engine
– CVT automatic with standard paddle shifters
– 175 hp and 174 lb.-ft.
– starting at $23,495
Competitors: Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion
Short review – loved it for 3 reasons
1 – it’s available in MANUAL
2 – List of standard features is strong
This is the base model, and includes: heated seats, automatic up/down front windows, rear-view camera, 10-way driver seat, Bluetooth and USB, riding on 17-inch wheels. But the best standard feature is reason 3…
3 – All-wheel Drive comes standard
Lowest price in the country for an AWD sedan. And if the Legacy’s competitors even offer it, it’s about a $5,000 upgrade.
1 – the base finishings and materials do a good job faking it
2 – the infotainment system is all-new too, replacing the disaster that Subaru’s system once was
3 – good rear seat room, see next paragraph
4 – really into that cell phone pocket
The backseat will easily house to two large humans, and the fabric is cozy.
There’s no heat ducts back there though, maybe the only negative I found on this car.
The engine is a CVT, which like any good Canadian auto journalist I despise.
But Subaru does a better job than most, see: first CVT engine I ever liked.)
Has a great launch, steering is quick, and although the handling is slightly soft it’s supposed to be, it’s a sedan not a sports something #s
(see the steering in action in the photo I used for my column, Solving Crimes using Car Clues)
Subaru seems to get forgotten, but this Legacy is going to start changing that.
Read my detailed review on Autonet.
My 1st WRX OMG
It’s all-new this year, re-designed completely.
2015 Subaru WRX Sport Package CVT
2.0L Turbocharged
268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque
0 – 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds
Top speed of 240 km/h
Subaru uses a boxer engine, which makes that signature growl, which I think sounds good.
Although a manual transmission comes standard, my tester was an automatic, and a CVT at that.
I declared it to be the first CVT I’ve ever liked. Still would prefer manual.
Non-car nerds: you’ve likely seen a WRX, but with a massive spoiler on the back, and maybe rolled your eyes like I have.
We are wrong, the wing is cool, and functional too.
Boost!
And that hood vent, into it.
Available in 3 trims, this is the middle one; it has the “Sport Package”, which sees the addition of a rear spoiler, sunroof and fog lights.
Booking another of these soon as my schedule permits, in manual.
Prediction – within a couple years, Subaru will go from being the underdog, to the one to beat.
Solving Crimes using Car Clues
For sure search the car for physical clues like blood, hair and DNA, but also pay attention to the little things you can’t hold?
Things like radio presets, seat position, was the seat pressure sensor on or off, plus the EDR information of course, which is admissible in courts.
I’m speaking with Chris Pogue, current Senior VP at cyber-threat analysis software company Nuix, and former U.S. Army Warrant Officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Division.
Read it online at Autonet.
Favourite line:
It’s assumed the first instinct is to search the car for blood and hair, for physical DNA, but how about paying attention to the little things that could be clues.
2nd Favourite line:
Then add in the footage from traffic cameras (everyone forgets those are always watching.)
That’s me in the lede photo, cornering a Subaru Legacy.
***
Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index
So Into this Car – 2015 Subaru BRZ
Subaru’s only rear-wheel drive car (the rest are all-wheel)
2.0L 4-cylinder Boxer engine, 6-spd manual transmission
200 hp and 151 lb.ft
Starting at $27,395
This one $31,395
This is the the Aozora Edition, the highest trim available.
It comes only in manual, and adds an under spoiler (which really enhances the look), red callipers and 17″ black alloys, fancier seats and stitching, push start and a frameless rear view mirror (1st time I’ve ever seen that option.)
Notice what’s missing?
No steering wheel controls and buttons, it’s a plain steering wheel! That alone made me love it immediately.
Why I love this BRZ:
It’s good looking; an appropriate amount of power; it’s just my size and fits me physically (which is rare); I like the boxer growl; and the interior is so refreshingly simple.
Plus there’s practically no driving aids (like Lane Keep Assist, and the Sucks The Fun Away Aid.)
It’s got hard buttons and dials *, all the analog stuff I love.
The infotainment system is a bit of a disaster, but I never use them anyway so it’s okay.
All starting at $27k. Hey!
So much superfluous revving happened this week.
Maybe the most I’ve liked a car in 1.5 years.
