Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
19 -22 City / 24 -30 HWY
Horsepower
168 -250
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Deanna F
Subaru's are awesome and last a long time. They're also versatile and sturdy cars.
It's versatile and functional. It might be 13 years old but It's still going strong! And it does what I need it too while getting good gas mileage.
accountCircle Diane A
It is very safe. Made of solid materials. Very easy to maintain with regular service.
Great vehicle. Gets me anywhere in any weather. Feel very safe. Just do regular maintenance.
accountCircle Cari S
Down a huge hill/dirt road. The car runs really well
The Subaru AWD is very reliable on snowy roads. It's the only car that could get in/out of my mom's driveway
accountCircle Diane G
Very reliable and safe. Always starts and is a very sturdy car that I feel safe in.
Great in all kinds of weather. Great in the snow. No real issues. Always starts even in the very cold weather.
accountCircle Lee C
It is a comfortable
It drives very well. It has great gas mileage. I have had no issues with it.
accountCircle Loom S
Is all wheel drive
I love my car because it has a manual transmission
accountCircle Ben B
If your in a car crash in it you will survive in it.
I love my Subaru. I have one complaint about the mile per gallon but it's a car so I can't complain.
accountCircle cindy n
Safe and a comfortable ride.
I have bought Subaru vehicles for years. They are dependable

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Stephanie S
The most important thing others should know is that it has an R title.
I like my Subaru for how well it runs. It's great in the winter. The only thing I dislike about my car is some of the mechanical problems we have had. It was previously wrecked so there are some problems with it. However I do believe my next car will be a subaru.
accountCircle Winston D
Not to buy the first generation of a vehicle.
I love the precision steering and acceleration. I hate the defective design of the turbo since I am on my fourth turbo.
accountCircle Katherine M
But you have to keep the clutch pressed in really hard and the gear shift is kind of sticky. It's comfortable and good size
It is dependable and has good gas mileage
accountCircle Reno R
Which can be expected
I like that it is comfortable and fast. I have to say as it has aged I'm experiencing more and more problems (mechanical and technical)
accountCircle Janeth H
It has turbo which is something I love about it. Spacious car
I like how it has room. When hit the gas you can feel its power. What I don't like is that I feel like I'm always putting money in to it.

Subaru Legacy Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base Sedan
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Base Wagon
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Outback Wagon
168 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
Ltd Sedan
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Ltd Wagon
168 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
GT Sedan
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
Outback Ltd Wagon
168 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
car
GT Wagon
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
Outback XT Wagon
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
GT Ltd Sedan
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
GT Ltd Wagon
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
car
Outback R Sedan
250 HP 22-22 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Subaru Legacy Owner Reviews

4.09
22 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 36%
4 stars 41%
3 stars 18%
2 stars 5%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Diane A on January 31, 2021
It is very safe. Made of solid materials. Very easy to maintain with regular service.
Great vehicle. Gets me anywhere in any weather. Feel very safe. Just do regular maintenance.
accountCircle Wesley R on January 31, 2021
Comfortable. Safe for my kids
I like the Subaru brand. Reliable

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Elizabeth S.

Reliable roomy and drives smooth. I like the fact that it has a decent gas mileage, It has a sleek exterior. I like that it has cruise control. It has a powerful engine and the AWD makes it great for driving in the snow. I also love the panoramic sunroof.

likeFilled Rachel S.

All wheel drive. Sunroof. Leather interior. Comfortable. Negative is that it is low to the ground and if it can get out of the snow it will but sometimes height would be better. I really enjoy everything about my car its zippy and gets me where I need to go and is excellent in the winter.

likeFilled Lisa P.

All wheel drive, Sport mode transmission, reliable mechanically, adequate cargo space, comfortable seats, good gas mileage, short enough for me to scrape the snow off of, heated front seats, convenient cup holders, helpful storage divider in glove compartment.

likeFilled Spencer B.

The Subaru Legacy gets good gas mileage. The engine lasts long and it has fast acceleration for getting Up to speed on the highway. They are very reliable cars that can take a lot of abuse. They are all wheel drive vehicles to make driving in snow easier.

likeFilled Justin D.

It gets great gas mileage and is a perfect daily driver. I enjoy most things about the car. It is pretty basic. Bjt definitely gets the job done for my needs of driving back and forth to work. I drive a good distance.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Elizabeth S.

Parts seem to be really expensive. I do not like the leather seats because it makes it unable to add a seat heating system. The car is not good for big families. II really have nothing bad to say about this car.

dislikeFilled Rachel S.

Low to the ground and sometimes it is difficult to get over a snowed in driveway but if it can find a way to get going it's gone and done with it. I love this car it's amazing. It has every feature I look for in a car but it is a little car and that's not good or bad it's just the way it is.

dislikeFilled Lisa P.

Driver seat heater only functions on the back, rear window wiper works only occasionally, headlights have become so crowded that it is hard to see at night, there is an oil leak somewhere that causes a burning smell when the car is hot but no one can find it.

dislikeFilled Spencer B.

They are very low geared so they run higher rpms the faster you go. The head gasket fails because of the cooling system. The o2 sensor can get cracked causing the check engine light to come on. You cannot use cruise control if the check engine light comes on.

dislikeFilled Justin D.

Where to start, it has more recalls than I can count. It has had every problem known to man, I am not a huge skeptic of Subaru, but this car is the red headed step child of Subaru. It has had a blown head gasket o2 sensors have gone out a horrible oil leak...

Ranks #5 Midsize Cars by Owners

The 2005 Subaru Legacy has an average owner rating of 4.09 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 14 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
4.37
2
car
4.32
5
car
4.09

Ranks #5 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Subaru Legacy has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #5 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

1
car
34 MPG
2
car
34 MPG
5
Tie
car
30 MPG

Is The 2005 Subaru Legacy A Good Car?

Yes. Subaru makes their legacy with safety in mind, my previous Subaru saved my life. There are a few upkeep problems that happen with every car, but the better you take care of it the better it'll... Read More
Samaritan L.
It has been a very reliable vehicle. It was originally owned by my parents, who took very good care of it. I have had it for 4 years with minimal issues.
Sheri N.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Subaru Legacy?

It is very reliable. As long as the owner keeps up on the cars maintenance and is willing to do the upkeep it is easily one of the best cars on the market for a fair price.
Samaritan L.
We have a problem with the rear differential leaking. It requires occasional topping of with fluid. Other than that, no problems to speak of.
Liz L.

Is The 2005 Subaru Legacy A Good Value?

They can be anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 sometimes lower sometimes higher. But personally I think this car could cost way more considering the reliability and safety of this car.
Samaritan L.
We paid $5000 for it 4 years ago. It has kept its resale value well. I am sure I could sell it quickly if I had too but I expect to keep it until it completely falls apart.
Maria R.

Related Articles for 2005 Subaru Legacy

From the Vehicle History blog

car
Everything Worth Knowing About Subarus 2.5 Engine
car
Subaru Head Gasket Problems Worth Knowing About

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2005 Subaru Legacy starter location?

Answer: The starter location on the 2005 Subaru Legacy is located underneath the intake manifold by the top of the engine. The starter is a small motor that is designed to crank the main motor for the car. This in turn...

What's the 2005 Subaru Legacy coolant type?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Legacy uses the highly recommended zerexBlue colored 50/50 coolant or antifreeze in its reservoir. This fluid can be purchased in one gallon containers at most major retail stores, online from...

What's the 2005 Subaru Legacy coolant capacity?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Legacy takeS7.29 quarts of coolant. It is important to not overfill the coolant in Your car, as that will cause spillage. Coolants are an important part of Your engine's temperature balance...

What's the 2005 subaru legacy speaker size?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Legacy is equipped with 6.5 inch front door speakers and 6.5" rear door speakers. The 2.5 GT Limited trim comes standard with 6 speakers total as well as an AM/FM stereo and mast antenna. The...

What's the 2005 subaru legacy gt oil type?

Answer: The 2005 Subaru Legacy GT came factory standard with a 2.5 L 4Cylinder engine under the hood and this was the same engine that was used in both the sedan and wagon body styles. This engine is going to need to...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety