2008 Subaru Legacy Review: A Sporty, Comfortable Sedan That’s Priced to Move, but Only at the Entry Level

Gilbert Smith
May 26, 2023

The 2008 Subaru Legacy is an easy car to recommend at typical Blue Book listing prices of under $5,000, but the further up the trim list you go, the more impressive the competing Lexus ES looks.

Front angle medium view.
likeFilled The Good
Sporty, comfortable, fun to drive, and, at the base level, priced to move.
dislikeFilled The Bad
It probably won’t last as long as a comparable Lexus, higher trim levels don’t all deliver enough value for the price bump, and the backseat is too tight to make this a terrific family car.

Is the 2008 Subaru Legacy a Good Used Car?

  • Overall Rating 8/10 – A very, very good car in more ways than not.
  • Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The only real complaint here is that the back seat is a bit tight. Beyond that, the interior trim is first class through and through, and the suspension rides nice and smooth.
  • Reliability 8/10 – It probably won’t out last a Lexus, but the Legacy attracts buyers who are known to take good care of their cars, so it won’t be hard to find one in good shape.
  • Safety 8/10 – Crash test ratings are good, and standard safety equipment is up to par.
  • Gas Mileage 8/10 –20/27 miles to the gallon is pretty good for an all-wheel drive sedan.
  • Value 8/10 – The entry level model is hard to beat for the price, but higher trim levels are outclassed by comparable Toyotas and Pontiacs.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle John Smith
Love it
Lots of aftermarket parts make this a good project car to enhance looks power and handling. The only down fall was a blown head gasket which was pricey to have fixed. Handles like a dream and comes off the line like a rocket. Subaru got it right
accountCircle Craig M
No problems at all. Great car haven't put any money into it 3 years going.
No problems at all. Great car haven't put any money into it 3 years going. Gas mileage is decent, handles great in the snow. The AWD is awesome in all weather conditions. Perfect commuter car in the northeast. Will always buy a Subaru. Recommend to friends and family

What Do Critics Say About the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

Consumer Reports found the 2008 Subaru Legacy to be agile, affordable, and fuel-efficient. They note that it may not be the best family car on the market, given its “snug” cabin, and they point out that it’s not the best at handling emergency situations, despite the standard all-wheel drive configuration.

Kelley Blue Book recommended the 2008 Legacy as a decent compromise of family sedan and premium sports car. They note that the all-wheel drive might not be that strong of a selling point in places with no rough roads or bad weather.

Edmunds liked the 2008 Legacy’s cabin design and first-class trim materials. They really liked the performance of the GT trims, and they praised the car’s “athletic” handling and comfy highway ride. Small backseats and trunks and pricey upper trims earned the car a few red marks.

What Common Problems Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy Have?

The 2008 Subaru Legacy has generated just 64 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Airbag issues take the lead at 25 complaints, with drivers reporting airbag lights coming on, despite four recalls.

10 braking complaints point to leaking brake fluid due to excessive corrosion. One driver reports the brake lines leaking despite a coating of anti-rust spray.

A handful of electrical complaints point to parasitic battery drain. Drivers report replacing the alternator and battery repeatedly and the car still failing to hold a charge. There have been a couple electrical recalls, but neither seem to address this issue directly.

The 2008 Subaru Legacy has been recalled 9 times in total, which is a bit high for a sedan of this age, but given the low number of complaints they seem to be doing something right.

How Long Will the 2008 Subaru Legacy Last?

Drivers typically report the 2008 Subaru Legacy lasting at least 200,000 miles, with 250,000 being a reasonable expectation for total lifespan. The Legacy tends to attract an older user base who are more likely to practice fastidious maintenance, so it shouldn’t be hard finding one in good shape.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $618, which is marginally higher than average for a 2008 sedan. Most of the common repairs tend to be pretty cheap, with the priciest being a wheel alignment, starting at around $122.

accountCircle Chase S

Overall it is reliable, but the turbo version tends to use a lot of oil and my mechanic says he sees this a lot with Subaru cars.

accountCircle Salar S

No working great. . Very reliable on winter. Great acceleration and speed comparing all new cars. Affordable repair price.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the Subaru Legacy is pretty good for 2008. CD/MP3 players come standard, and the car is available with a touchscreen GPS navigation system.

Safety technology in the 2008 is good. Anti-lock brakes and stability control come standard, and the car earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Is the 2008 Subaru Legacy a Good Value?

The 2008 Subaru Legacy is a very good value. The entry level model typically lists at around $4,750, which is well below average for a mid-size sedan from 2008. A high-end 2.5 GT usually goes for around $7,681 according to the Kelley Blue Book.

Combined with decent fuel economy, moderate maintenance costs, and long life expectancy, the low starting prices make the Legacy one of the better deals in its class.

What are the Different Models of the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

The Subaru Legacy is available in three base models, being the 2.5i, 2.5GT, and 3.0, named for their respective engines. These are available in base and Limited editions, and the 2.5GT is available in a spec.B performance model, for five trim levels total.

The base models include:

  • All wheel drive
  • Premium cloth seating
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Manual air conditioning

In the Limited editions you’re adding:

  • Heated mirrors
  • Leather seating (Alacantra leather in the 3.0R)
  • Dual zone automatic air conditioning
  • Heated front seats

With a 2.5GT spec.B you’re getting all the features of a 3.0R Limited, plus:

  • LCD monitor
  • Navigation system
car
car
Special Edition
175 HP 24-24 MPG
car
car
Ltd w/VDC
175 HP 24-24 MPG
car
car
3.0R Ltd w/Nav
245 HP 21-21 MPG
car
GT Ltd w/Nav
250 HP 21-21 MPG
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GT Spec B w/Nav
243 HP 21-21 MPG

What Engines Come In the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

  • The 2.5i models are named for their 2.5L inline-four engine delivering 175 horsepower and 169 lb.-ft. of torque at an average fuel economy of 20/27 miles to the gallon, city/highway. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission in all wheel drive.
  • 3.0 models are named for their 3.0L flat-six engines delivering 245 horsepower and 215 lb.-ft. of torque. The 3.0L averages 17/24 miles to the gallon, and comes paired to a 5-speed automatic in all wheel drive.
  • With the 2.5GT models you have a 2.5L flat-four gran touring engine delivering 243 horsepower and 241 lb.-ft. of torque at 18/24 miles to the gallon. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic in all wheel drive. The spec.B edition can do zero to sixty in about 5.8 seconds.

What Colors Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

The 2008 Subaru Legacy is comfortable enough, but it’s not one of the most spacious sedans in its size class. The back seat stretches a decent 52 inches across, the suspension rides smooth, and the interior trim is first class top to bottom.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy Have?

The 2008 Subaru Legacy’s trunk is on the smaller size for a mid-size sedan, at just under 12 cubic feet. This is enough for four or five medium suitcases, but not much else. There are compacts with bigger trunks than the Legacy’s.

Centered wide dash shot

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2008 was the second to last model year for the Subaru Legacy’s 4th Generation, which ran from 2003 to 2009.

2006: Valvetrain tech brought the horsepower up to 175 hp in the 2.5i model, and 250 in the 2.5GT.

2007: The GT lost seven horses of engine power in 2007, but was made more fuel efficient.

2008: Wagon body styles were dropped for 2008, and the 3.0R Limited model was brand new.

2009: No major changes for 2009.

2010: The 2010 Legacy was redesigned with a new engine cradle featuring higher strength steel. The suspension was overhauled, as well, and the body style was modernized for a sleek new appearance.

How Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy Compare to the Competition?

Where the 2008 Subaru Legacy excels is at the entry level, where the car is surprisingly impressive, sporty, and luxurious for under five thousand dollars. But, if you’re moving up the trim list, that opens your buying options up quite a bit, and there are better cars out there if you’ve got six, seven, eight thousand dollars to spend.

For example, while a 2008 Subaru Legacy might pass 250,000 miles on the original transmission, a 2008 Lexus ES almost certainly will.

Likewise, a 2008 Grand Prix offers a comfortable interior with a sporty engine delivering up to 50 more horsepower than a Subaru Legacy, with pricing starting in the mid-$5,000 range.

With entry level models going for under $5,000, the Subaru Legacy is hard to beat on price at the base level, but only at the base level.

Ranks #11 Midsize Cars by Owners

1
car
4.51
2
car
4.39
11
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4

Do Owners Recommend the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

accountCircle Chase S

Yes, it has AWD and good power with the turbo, I love the heated seats, my only complaint is it uses a lot of oil.

accountCircle Salar S

Perfect and reliable car in winter.Great acceleration and speed. Nav system is old and expensive to update. Affordable repair prices.

Owner Reviews

accountCircle John Smith on March 10, 2020
Love it
Lots of aftermarket parts make this a good project car to enhance looks power and handling. The only down fall was a blown head gasket which was pricey to have fixed. Handles like a dream and comes off the line like a rocket. Subaru got it right
accountCircle Craig M on December 19, 2019
No problems at all. Great car haven't put any money into it 3 years going.
No problems at all. Great car haven't put any money into it 3 years going. Gas mileage is decent, handles great in the snow. The AWD is awesome in all weather conditions. Perfect commuter car in the northeast. Will always buy a Subaru. Recommend to friends and family
avatar Gilbert Smith
Gilbert Smith is a New Mexico-based automotive journalist who enjoys writing about cars, trucks, and SUVs. He is a longtime contributor to Vehicle History and a member of the site's original content team when it launched.