2012 Subaru Legacy Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

18 -23 City / 25 -31 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

170 -265

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Stephanie P

This car is the most reliable vehicle I have owned.

This vehicle has had absolutely zero maintenance problems. It performs well in the rain and snow. The heated cloth seats were a nice surprise!

Kerrin P

Safety. Had great safety rating, sturdy dependable car/ brand.

I love it. I bought it brand new. It's now 6 years old with 42,000 miles. Minimal issues. Runs well. Easy to maintain. My 2 year old will probably drive it when she turns 16!

Stefani S

Great for winter driving has four wheel drive in a sedan

Very dependable and reliable. Great in winter weather and snowy conditions. Sturdy. Not speedy. Traction is amazing in the northern winters.

Nick R

Would recommend the Subaru to anyone.

The legacy is very good in the snow. It was also quite affordable to purchase as well as to maintain. Very comfortable to ride in. Fuel economy is better than expected.

Cory M

The Subaru legacy! It runs well and heats up fairly quick.

I haven't run into any real issues with my car. It runs nicely. I suppose in the winter it takes about a good 5 minutes to actually heat up. Although, I think that is a pretty quick and responsive amount of time to heat up a full car. Overall, I think this model would serve anyone well. The gas mileage is very nice too.

Michael G

The legacy is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever driven.

Minor electrical issues but very reliable and comfortable. 140k miles and still runs beautifully. I bought it certified pre owned at 50k miles and have yet to have any major mechanical failure. I have paid it off and plan on running it until the motor seizes.

Sheila R

I feel safe in this car. It handles well in bad weather.

The biggest problem is with the trunk hatch. If you do not get snow off and open it, the snow gets in trunk.

Isabelle G

Our silver Subaru legacy and has served it is justice as an amazing family car.

The vehicles performance is really amazing, we've had it for about 7 years now and we travel quite a bit with it. There are starting to be a few minor problems with the brakes and spark plugs. The car performs well and is reliable and safe to drive in with my family. Not only is it comfortable but the sound system is also great.

Negative Owner Reviews

Keelie N

Highlight an interesting detail.

The headlight are what make this car a bad car. They are so hard to change it took my husband 6 hr to change the low beam no joke he was so angry. The front bumper has to be taken off and even then it the hardest thing to get to. This car had the highest resale rate but idk how.

Dqvid L

It is a Subaru you can go wrong with that.

It is a good car, good for the winter season because of the all wheel drive system. What I do not like is how hard the steering wheel is it is so hard to turn but other than that it is a pretty reliable car inside is comfortable mine comes with navigation review camera.

catherine W

Subaru legacy year 2012 review.

Cheaply made, and it seems to fall apart easily. Although it is reliable in the snow and does not have too many problems. I have only had to take it to the shop for normal reasons like new battery, tires, etc. It is gas efficient for the most part as well.

Kc B

The common Subaru issues.

This particular year has a problem with a body vibration when driving. It happens pretty consistently at 60 miles an hour and then it will dissipate. I also have had 2 transmissions replaced and the vehicle still almost stalls when coming to a stop. Overall when it comes to safety I do truly believe that Subarus are a great product but just like any product they have their glitches.

Cody S

I enjoy the fancy features of the car such as the sunroof and heated seats.

The vehicle is very reliable and gets around well in the winter. The vehicle has not really had any problems and is comfortable inside. The sound system is a little bad and quiet but overall it is a very durable good trustful car. The vehicle has heated seats, a moon roof and paddle shifters. The car is fun and we do not have to worry about it breaking down.

Cheyenne P

It has heated windshield wipers.

I like that my vehicle has heated seats and heated windshield wipers. This is nice in the winter season. I feel it is in good condition considering it is age and is reliable. One problem I have had is the battery has had some issues with starting and the headlights are dimmer than they should be. Overall the car has really nice features with black seats and a sunroof plus Bluetooth handset for safety. My car also has remote control start, so it is a very nice vehicle.

Cass L

Lightweight car that glides across the snow and can also battle high winds.

It is great in snow. It also does great on roads covered in potholes. For a car, it does decent on fuel mileage. The interior could be better and the stereo does not work great. It is a very simple stereo and you have to connect it to Bluetooth everytime you start the car.

Carey K

The Subaru legacy- safety first. Family forever.

Overall it is very loud when driving. No Bluetooth ability, cannot do hands free phone calls or phone-based music. Solid 4 wheel drive, great in the winter. Built like a tank, structure saved my life in an accident. I love the safety aspects of the vehicle, but, definitely not a comfortable or luxurious car to drive.

Subaru Legacy Models

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

2.5i

170 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats

2.5i Premium

170 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats

3.6R

256 HP 20 MPG 5 Seats

2.5i Limited

170 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats

3.6R Premium

256 HP 20 MPG 5 Seats

3.6R Limited

256 HP 20 MPG 5 Seats

2.5GT Limited

265 HP 21 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2012 Subaru Legacy Owner Reviews

4.54

125 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

65%

4 stars

26%

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Gen S on May 8, 2021

Why I like my car and how it best fits my lifestyle.

It is a great car and has not given me any problems in the past. When I drive the car or when I am a passenger I also feel really safe and secure. The car is also low maintenance and gets great gas mileage. I can go on road trips and not break the bank by filling up expensive gas. I would get another Subaru in the future as well.

Vincent S on May 2, 2021

The 2012 Subaru legacy is a great bang for your buck.

It is a great car to drive every day. The gas mileage is decent, I get around 27 mpg combined with mostly highway driving. You can get these cars pretty cheap now and it is a great option for a commuter car. I have never had any mechanical issues and the maintenance is fairly inexpensive. All in all a solid car.

View All Reviews (125)

Pros from Owners

Julia S.

Clean and sleek interior. Clear sounding harman kardon speakers with a good bass. Fairly easy to drive- steering wheel moves smoothly and is leather wrapped. Easy to fit many passengers comfortably. I feel very safe commuting 60 miles a day in this vehicle.

Daniel M.

Tech:. Back up camera, navigation, Bluetooth, aux and USB ports, heated seats. Performance: 3.6L inline 6 cylinder 250 hp. Great handling/AWD system. Good 360 disability. Excellent Service through Subaru Dealerships statewide.

Cheryl B.

It is extremely reliable, fun to drive. Handles amazingly over any type of road conditions or terrain you may encounter. The quality of the vehicle is superior, especially for the price of the vehicle. I cannot say enough about it.

Cons from Owners

Julia S.

This car eats gas! The gas mileage is the main con of this vehicle. I find myself filling the car up with gas twice a week. My next con of the car is how low it is to the ground. I have causes slight damage to the front of the car, thinking it will be high enough to drive over something, when in reality it is not. Wish it was higher up.

Daniel M.

Fuel economy could be better but that is a sacrifice worth the horse power. Turning radius is a little wide for the chassis. Minor maintenance is cumbersome ie: headlamp bulb replacement barely accessible. Oil filter same issue. Odd tire size offers limited replacement options.

Cheryl B.

This is my second Subaru and I cannot think of anything I am not satisfied with. There is not another manufacturer's vehicle I would consider purchasing to replace mine when it is time to get a new one.

Ranks #2 Midsize Cars by Owners

The 2012 Subaru Legacy has an average owner rating of 4.54 out of 5 which ranks it #2 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

2012 Honda Crosstour

4.59

2012 Subaru Legacy

4.54

2012 Toyota Camry

4.52

Ranks #8 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Subaru Legacy has a combined MPG of 32 which ranks it #8 of 15 other Midsize Cars.

2012 Volkswagen Passat

43 MPG

2012 Ford Fusion

41 MPG

Tie

2012 Subaru Legacy

31 MPG

Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy A Good Car?

Yes. It is comfortable, safe, and reliable. The back seat is spacious enough for two infant seats and it has ample leg room and head room.

Kristen C.

Yes, it runs pretty well. Does not require major repairs and the upkeep cost is reasonable. It is all wheel drive.

Brian M.

It is a great vehicle. I bought this vehicle from my grandfather last year and it was been amazing. I love this car so much.

Kamiryn W.

I believe any Subaru is a good vehicle, but specifically my 2012 has been a very good and reliable vehicle.

Hayley H.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy?

Yes, it is a reliable vehicle. I have not had any problems or issues with the vehicle since purchase.

Kristen C.

It is a reliable car with very few issues. The only issues I have had are with the headlight bulbs burning out occasionally.

Brian M.

I think that my 2012 Subaru legacy is very reliable. It starts up every morning without a problem and drives smooth. It has not had any problems that I have seen.

Kamiryn W.

My Subaru has been very reliable, and I can't think of any problems that I've had with my vehicle. None.

Kayla R.

Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy A Good Value?

I purchased the vehicle used, and it was under 15,000. It has been a good value for me, as it has not needed any repairs and only regular maintenance.

Kristen C.

$16,000 used with 19,000 miles on it back in 2015. I think it was an ok value and I hope to have the car for a long time.

Brian M.

I bought my 2012 Subaru legacy for $5,000 with only 22,000 miles on it. I would definitely say that I got it for a good price and good value.

Kamiryn W.

I do not know how much a 2012 Subaru costs; I bought mine used. It was a somewhat good value. Unfortunately, new Subaru's are very expensive in the state of Colorado.

Amanda R.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2012 Subaru Legacy have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: If You have a 2012 Subaru Legacy, Your timing apparatus depends on the size of Your engine. In this model year, Subaru moved towards the FB motor, which uses timing chains. However, the EJ engine options still...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

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

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

Not Rated

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2012 Subaru Legacy Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Positive Owner Reviews

Negative Owner Reviews

Subaru Legacy Models

2012 Subaru Legacy Owner Reviews

Pros from Owners

Cons from Owners

Ranks #2 Midsize Cars by Owners

Ranks #8 Midsize Cars by Fuel Economy

Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy A Good Car?

How Reliable Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy?

Is The 2012 Subaru Legacy A Good Value?

Related Articles for 2012 Subaru Legacy

Frequently Asked Questions

Safety & Reliability