It is not surprising that the Subaru Legacy is one of the greatest-kept secrets in the midsize car market.
Even as a station wagon, where competitors aren't quite so numerous, the Legacy is pitted against a few of the most popular cars in the business, including the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus wagons.
With a smaller vehicle, a smaller dealer network and smaller marketing resources, it's hard for the Legacy to sustain much visibility.
Nevertheless, the Legacy Wagon has been a strong seller, particularly against other imports. And when you factor in all-wheel drive, a Subaru specialty, the Legacy Wagon is the national sales leader.
Though there aren't many AWD wagons contending for this title, it's clear that Subaru is doing something right.
And with fresh styling, a little more power and a longer wheelbase, the Legacy Wagon has even more appeal.
When the original Legacy made its debut five years ago, it alienated some Subaru buyers. The brand had built its image as an inexpensive car built to stay that way.
The old Loyale wagons were your basic no-frills transportation, and looked it. They were, if anything, an anti-fashion statement. The Legacy, on the other hand, was stylish enough to park alongside such competitors as the Accord.
The all-new 1995 is even more handsome. It retains a relatively square shape that company officials prefer to call "distinctive European lines."
The physical changes in the 1995 continue beneath the skin. The wheelbase has grown a full 2 in., to 103.5 in. The vehicle itself is an inch wider, 2 in. taller, and 2 in. longer. It is also lighter than the previous model by 150 lb., a tribute to good engineering.
Among the more noteworthy safety features, the Legacy Wagon comes standard with dual airbags and 5-mph bumpers. The vehicle also meets the all new 1997 federal side-impact standards.
One small disappointment: Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are available only with AWD as part of a $3000 safety package that also includes 4-wheel disc brakes and cruise control.
This package is standard equipment in all but the basic Legacy Wagon, however. We agree with Subaru that AWD is an active safety feature, and this has always been a Subaru strong suit.
For 1995, Subaru is capitalizing on the Legacy's station wagon appeal by offering no fewer than six variations. There are four regular Legacy model options - base, L, LS and LSi - and three special packages with AWD as an integral feature.
The package deals include the Legacy Brighton Wagon aimed at budget-minded buyers who want the extra traction of AWD, the Legacy Outback for buyers whose get-away-from-it-all lifestyles include occasionally getting away from pavement, and the Postal Wagon that features a right-hand driving position for rural letter carriers.
Our test vehicle was the midlevel Legacy LS Wagon, which included the AWD/ABS package in its base price, as well as a truly impressive array of comfort and convenience features.
