Skip to main content

CR's 6 Best Midsize Fuel-Stingy 5 Year-Old Sedans - Subaru Legacy Is Now 5th

With new vehicles getting more expensive, what are the most reliable and fuel-efficient used midsize sedans? An updated report says the 2018 Subaru Legacy is one of the top five-year-old sedans to put on your shopping list. Check out the complete list.

What are the six best 5-year-old midsize sedans for shoppers? According to Consumer Reports (by subscription), the 2018 Subaru Legacy ranks among the five most reliable and fuel-efficient sedans for shoppers this fall.

The 2018 Subaru Legacy is the fifth best of the six top sedans that are five years old. Consumer Reports says it's reliable, fuel-efficient, has good road tests, and gets the top safety scores. It's one of Consumer Reports' most recommended models. 

2018 Subaru Legacy is Consumer Reports Best Midsize Fuel-Stingy 5 Year-Old SedanCheck Out This Related Story: The 20 Best New Cars Under $25K And Subaru’s 3 Hot New Picks

CR's six-best 5-year-old sedans this fall.

The Toyota Camry is the best according to CR scores, followed by the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Mazda 6, Subaru Legacy, and Ford Fusion. They are the six top picks for midsize sedan shoppers.

Why is the 2018 Legacy a top pick?

For the 2018 model year, Legacy received a refresh and new improvements over the 2017 models. It got a revised front and rear styling, a redesigned interior with more premium materials, the ride quality was smoother and quieter, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available steering responsive LED headlights, and new multimedia upgrades.

CR says the 2018 Subaru Legacy is one of the top five-year-old sedansDon’t Miss This Related Story: CR’s 7 Used 2-Row SUVs With The Best Fuel Economy - Subaru Outback Ranks 1st

What is the Legacy fuel mileage?

CR says the Legacy gets an owner-reported 27 mpg. The EPA fuel mileage estimates for the 2018 Legacy are 25/34 city/highway and 29 combined mpg with the 2.5-liter engine. The Legacy 3.6R gets an EPA-estimated 20/28 city/highway and 23 combined mpg.

What is the price of the 2018 Subaru Legacy?

The 5-year-old Subaru Legacy price range is from $16,850 to $21,250, depending on the trim level, miles, and condition.

Consumer Reports says, "The Legacy is unique on this list because of its standard all-wheel drive. Despite the added weight of the drivetrain components, the sedan performed well in our fuel-economy tests, returning 26 mpg overall and 39 mpg on the highway." 

"Overall, it's a car with very few compromises, effectively blending an excellent ride, responsive handling, a roomy and quiet interior, great visibility, simple controls, and easy cabin access front and rear. This all adds up to a package that put it among the top performers in our ratings of midsized family sedans at the time. Try to find a Premium trim or above built with Subaru's EyeSight system of active safety features."

What is the best trim level?

CR says to try to find a Premium trim or above built with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system of active safety technology. Check out Legacy's safety tech. It's one of the safest midsize sedans for used sedan shoppers.

Check Out This Related Story: The Best Used Cars $15-$20K - CR Says Your Search Is Over It’s Subaru Legacy

The 2018 Legacy earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ safety score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Legacy came with reverse automatic braking, which detects objects when reversing, automatically triggers an alert, and brakes the vehicle to avoid a collision. The improved headlights came with high beam assist and are standard for 2018 Legacy models.

Legacy came with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist safety technology. EyeSight features six technologies to maximize passenger safety: Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Steering Assist, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

For 2018, check out the Legacy 2.5i Sport in the video below.

The Subaru Legacy Sport was a new trim level in 2017. Outside, it featured a dark gray grille, fog lights with gloss black housings, and newly designed 18-in. sport-styled wheels. Other Legacy Sport exterior styling upgrades included chrome-accented rocker trim and high-luster silver-finished turn-signal mirrors.

Inside, the Sport trim had a two-tone pairing of gray and black cloth upholstery with blue stitching on the seats, door panels, and steering wheel. It also had a carbon fiber pattern dash, door panel trim, piano-black door switch panels, and steering wheel switches.

The 2024 Subaru Legacy sedan arrives this fall, but check out the 2018 model year. Consumer Reports says it's reliable, fuel-efficient, has good road tests, and gets top safety scores.

Don’t Miss This Hot Topic: Subaru Is Back To Its Winning Ways With Only 2 Hot Models - One Is Not The Crosstrek

Denis Flierl brings over thirty years of combined auto industry and automotive journalism experience to Torque News readers. He is an accredited Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) member. The last twelve years have been spent with Torque News, covering Subaru vehicles and the latest news. Check back daily for his expert Subaru analysis. You'll find the latest stories on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.

Please leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and tweet it to your followers!

Photo credit: Subaru