Hit the road and you'll find this entry-level Legacy is a pleasure to drive. The independent suspension soaks up the bumps well enough to make for comfortable cruising, while still being able to deliver better-than-average handling.

The Legacy's rack-and-pinion steering is decent enough, though improved on-center feel would be welcome. Enthusiastic drivers will also find themselves wanting a bit more feedback through the wheel.

The four-cylinder boxer engine we've enjoyed in other Subarus provides acceptable acceleration here, especially with the five-speed manual. Acceleration is a bit more leisurely with the automatic, though using the excellent manual shift mode helps make the most of the engine's available power.

Perhaps the biggest issue is that the engine feels a little coarse under hard acceleration, an inherent characteristic of a boxer engine. While this lack of refinement is especially noteworthy compared to the silky-smooth powerplants in similarly-priced Japanese competitors, it seems like a very livable trade-off in exchange for the car's super-low emissions.