Generation history
Subaru Legacy generations and next redesign.
The Subaru Legacy has been through 7 generations, starting in 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2014 and 2019. The gaps were 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5 years, an average of 5.0. Redesigns come quickly on this model. The current generation began in 2019. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2023 through 2025, centered on 2024. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The seventh-generation Legacy made its debut at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show on February 7, 2019, to be sold at United States and Canadian dealerships starting in the third quarter of 2019 for the 2020 model year. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Subaru Legacy model page.
Every generation
The Subaru Legacy, generation by generation.
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
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| First generation | BC/BF/BJ | 1989–1993 | The Legacy was introduced in 1989 to provide Subaru a vehicle to compete in the lucrative North American mid-size market against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, and Nissan Stanza. |
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| Second generation | BD/BG/BK | 1993–1998 | Second generation sales in Japan began October 7, 1993, with an introductory price of ¥2,753,000 for the twin turbo GT (approx US$25,250 at 1993 yen exchange rate), and an introduction for model year 1995 in North America with a full body and chassis revision. |
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| Third generation | BE/BH | 1998–2003 | Subaru launched the third generation Japanese and world-market Legacy in June 1998, while the North American model started production in May 1999 as a 2000 model, also known as the BE for sedan models and BH for wagons. |
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| Fourth generation | BL/BP | 2003–2009 | On May 23, 2003, Fuji Heavy Industries debuted the redesigned Legacy, known as the BL for sedan models and BP for wagons. |
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| Fifth generation | BM/BR | 2009–2014 | In 2009, a Subaru Legacy/Liberty concept was designed to commemorate 20th anniversary of the model, reported to be the basis of the production version of the then upcoming fifth generation Subaru Legacy/Liberty. |
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| Sixth generation | BN/BS | 2014–2019 | The sixth generation of the Subaru Legacy made its debut at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show, and went into production for the 2015 model year. |
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| Seventh generation | BW/BT | 2019–present | The seventh-generation Legacy made its debut at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show on February 7, 2019, to be sold at United States and Canadian dealerships starting in the third quarter of 2019 for the 2020 model year. |
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The Subaru Legacy spent 5.0 years per generation on average. The current one is 7 years old. Treat 2023 to 2025 as a range, not a date.
Source: Subaru Legacy (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Subaru Legacy model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
What each Subaru Legacy generation changed.
First generation, 1989 to 1993
The Legacy was introduced in 1989 to provide Subaru a vehicle to compete in the lucrative North American mid-size market against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, and Nissan Stanza. It was an all-new model, and positioned above the Leone, XT, Justy, and kei cars Rex and Sambar in Subaru's model range at the time. The Legacy also introduced an entirely new flat-4 engine series, called the EJ engine, which was quieter and more powerful than the previous EA engine.
Second generation, 1993 to 1998
Second generation sales in Japan began October 7, 1993, with an introductory price of ¥2,753,000 for the twin turbo GT (approx US$25,250 at 1993 yen exchange rate), and an introduction for model year 1995 in North America with a full body and chassis revision. The exterior was designed by Olivier Boulay, who was hired by Subaru on a short-term basis. The tail light appearance on both the sedan and wagon was influenced by the taillights on the SVX.
Third generation, 1998 to 2003
Subaru launched the third generation Japanese and world-market Legacy in June 1998, while the North American model started production in May 1999 as a 2000 model, also known as the BE for sedan models and BH for wagons. European-market and Japanese models ranged from a normally aspirated 2.0 L flat-4 to the EZ30 flat-6 in the 3.0R model (European and Japanese trim level designation), with the twin turbo that was offered in the previous generation still offered on performance models.
Fourth generation, 2003 to 2009
On May 23, 2003, Fuji Heavy Industries debuted the redesigned Legacy, known as the BL for sedan models and BP for wagons. It was released worldwide in 2004, with Subaru Indiana Automotive commencing production in February 2004 for the North American markets for 2005 model year. The Legacy was presented the 2003–2004 Japan Car of the Year, Subaru's first win for the award after fighting off stiff competition from Toyota Prius and Mazda RX-8.
Fifth generation, 2009 to 2014
In 2009, a Subaru Legacy/Liberty concept was designed to commemorate 20th anniversary of the model, reported to be the basis of the production version of the then upcoming fifth generation Subaru Legacy/Liberty. The concept vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Production of the fifth generation 2010 Subaru Legacy/Liberty began the last week of May 2009 at the Indiana location, and was unveiled at the 2009 New York Auto Show. According to the Subaru website in Japan, the Legacy was introduced in Japan on May 20, 2009.
Seventh generation, 2019 to today
The seventh-generation Legacy made its debut at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show on February 7, 2019, to be sold at United States and Canadian dealerships starting in the third quarter of 2019 for the 2020 model year. Unlike the previous generations, the seventh generation Legacy will not be sold in Japan and Australia because of disappointing sales from its predecessor. The 2020 model year Legacy was moved to the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), which is torsionally stiffer compared to the previous generation Legacy.
Generation notes adapted from Subaru Legacy (Wikipedia).
Today's Subaru Legacy
What the current generation is, and how it has held up.
Subaru Legacy at a glance
- Production
- 1989–2020 (worldwide), 1989–2025 (North America)
- Model years
- 1990–2025 (North America)
- Assembly
- Japan: Ōta, Gunma (Yajima plant; 1989–2020), United States: Lafayette, Indiana (Lafayette plant)
- Class
- Mid-size car / Compact executive car
- Body style
- 4-door sedan, 5-door station wagon
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (1989–1999), Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (1989–2025)
- Successor
- Subaru Outback (wagon model), Subaru Levorg (wagon model)
- Also called
- Subaru Liberty (Australia, until 2020), Subaru B4 (Israel), Isuzu Aska (first generation only)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Legacy overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- November 2023, Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch. Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail. Consequence: An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
- September 2023, Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft. Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft. Consequence: Separation of the front end of the driveshaft increases the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Legacy, most often about engine (3), air bags (1), steering (1).