Archived model-year dossier
2018 Subaru Legacy
The 2018 Subaru Legacy got a mid-cycle refresh with new interior materials, a redesigned console with an available 8-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive headlamps. NHTSA lists three recalls (fuel pump, blank backup camera, low-fuel warning) and 117 complaints. Used ones run $13,150 to $16,850 at dealers, and EPA rates it 23 to 29 mpg combined.
Configurations2
Model/option labels1
Combined efficiency23–29 MPG/MPGe
Electric rangeNot listed
Decision answers4
What changed on the 2018 Subaru Legacy
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the Legacy was refreshed for 2018 with exterior tweaks, a new interior, a new steering wheel, backup-camera gridlines that move with the steering, and newly available adaptive headlamps. The standard system is a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Torque News (opens in a new tab) adds an available 8-inch display and two rear USB ports, and The Truth About Cars (opens in a new tab) confirms the same two engines: a 175-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an optional 3.6-liter six. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts used 2018 Legacys at $13,150 for the 2.5i Premium up to $16,850 for the 3.6R Limited from a dealer.
Recalls and problems owners report
NHTSA lists three recall campaigns for the 2018 Legacy. 21V587000 covers an in-tank low-pressure fuel pump that may fail, fixed free by dealers with a replacement pump. 18V935000 covers a software issue that can leave the backup-camera image blank, and 18V773000 covers software that may not light the low-fuel warning at the intended level.
Owners have filed 117 complaints, led by electrical system with 40, unknown or other with 29, visibility and wipers with 25, engine with 10 and fuel system with 8. ProblemsByVin (opens in a new tab) and CarComplaints (opens in a new tab) break these down, and Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) rates the year's reliability about average.
2018 Legacy against the Camry, Accord and Altima
EPA rates the 2018 Legacy at 23 to 29 mpg combined and $2,150 to $2,700 a year in fuel, all with all-wheel drive. The Toyota Camry lists 26 to 52 at $1,200 to $2,400, the Honda Accord 26 to 47 at $1,350 to $2,400, and the Nissan Altima 26 to 31 at $2,000 to $2,400, all front-wheel drive. Standard all-wheel drive costs the Legacy a few mpg against each.
Trim-by-trim specifications
The 2018 Subaru Legacy: 5 trims compared.
Kelley Blue Book specifications, one row per trim.
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | EPA city / hwy / comb | Seats | Basic warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5i Premium | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) | Auto, CVT w/Manual Mode | AWD | 175 | 174 | 25 / 34 / 29 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| 2.5i Sport | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) | Auto, CVT w/Manual Mode | AWD | 175 | 174 | 25 / 34 / 29 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| 2.5i | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) | Auto, CVT w/Manual Mode | AWD | 175 | 174 | 25 / 34 / 29 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| 2.5i Limited | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (PZEV) | Auto, CVT w/Manual Mode | AWD | 175 | 174 | 25 / 34 / 29 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| 3.6R Limited | 3.6-liter 6-cylinder | Auto, CVT w/Manual Mode | AWD | 256 | 247 | 20 / 28 / 23 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Trim | Curb weight | Length | Height | Wheelbase | Turning circle | Fuel tank | Front headroom | Front legroom | Towing | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5i Premium | 3,459 lb | 188.8 in | 59 in | 108.3 in | 36.8 ft | 18.5 gal | 40 in | 42.9 in | P225/55VR17 | |
| 2.5i Sport | 3,492 lb | 188.8 in | 59 in | 108.3 in | 36.8 ft | 18.5 gal | 37.6 in | 42.9 in | P225/50HR18 | |
| 2.5i | 3,470 lb | 188.8 in | 59 in | 108.3 in | 36.8 ft | 18.5 gal | 40 in | 42.9 in | P225/55VR17 | |
| 2.5i Limited | 3,523 lb | 188.8 in | 59 in | 108.3 in | 36.8 ft | 18.5 gal | 37.6 in | 42.9 in | 2,700 lb | P225/50HR18 |
| 3.6R Limited | 3,697 lb | 188.8 in | 59 in | 108.3 in | 36.8 ft | 18.5 gal | 37.6 in | 42.9 in | 3,000 lb | P225/50HR18 |
Equipment by trim
Which 2018 Subaru Legacy trim has what.
Std is standard, Opt is optional, a dash means Kelley Blue Book lists it as not available.
| Equipment | 2.5i Premium | 2.5i Sport | 2.5i | 2.5i Limited | 3.6R Limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | |||||
| Anti-theft alarm | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Blind-spot alert | Opt | Opt | – | Std | Std |
| Child door locks | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Child-seat anchors | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Forward collision warning | Opt | Opt | – | Opt | Opt |
| Forward collision warning with automatic braking | Opt | Opt | – | Opt | Opt |
| Hill-start assist | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Rearview camera | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Electronic stability control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Traction control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Technology | |||||
| Text-message reader | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Bluetooth audio streaming | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Bluetooth | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Hands-free calling | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| IPod connector | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| IPod interface | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Built-in internet access | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Navigation system | Opt | Opt | – | Opt | Opt |
| Premium audio system | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Real-time traffic information | Opt | Opt | – | Opt | Opt |
| Satellite radio | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Apple CarPlay or Android Auto | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Steering-wheel audio controls | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Touchscreen | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Voice recognition | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Emergency and security services | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Comfort | |||||
| Heated front seats | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Heated rear seats | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Heated mirrors | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Power front seats for driver and passenger | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Power driver's seat | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Leather seats | – | – | – | Std | Std |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | Std | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Tilt steering wheel | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Cup holders | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Folding rear seat | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Exterior and convenience | |||||
| Alloy wheels | Std | Std | Opt | Std | Std |
| Fog lights | Opt | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Rear spoiler | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote liftgate or trunk release | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| 12-volt power outlet | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Power windows | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote keyless entry | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote engine start | Opt | Opt | Opt | Opt | Opt |
| Proximity keyless entry | – | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Push-button start | – | Std | – | Std | Std |
| Cruise control | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
| Integrated garage-door opener | Opt | Std | Opt | Std | Std |
| Rear-window defroster | Std | Std | Std | Std | Std |
Complete certification table
2 configuration records.
| EPA ID / label | Engine / technology | Drive / transmission | Fuel | City | Hwy | Combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38853Legacy AWD | 2.5L 4-cylConventional | All-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S7) | Regular | 25 | 34 | 29 | N/A |
| 38854Legacy AWD | 3.6L 6-cylConventional | All-Wheel DriveAutomatic (AV-S6) | Regular | 20 | 28 | 23 | N/A |
Model-specific answer center
4 answers for this exact family-year.
Q01Which current models share the 2018 Subaru Legacy's EPA class?
Comparison
Class peers of the 2018 Subaru Legacy in the current EPA data include 2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2027 Audi A5, 2026 Audi A6, 2025 Audi A7, 2025 Audi RS 5, 2026 Audi RS 7, and 31 more.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov current vehicle table
Q02How did the 2018 Subaru Legacy do in NHTSA's side crash and rollover tests?
Safety record
The 2018 Subaru Legacy earned 5 stars in the side crash test (5 stars driver side, 5 stars passenger side) and 5 stars for rollover resistance, a 10.1% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash. Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, read 2026-09-20.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
Q03What size wheels does the 2018 Subaru Legacy have?
Wheels and tires
The 2018 Subaru Legacy's wheel diameter is 17 inches on the 2.5i Premium and 2.5i and 18 inches on the 2.5i Sport, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Q04How do the 2018 Subaru Legacy trims differ from one another?
Trims
The 2.5i Sport has fog lights, an integrated garage-door opener, proximity keyless entry and push-button start as standard equipment over the 2.5i Premium. The 2.5i Limited has alloy wheels, a text-message reader, blind-spot alert and 15 more as standard equipment over the 2.5i. The 3.6R Limited has 256 hp against 175 over the 2.5i Limited.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Live NHTSA evidence
Current federal safety records for 2018 Subaru Legacy.
Exact-vehicle evidence desk
Check the exact vehicle, not just the model name.
Recalls, build data and service applicability are determined at VIN level, not by model name.
01 · NHTSASafety ratings, recalls, complaints and manufacturer communicationsExact model-year search → (opens in a new tab)02 · NHTSACheck open safety recalls by 17-character VINOfficial VIN remedy status → (opens in a new tab)03 · vPICDecode manufacturer-submitted vehicle attributesInternal VIN tool →04 · EPAQuery another year, make, model and option1984–current browser →
FuelEconomy.gov data source (opens in a new tab) · Methodology
Other model years
Compare the Subaru Legacy across model years.
Ownership desk
Problems and maintenance decisions worth checking next.
Towing and traileringWhen a weight-distribution hitch is requiredRoutine →Diesel ownershipDiesel is hard to start in cold weatherSoon →Body, water and noiseWater collects on the front passenger floorSoon →Body, water and noiseMusty smell when the climate system startsSoon →Seasonal and storageRoad-salt underbody washing and corrosion checksRoutine →Warning lightsBattery or charging-system warning while drivingSoon →