Subaru tells fans that its Legacy is coming to an end

Subaru of America revealed earlier this week that it is to end production of the long-running Legacy sedan, an automobile that was once the car maker’s flagship product.

The announcement of the Legacy’s discontinuation in the US comes four years after Subaru Japan stopped selling the model in the Asian nation, where the manufacturer is headquartered.

“Beloved by owners” - 2025 Legacy to be Subaru’s last

In a statement on Tuesday, Subaru of America revealed that the Legacy’s 2025 model - which belongs to the car’s seventh generation - will be the final edition of the sedan to come off the production line at the company’s US plant in Lafayette, Indiana.

The 2025 Legacy is to hit American dealerships in the spring, at a starting price of $24,895.

The first Subaru automobile to be manufactured in the States, the Legacy was rolled out in 1989, having been created specifically for the US market. According to the manufacturer, the model has amassed 1.3 million purchases in the country over the past 35 years.

“The Subaru Legacy has been beloved by owners and renowned for its exemplary safety and reliability,” the company said.

However, the car is now far less popular than other Subaru automobiles.

Legacy sales outstripped by alternative Subaru models

Per sales figures published by the manufacturer in January, the Legacy sold 25,510 units in the US in 2023 - well behind several other models. Indeed, Subaru’s top-performing vehicles last year - all SUVs - were around six times more successful.

The Outback, an automobile that is actually derived from the Legacy Wagon, a station-wagon variant of the Legacy, was bought 161,814 times in 2023. The Crosstrek sold 159,193 units, and the Forester attracted 152,566 buys.

Legacy discontinued amid “market shifts”, Subaru says

“Though the Legacy is the longest-running Subaru model line, its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers and Subaru’s transition to electrified and fully electric vehicles,” Subaru said in this week’s press release.

What is Subaru’s plan for EVs?

Subaru last year released the Solterra, its first fully electric vehicle (EV), and has committed to producing seven more EV models by 2028.

In August, Subaru’s president and CEO was cited by Japan’s Kyodo news agency as declaring that the manufacturer aims to sell 400,000 EVs in the US in 2028.

Atsushi Osaki also revealed plans to secure 50% of the global EV market by 2030, by reaching annual worldwide sales of 600,000 vehicles.