All-Wheel Drives Are Subaru's Legacy -- Company Sees Future In Wagon Alternative To Minivan Culture

After toying with the idea that it could play with the big boys, and trying to convince us that the Impreza was the next big thing, Subaru has returned to its roots.

That means the company will focus on the all-wheel-drive models and the station wagons that made it something of a cult favorite in New England and the Pacific Northwest.

Not everyone wants to drive a big sport-utility like an Explorer or a Suburban when they go skiing. Not everyone with two kids and a dog wants a minivan. Not everyone who buys a Japanese car wants a Toyota, Nissan or Honda.

That, in a nutshell, is the future of Subaru. Sales for each of the last two years have been around 104,000. Subaru expects slow growth this year and next.

The Legacy remains Subaru's most popular model. It's a car for everyone: sedan or wagon; front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive; bare-bones transportation or fancy-pants driver.

An updated 1995 model Legacy arrives late this summer. For 1994, Subaru has tried some creative packaging to generate interest in the Legacy. The result is four so-called active-lifestyle wagons such as the Alpine Sport Wagon with its all-wheel-drive, engine-block heater, heated seats, luggage rack with ski attachment and other features.

Another is the Sun Sport Wagon, which is a front-wheel-drive Legacy with a sunroof, CD player and bicycle attachment for its luggage rack.

I drove the GT Wagon, which had a raised roof with roof rails, body-color door handles and rear-view mirrors, mesh-alloy wheels and some molding to give it a faster look. The GT package includes all-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes and a CD player.

Our test car was painted deep sapphire pearl, which looked blue to me. I drove it 383 miles in a week. The ride: Powering the Legacy wagon is a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine. It generates 130 horsepower, and it is fun to drive. Acceleration was steady, after a moment of hesitation when you hit the gas pedal, and consistent as you get up to speed. The optional automatic transmission shifted smoothly. And the car had a nice road feel.

The look: Despite the attempts to make the GT model look like something special, the Legacy remains a rather bland styling exercise.

Inside: Despite its age, the Legacy's interior remains comfortable and fairly fresh. The fabric seats were very nicely done, if a bit too firm. Leg and head room was great up front and pretty good in back.

Controls: Gauges were easy to read. I like the way Subaru engineers set up the heating-air conditioning controls. All the functions (from `off' to `AC' to `defrost') were in a neat row.

The dual cup holder that pulls out from the dash was amazingly bad. Stick a can of Diet Coke in one of the slots, and you can't operate the climate controls or the radio. Today's car buyers want cup holders, but not in the same place where they turn up the air or switch the radio station.

Safety: A driver's air bag is standard. Anti-lock brakes came as part of the GT package. The automatic seat belts continue to annoy. Let's hope they're gone in the next version of this car.

Storage: There's no third seat in this station wagon, which means the entire rear is for cargo, not people. A pull-over cargo cover was a nice touch.

Though only a compact wagon, the Legacy would probably fit most needs of a small family of three or four.

Last word: The Legacy isn't in the same league as the Accord or Camry wagons. It's a good car, but it isn't at the top of its class. And, at less than 3,000 miles, our test vehicle was already starting to look a little worn around the edges.

Yet, the availability of all-wheel-drive is a great advantage. The car holds the road securely and seems the perfect compromise for those who make occasional ski pilgrimages but don't want to drive a big truck around town.

Legacy prices range from the high teens to the mid-$20,000s. The company has been offering both consumer and dealer rebates on some '93 and '94 models. ----------------------------------------------------------------- '94 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon AWD

Engine: 130-horsepower, 2.2-liter four-cylinder. Base price: $18,750 as tested (with options and delivery charge: $21,156). Standard features: Manual transmission; driver's air bag; child-safety lock rear doors; air conditioning; AM-FM stereo with cassette; power windows, locks and mirrors; cruise control; tilt steering; split-fold rear seat. Options on test vehicle: Four-speed automatic transmission; roof rack; GT package with anti-lock brakes, CD player, alloy wheels, aero effects, upgraded interior fabric and rear stabilizer bar. Mileage (EPA): 21 mpg city, 27 highway. For test: 23.1 mpg.