2005 Subaru Legacy GT

This fresh rendition of the Legacy puts Subaru in the thick of the $30,000 sport-sedan hunt. Granted, $30K is a bit rich for a four-cylinder Japanese car from a nonpremium brand, but the Legacy GT has the sophistication to match its price.

The Audi A4 has to be hearing Subaru's footsteps. This car is entertaining and grows on you the more you drive it, once you learn to manage the ebb and flow of the turbocharger. Many staffers have commented about the Legacy's stealth nature. One noted it's an ideal sport sedan for someone who wants to fly under the radar. On the freeway, the car sounds thin-walled, with a lot of road noise bleeding through. Nonetheless, it feels solid and sure-footed. The ride is firm, better than our long-term Acura's, and the AWD is good and grippy in the twisty stuff. Several editors have requested a more aggressively compounded tire. Yet, Subarus sell strongly in the Northeast, so for most, the current tire choice makes sense. Overall, the Legacy GT's sport/luxury ratio is balanced just about right.