Realistic Legacy mpg

[LongLiveTazio]

Just browsing through facelift Legacies and the 2.0 and 2.5 seem pretty closely matched in terms of mpg, if not performance. Official figures reckon 4.5mpg between them in terms of extra-urban.

Anyone got first-hand experience of likely mpg on a 70mph motorway trip?

[GravelBen]

Not sure about the current models - with the GTB 30-32mpg on an open road cruise is fairly normal, the 2.5NA should be better than that. Best I remember from my old '97 TSR wagon (2.0 NA 155bhp) was 37mpg average over a tank - mostly cruising around 65mph on a trip with hills and corners, loaded to the hilt with 5 people and luggage.

[LongLiveTazio]

That's pretty good. I basically want 40mpg out of a steady cruise, which I don't think is a big sacrifice for petrol refinement/power characteristics.

Reason for the 2.5 query was because most new-shapes seem to be 'SE' spec, which includes leather/heated seats/etc. Most of the 2.0s seem pretty poor in terms of spec compared to, say, a Volvo.

[Benny Saltstein]

I have a 2006 2.0 RE which is leather, heated seats etc. The best I've had on a motorway trip is 33-34mpg driving around 70ish with a very light right foot.

I really doubt that 40mpg is achievable.

[smifffymoto]

I used to get 400 miles a tank full in the UK,300 a tank full in the Pyrenees from a 2.5 se Outback.

[LongLiveTazio]

Benny Saltstein said:

I have a 2006 2.0 RE which is leather, heated seats etc. The best I've had on a motorway trip is 33-34mpg driving around 70ish with a very light right foot.

I really doubt that 40mpg is achievable.

Is that not the more powerful engine? I think they refreshed the 2.0 and it dropped in efficiency quite markedly?

The 2.0 I was looking at is the 140bhp-odd version.

[LongLiveTazio]

Just a bump to see if anyone else has any experiences. As above it would be the facelifted Legacy but before the engine revisions in (I think) 2006.

[S47]

My 2 litre N/A Gl estate does 29-30MPG, and about 32MPG on a long run provided you don't cruise in the 80's.
I was thinking of changing for a newer 2,5 estate, would a 2.5 be any worse?
My car seems to have very low gearing 80mph is well over 4000 rpm, does anyone know whether the 2.5 has higher cruising gear, which may make the 2.5's mpg better on longer trips.
TA for any help
Mal
PS
40mpg is not achieveable IMO under any circumstances

Edited by S47 on Saturday 23 July 16:02

Edited by S47 on Saturday 23 July 16:03

[rhinochopig]

40mpg out of a Subaru petrol

If I nursed our N/A Impreza I would get 35ish, which is a chunk lighter than the Legacy. If you want 40mpg get the Diesel.

[LongLiveTazio]

rhinochopig said:

40mpg out of a Subaru petrol

If I nursed our N/A Impreza I would get 35ish, which is a chunk lighter than the Legacy. If you want 40mpg get the Diesel.

I'll just look down the sofa for a spare £15k.

At the end of the day the official extra-urban figure is 47mpg, seeing if anyone can get within 15% of that isn't exactly that strange a question.

[pimping]

I had a 2001 legacy auto saloon in cyprus and even with fuel at 65p back in 2006 it seemed to guzzle it exorbitantly.

Never went wrong though.

[mjx]

My 2.5 estate would do around 30 in primarily motorway / a-road driving, down to 20 odd in town. Not really very fast but felt good to drive. I found the 2 litre (on test drives) to be a bit underpowered and similar in consumption. I chopped in my 2.5 for a Spec B saloon that would do a fairly consistent 22mpg, up to a best of 29 on a long run up the A9.

The 2.5 was more fun to drive than the Spec B IMO, because it's lighter at the front end and felt more balanced. The Spec B always felt 'heavy' at the front end. However the 2.5 never really delivered the performance to justify the fuel economy either...

[GravelBen]

rhinochopig said:

40mpg out of a Subaru petrol

If I nursed our N/A Impreza I would get 35ish, which is a chunk lighter than the Legacy. If you want 40mpg get the Diesel.

Imprezas have never really been any more economical than Legacies tbh, the ~150kg weight difference is made up for by slipperier aero and longer gearing. As said above I've had 37 from a '97 Legacy wagon a few years back, a friend of my dads also said he got 36 from his '06 3.0R on a boring flat open road trip.

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 24th July 00:37

[rb5er]

My 1999 2.5 legacy gx manual constantly returns 29 mpg over a tankful. The awd certainly makes them juicier.

[S47]

For sure Auto's are to be avoided - why do people buy an auto?? really baffles me
Anyone know when the 6 speed box became standard/or an option on Legacies?

[Stack]

I've got a 2.5 SEn Auto Saloon, which has heated leather,sat nav, sunroof, cruise etc

My consumption is mainly around the high 20s', although I am currently getting 31 mpg (as there seems less traffic on the roads as the schools are on vacation)

Edited by Stack on Monday 25th July 12:50

[Zed Ed]

My 2010 diesel

33-35mpg London Suburban

47mpg Motorway @ 75mph cruise

Overall 40+ over 7000 miles

[S47]

Z-ed
Is your car manual or Auto?
Only 40 mpg that's not exactly frugal
I'd love a diesel - couldn't afford the depreciation though, for me it's better to buy a nice older petrol car and save money.
Maybe in 5 years time when Manual diesels reach sensible money I'll get one

[Zed Ed]

Manual; they all are

Big car now, and perm four wheel drive; spends much time in London, hence overall mpg.

Edited by Zed Ed on Monday 25th July 18:58

[Legacywr]

My Legacy GT SpecB 2.0 twinscroll averaged 32mpg on a hack to Scotland and back!