If a car manufacturer wants to refresh a model a bit at a low cost, it is usually enough to adjust the layout of the headlights and grille a little. That looks exactly like what happened with the Subaru Legacy in 2006, but secretly there is (much) more going on here.
The Subaru Legacy in question is of the fourth generation, which appeared on the market in 2003. This edition is seen by many as the most beautiful Legacy ever and that is understandable. The car still looks sleek and tidy. It is not conspicuous, but is pleasant on the retina due to the beautiful proportions.
Subaru Legacy pre-facelift
In 2006, Subaru thought it was time to modernize the car. The way that happened is quite special. Car manufacturers can roughly choose two options for such a facelift. The first is careful detailing of a car, so that all the sheet metal can remain intact and the changes are limited to ‘add-on parts’ such as light units, grilles and decorative strips. The second option is a major operation in which the entire nose or butt has to believe, but that logically costs more money.
Subaru opted for option two, but with the effect of option one. In understandable language: the entire front was renovated, but that is almost invisible to the unsuspecting bystander. A remarkable choice, but that makes this Legacy a grateful victim for ‘Facelift Friday’. The well-known sliding slide shows clearly what changed. The chrome interior of the headlights is the most striking, but the light clusters have also been given a different shape. Where they first ended in a vertical line in the front screen, the light units are more pointed in shape after 2006. In addition, a kind of crow’s feet was added to the forced new front screen, an extra fold that optically connects the headlight with the line that adorns the side of the car.
Subaru Legacy facelift
Of course, a new front bumper was also fitted. The new specimen accentuates the shape of the headlights, which were allowed to keep their ‘droplet’ at the bottom, by a firm fold at the bottom. The central air intake grew considerably, while the copies on either side of it had to give up considerably. The grille was tightened slightly, but not in an overly jarring way.
Subaru Legacy facelift
At the rear of the station wagon, the biggest news is the arrival of rearranged rear lights. The now white / red units will be connected from 2006 with a silver-colored strip, which contains the reversing and fog lamp unit mounted in the lid. Funny detail: the reversing light mounted on the passenger side is a specimen with a light bulb both before and after the facelift, while the rear fog light on the other side is made up of LEDs. For example, both units are beautifully white, although the difference is still clearly visible.
The sedan changed a bit more. The rear lights became a bit smaller here, the gap thus created was filled by raising the bumper higher. Interestingly, the rear fog lights – here they are again – are now housed in a separate housing in the bumper. A strip of chrome and a painted ‘double chin’ of the bumper also freshen up the four-door Legacy from this angle.