Several years ago, Ford’s controversial decision to stop selling sedans in North America was one that was met with considerable backlash from just about everyone. At the time, it seemed like a risky and bold move, even as sales of those types of models had already been on the decline for some time. However, looking back, that move has paid off as Americans continue to show a strong preference for crossovers, SUVs, and pickups, prompting other automakers to follow suit. Now, as Ford works on developing more hybrids and cheaper EVs, another one of its rivals – Subaru – is axing yet another sedan of its own.
Subaru has announced that it will cease production of the Legacy sedan in the spring of 2025 at the conclusion of that same model year. It’s a somber moment indeed, as the Legacy was originally developed especially for the American market and debuted back in 1989 as the first model from that brand to be manufactured in the United States at Subaru’s new Indiana plant, Subaru of Indiana Automotive.
Since then, the Subaru Legacy has spanned six generations while racking up cumulative sales of 1.3 million units in the U.S. alone, becoming the longest-lasting model line in the company’s history. The Legacy wagon also served as the foundation for the now-legendary Outback, to boot, and over 94 percent of Legacy models sold over the past ten years are still on U.S. roads today.
Subaru notes that it’s axing its longest-running model for a familiar reason, however – “its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers and Subaru’s transition to electrified and fully electric vehicles,” the automaker stated. “Including the Solterra EV, which debuted in the 2023 model year, Subaru Corporation, the parent company of Subaru of America, Inc., previously announced it would produce eight EV models by the 2028 calendar year.”
We’ll have more on everything Ford’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
I thought they discontinued the legacy like a decade ago. I never see new ones.
I see them all the time.
Too bad. The Legacy is certainly not glamorous or sexy, but at about 26k with AWD, all the safety gizmos and a very spacious interior and trunk, it is a great deal. Add in Subaru’s reliability and stellar resale value and it’s impossible to beat. It doesn’t sell well for many reasons, but mostly when was the last time you saw a Subaru adv. featuring the Legacy? If I were in the market for a mid-size sedan, it would be a Legacy in a NY minute.
big difference than Ford I think since most Subaru’s are more like cars than SUVs, the Crosstek, the Outback? Station-wagons at most
I drove a Bronco Sport the other day.
They should have continued to build cars as well.
Junk.
I’ll be buying a Honda or Toyota when my Focus dies for the last time. Ford offers nothing that interests me at all. Sad to say after 44 years of owning Fords.