Handling is significantly over pre-2005 Legacy models. Weight was reduced 200 pounds, mostly at the front and rear, through extensive use of aluminum in the hood, and high strength, hydroformed steel in the bumper beams and suspension components. Less weight is better and concentrating the weight at the center is better yet. Dropping the more compact engine about an inch in the chassis and redesigning the rear suspension lowered the center of gravity. All of this, together with the wider track, make for an agile, lively car on a winding road.

The 2.5i models benefit from an eight-horse increase in power for 2006. This makes them quicker than before. The manual transmission makes the best use of the engine's 175 horsepower. It's not the most precise gearbox in this class, and downshifting with confidence takes some practice. The GT Limited gets a four-speed automatic with a semi-manual feature called Sportshift. The Sportshift gate is toward the driver; push the shifter forward for upshifts, pull back for downshifts.

With 250 horsepower, the GT Limited models are fun to accelerate out of corners. Turbo lag is minimal, and once it spools up, the engine develops strong torque as it climbs rapidly and smoothly to redline, taking the car to an indicated 140 mph. Driving one on a mountain road brought out the rally driver in us, with the smooth cornering and low-end torque challenging us to accelerate hard out of the corners and on to the straightaways, then brake hard before the turn-in point as we set up for the next apex. The five-speed manual has been reinforced to handle the extra horsepower. The five-speed automatic comes with Sportshift.

The suspension soaks up road bumps and joints, though the 17-inch wheels produce some resonance (vibration). Washboard pavement in corners unsettles the car enough to notice, but not enough to cause any anxiety. The Legacy is stable at interstate speeds, though we noticed it was susceptible to cross winds and turbulence generated by 18-wheelers.

Brakes in the various models are up to their powerplants' potential and easy to modulate, with the GT Limited benefiting from its high-performance components. Winding down a mountain road in Southern California, we found the brakes, suspension and engine in the GT wagon easy to coordinate, allowing for smooth driving that didn't upset our passengers.

Little wind noise intrudes at highway speeds, except for a bit from the roof rack crossbars and from around the seal around the moonroof when the undershade is retracted.

The all-wheel-drive system in the Legacy models differs in technical details by drivetrain. All of these systems give the Legacy a sure-footed feel and greatly improve grip and handling stability in slippery conditions.

The manual transmission employs a viscous coupling to split the power between the front and rear tires. If the tires at one end begin to slip, the system sends more power to the other end. That split is 50/50 in optimal conditions, but power transfer can reach 100 percent to either end under extreme conditions.

The four-speed automatic is matched with an electronically managed, continuously variable transfer clutch that distributes the power where it's best used, but no more than 50/50.

The five-speed automatic is paired with the most technologically advanced of Subaru's all wheel-drive systems called Variable Torque Distribution or VTD. An electronically controlled, continuously variable hydraulic transfer clutch manages the power distribution through a planetary center differential. Under normal conditions, the VTD splits the power 45/55 front/rear to give the GT more of a rear wheel-drive feel, but adjustments, to a maximum of 50/50, are made as road conditions dictate.