The interior has a more sophisticated feel than Subarus of old, with a high tech look to the controls and instruments. But it’s rather let down by some cheap-looking plastics while the finish doesn’t have a particularly upmarket feel. The driving position is okay, but annoyingly the steering wheel only adjusts for height and not for reach – not what you’d expect on a car this size.

This was rectified on models for 2007 while the interior was upgraded too. It’s certainly more modern with some soft-touch materials but there are still too many hard plastics on show.

Thanks to a smooth ride on most models (with the exception of the 3.0R Spec B) the Legacy makes a decent long distance motorway cruiser. The smaller 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre petrol models do have to be worked hard and as they only have a five-speed manual gearbox, can spend much of their time at high (and noisy) revs. But wind and road noise aren’t overly intrusive and there’s good space in the front with decent seats.

There’s lots of rear leg and head room, but three large adults would appreciate a bit more width.