Powerful and station wagon: Two words not often found in the same sentence. It's usually one or the other, speed or versatility. Wagon fans haven't had much choice when it comes to performance and utility. On the flip side, power purists would likely say powerful and wagon go together as well as peanut butter and sardines. But once you crawl behind the wheel of Subaru's Legacy 2.5GT Wagon, and take it for a fast lap around a deserted industrial area, you realize this isn't the wood-panelled Buick Roadmaster of your childhood memories. It's still versatile, accommodating a quintet or swiftly transforming to carry a load. It's also practical, drinking less fuel than a sport-utility vehicle while offering all-wheel-drive capabilities. The difference is the power – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder boxer engine that's turbocharged to blow 243 horses and 241 lb.-ft. of torque at 3600 r.p.m. The turbo wagon's sweet spot is Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive), an electronic program that gives the driver freedom to alter engine performance, control and fuel efficiency by choosing from three modes using a selector button on the centre console. Subaru boasts that those settings – Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp (the symbol is S#) – are like "three engines in one." SI-Drive means you don't have to change your style of driving, or the angle of your foot on the gas pedal, to save fuel or go quicker. Simply dial into the best setting for the job and the system tailors the engine based on the conditions. Intelligent mode, the fuel saver, is best used in stop and go traffic and on slippery roads. Sport (a.k.a. "in-between mode") is best for zipping around the suburbs or highway stretches. Sport Sharp, the serious muscle, is best for speedy merging onto the highway or those country corners that beckon on a sunny afternoon. SI-Drive gives you a better sense of control, and the 2.5GT accelerates swiftly and smoothly from a stoplight. It's nimble enough to take advantage of holes in city traffic and stays well-planted, thanks to the standard all-wheel drive. It's the tight ride and handling that will quash any preconceived notion about the definition of a station wagon. While there's not much to fault in this Legacy's looks, it doesn't stand out much, either. It looks like a Subaru wagon – except for a hood scoop that hints at the sporty character of the turbocharged engine. Getting into the low-slung wagon may prove a bit of a challenge for lanky drivers. Hopping out also takes more effort than a mid-size family sedan. Where it forces riders to look ungraceful, however, the car makes up for it with a sporty, low-to-the-ground ride. SUVs, especially crossovers, win for ease of entry and exit as well as a commanding seat with a view. From the cockpit, it's hard to find a complaint. For 2007, there's new chestnut wood lining the doors, centre console and as trim on the floor-mounted shifter. Buttons and controls are sparse; there's dual-zone climate control but otherwise you're given only what you need, making for a clean layout. I've never had an issue with Subaru interiors, but the fit-and-finish of the 2.5GT feels especially high end. Without the optional navigation system, there's a decent-sized storage box with a door. One item for the wish list would be steering wheel-mounted audio controls. There are buttons, but those are for the "sportshift," or manumatic, mode. Rear legroom is ample but not decadent, and the bench is best reserved for two riders, though three can fit for short jaunts. The second row folds nearly flat and flush with the cargo floor, so long items easily slide in and out of the storage area. That rear hatch glides up and down with a light feel and features a wide mouth for swallowing big purchases. The Legacy 2.5GT wagon is the best of many worlds: It's practical and versatile while treating the driver to a rush of adrenalin. It does, however, straddle being affordable and the desire to aspire. With a base price of $41,795, it sits above the loaded Mazda6 Sport Wagon GT-V6 and Volkswagen Passat wagon, and just below luxury players such as the BMW 328xi Touring and the Audi A4 Avant. But then, none of the competition comes with three engines – for the price of one.
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