I’ve heard of state birds, state flowers, and even state songs. I know that each state has a motto, and some have gone so far as to declare an official state fossil (in Colorado that would be my radio partner, Jane . . . ha ha!).

I don’t know that I’ve heard of a state pinpointing a car, but in the Rocky Mountain region many folks would tell you it’s the Subaru. People love their all-wheel-drive in these parts.

For 2013 the Subaru Legacy wants to make its mark against the likes of Accord and Camry, and with only a few minor dings they’ll probably hold their own again. Here’s what I discovered after a week behind the wheel . . .

If you thought there were a lot of choices in the cereal aisle, get ready for the Legacy: you get to choose between six trim levels. But all of them come standard with AWD, something you won’t find in any other midsize sedan. Personally I would nudge you toward one of the 3.6-liter/6-cylinder choices, but it depends on just how hot you are for fuel economy.

Sure, with the AWD and the increased power you pay the price in mileage, but generally in Colorado we accept that trade-off.

On the outside there’s nothing to necessarily blow your skirt up, but I do like the nose better on the redesigned Legacy. Other than that it carries its traditional strong - if unsexy - exterior.

Once you’re in the driver’s seat, however, the Subaru shines. The roominess is nice, and the ride is comfortable, even for your adult passengers in the back. The look and feel is impressive, and I think the dark wood they’ve added is a classy touch.

The Legacy’s console controls aren’t completely intuitive - especially as you move up in trim levels - but they’re not overly complex, either. I got a kick out of the EyeSight system, which pays attention even when you’re not. The system gently alerted me when the car ahead of me at the intersection had moved on. No, I wasn’t texting.

It’s a form of technology, however, that consumers are clamoring for. In some instances I get frustrated with automotive engineers’ overly-enthusiastic reliance on bells and whistles and gadgets and stuff. In too many cases they simply add up to annoying dings and bells, and we all hate noisy - and bossy - cars. But the Legacy has managed to swing a comfortable balance between safety, technology, and peace of mind.

The ride is smooth, and handling has never been an issue with this car.

Thumbs up for the Legacy. It might not be the official state car of Colorado, but it can nimbly get you up to see those fossils.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2012 at 7:00 PM and is filed under Dom's Desk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.