CarGene

Subaru · Legacy

Subaru Legacy 2nd generation (BD/BG)

Years
1993–1998
Chassis
BD/BG
Drivetrain
FF / 4WD
Subaru Legacy 2nd generation (BD/BG)

Image: Bull-Doser / Public domain

Story

Driving performance, safety, fuel economy, quietness and wagon functions were improved from the user's point of view to raise its completeness. It proposed a sporty high-performance turbo wagon, and the Touring Wagon was widely praised in the market.

Stories

01

Keeping to the 5-number size

The development theme for the second generation was "inheritance and maturity." Development began during the bubble economy, and while comparable cars from other makers all widened into the 3-number size class and grew their engines, it kept within the 5-number size class and 2 L or less. It was rated as having driving and cabin space that rival a higher class despite its 5-number size, which became the second generation's biggest feature and led to commercial success.
Takao Tsuchiya

Chassis

Front

Strut

Rear

Strut

Length 4,595 mmWB 2,630 mm1,385 mmHeightWidth 1,695 mm
Curb weight
1,370kg

Production plants

US import eligibility

Earliest cars
Eligible since October 201825 years after sales began in October 1993
Last cars
Eligible since 202325 years after sales ended in 1998 (month not recorded)

Eligibility depends on each car's month of manufacture on its build plate, not on the sale dates shown here (NHTSA).

Japanese cars by US import year →

Engineers

Takao Tsuchiya

Takao Tsuchiya

Chief engineer of the second-generation Legacy. His development theme was "succession and refinement", and while other makers' cars of the time were moving into Japan's larger "3-number" registration class, he kept the car within the "5-number" size limits and at a displacement of 2 liters or less.

Eiji Tatsumi

Eiji Tatsumi

Hometown: Furano, Hokkaido

In the experimental department of Fuji Heavy Industries, he was responsible for the handling and ride comfort of the first-generation Legacy, and went on to be responsible for the handling and ride comfort of many Subaru cars. He transferred to STI, and served as STI general manager for SUPER GT and the NBR CHALLENGE TEAM.