2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium, MSRP as rented $23,495
PCAR (Premium Car)

Pros:
- Roomy interior for 4 adults (can seat 5)
- All Wheel Drive
- 7-inch STARLINK display with backup camera
- Heated front seats with 10-way power driver's seat
- Bluetooth audio and phone

Cons:
- Cloth seats? This is a premium car?


Several months ago, I spotted a 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium in the return lane at HNL. I looked at the barcode on the window and was surprised that it was classified as a Premium (PCAR) rental. While not the base model, the 2.5i Premium trim makes do with a a cloth interior and lacks features available on higher models such as a smart-key and moonroof.

Fast forward a few months later, and I was given the choice of an Accord or Legacy for my Premium reservation at National's Waikiki, Hawaii (HNLC01) office. Having already rented an Accord, I settled on the Legacy -- but not before asking if they had anything else and being offered a Subaru Forrester in return.

The Ice Silver Metallic with Slate Black cloth interior sample I drove had an MSRP of around $23,495. This puts it in a similar price range with the Toyota Camry SE that I previously rented, and significantly less than other upper-trim FCARs such as the Ford Fusion Titanium or Chevy Malibu LTZ.



Premium classification aside, the Legacy was a reasonably good rental, with ample room for four adults and their luggage. The trunk uses struts instead of hinges, maximizing cargo space. Subaru's symmetrical All Wheel Drive sends power from the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine to all four wheels. I thought the engine was a little jumpy when accelerating from a standstill.



Inside, there's a large 7-inch multimedia display with a glossy screen and well-integrated black bezel. Subaru's STARLINK interface looks a lot like Toyota's -- I'm guessing they share the same underlying operating system. It's fast and responsive. The system supports USB (two ports) and Bluetooth audio inputs, as well as discrete Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Stitcher apps.



Chalk this one up to EAN's strange classifications. The Legacy would be a competitive FCAR, though a Fusion Titanium (or even an SE with Luxury Package) would still top my list. As a PCAR, it's near the bottom with the Accord LX. It doesn't mean it's a bad rental by any means; just not what you'd expect in the Premium category.