page_title: Subaru Legacy
section_title: First generation (1989–1993) – BC, BF, BJ
hierarchical_section_title: Subaru Legacy / First generation (1989–1993) – BC, BF, BJ
caption_attribution_description: English: 1993 Subaru Liberty (BF6) LX 2WD station wagon. Photographed in Roseville, New South Wales, Australia.
context_page_description: The Subaru Legacy is a midsize car built by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru since 1989. The maker's flagship car, it is unique in its class for offering all-wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional BOXER engine. The Legacy is sold as the Liberty in Australia out of deference to Legacy Australia, an organisation dedicated to caring for the families of military service veterans.
  In 1996, a variant of the Legacy with heightened suspension called the Legacy Outback was introduced to compete in the burgeoning sport-utility vehicle class and proved to be a sales success for Subaru. The Outback line was split into its own model in 2000, known as the Subaru Outback.
  As of 2008, 3.6 million Legacy models have been built since its 1989 introduction.
  Production for the Legacy ended in Japan in June 2020.
context_section_description: The Legacy was introduced in 1989 to provide Subaru a vehicle to compete in the lucrative North American mid-size market against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, and Nissan Stanza.  It was an all-new model, and positioned above the Leone, XT, Justy, and kei cars Rex and Sambar in Subaru's model range at the time. The Legacy also introduced an entirely new flat-4 engine series, called the EJ engine, which was quieter and more powerful than the previous EA engine.
  The Legacy began with a 5-door wagon or 4-door sedan body styles with FWD and an optional full-time AWD package, and was introduced in North America, the UK, Germany, the Benelux region of Northern Europe, Japan and Australia (where it was called Liberty because the name Legacy conflicted with Legacy Australia) . Options included 4-channel ABS, licensed from Bosch and air suspension height control, which lowered the vehicle at speeds above 50 mph (80.5 km/h), and also allowed the driver to increase the vehicle's ground clearance for off-road conditions. It was formally released January 23, 1989 in Japan, with an introductory price of ¥2,550,000 for the turbocharged RS (approx. USD $18,800 at 1989 yen exchange rate). The first Legacy was available at Japanese dealerships on February 1, 1989, with worldwide distribution starting in 1990.
  The US-spec included the passive restraints (motorized seat belts) through the 1994 model year with exception to the right hand drive Postal model which was only available with conventional seat belts. Driver's side airbags were an option midway through the 1992 model year and became standard in 1993. Passenger airbags weren't available until the 2nd generation arrived in 1995.
  The US models included the Legacy Sport Sedan, from 1991-1994 and Legacy Touring Wagon from 1992-1994. Both were turbocharged with the EJ22T closed-deck block engine. Unique to the US market, it was SOHC, with different pistons, oil squirters, oil cooler on the '91 model year, and other enhancements. Although it had the same displacement as the non-turbo/naturally aspirated (NA) EJ22E engine used throughout all other Legacy models, it was not simply a turbocharged version of the EJ22E. (As a side-note, the 1994 Legacy GT trim used the non-turbo EJ22E.)
  The sedan was available with strengthened 4EAT Automatic transmission or a stronger 5-speed manual transmission. The wagon came equipped with only the 4EAT on the international market, while japan received the 5 speed manual and also a high/low ratio levered 5 speed manual for more demanding conditions.
  These were the last turbocharged Subaru models sold in the US until the 2002 WRX debuted.
  These model codes are designated in the VIN of each vehicle, such as "JF1BF3BL0E-":
  Legacy Codes
  BC=89–94 Sedan
  BF=89–94 Wagon (raised roof)
  BJ=89–94 Wagon
caption: Facelift Subaru Liberty LX wagon (Australia)
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