We’ve all played Simon Says at some stage of our formative years. Subaru’s SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) lets you be Simon.
Found only in the turbocharged 2.5-litre variant of the 2007 Legacy, SI-Drive allows the driver to dictate the car’s performance using a BMW iDrive-like knob to control gearshifts and throttle response to suit different driving moods and circumstances. In the new Legacy GT, Simon has just three things to say: “Intelligent”, “Sport” and “Sport Sharp”.
Apart from a new turbocharged 2.5-litre boxer engine, the new GT boasts revised, fierce looks with embellishments to the front headlights and more bodacious contours compared to the outgoing model. Added bonuses take the form of the new bits to fiddle around with in the cabin, as well as improved aesthetics.
A new McIntosh sound system provides even more stirring accompaniment to your drive, while the instrument fascia with its red and black highlights, sporty accents and paddle shifts create a sporty ambience.
New to this car is a small LCD screen in the instrument binnacle that displays the fuel/power curves for the different modes of the SI-Drive. The electric moonroof also helps distinguish the car from the regular non-turbo’d Legacy. Extra buttons on the sporty Momo steering wheel also allow the driver to toggle between the different modes without taking his hands off the helm.
The driver’s seat holds you snugly even during the wildest manoeuvres – a good thing since the handbrake really bites hard should you choose to provoke a tail-out stance.
Engage “Intelligent” when you know you’re going to be stuck in gridlocks and start-stop traffic situations. This delivers smoothness and fuel economy, with a moderate throttle response.
As you’re at the last traffic light before you exit the city for the expressway, “Sport Sharp” is the mode you’re looking for, which immediately sharpens up throttle response for full performance and maximum thrust as you surge towards the expressway on-ramp. In this mode, the gearbox switches at high revs, allowing you to hold on to one slot a bit longer. There is quick access to this delicious mode – in the form of a special “S#” button on the steering wheel.
“Sport” mode is meant to be the best compromise between “Intelligent” and “Sport Sharp”, but some drivers may find it to be neither here nor there. “S#” proves particularly useful for dispatching pesky
turbo-diesel taxi-cabs.
On the move, there is the barest hint of turbo-lag, but keep your foot planted on the go pedal and the surge kicks in with a blow to the kidneys. Previously, in the 2-litre GT, there was always a slight hesitation when you tried to invoke full performance, but you’ll face none of that with the new car. What SI-mon says, Simon gets.
The GT’s performance and nimbleness belie the car’s 1485kg kerb weight, and it should easily put “warm” hatches to shame. Moreover, the car’s combination of performance, space, comfort and luxury should make it an entertaining proposition for a sports executive saloon, although if we had our choice, the GT Wagon would be the one to have.
The car’s steering is nicely weighted and its all-round ventilated disc brakes work well. The ride is firm and body-roll is well-controlled, rather than soft and cushy.
And as evidenced from the ride on a car like even the 2007 Toyota Camry, manufacturers seem to
be placing more emphasis on creating cars that offer engaging drives in addition to their more mundane roles. In the Legacy GT, SI lets you decide just how much fun you want to have at any point in time. 
