AWD option too costly (lease, luxury, vehicles, sedan)

[HappyRider]

My son is looking at trading in his 09 Legacy. He definitely wants AWD but not in an SUV. Every time I look around I come back to the Subaru. I like other brands, Fusion for example, but AWD is often either not available or costs thousands. You can get a ’16 Legacy for under $25K. Anybody even close?

[jaypee]

Mitsubishi Lancer
Chrysler 200
Fiat 500X
You might be able to find a Dodge Charger AWD for a little bit more than $25k

[Checkered24]

The difference you are noticing is that other companies which offer AWD as an option tend to limit how you can gain access to the AWD, and do it through added options and such bringing the price up. They really are not competing with entry level Legacy's with their AWD.

With the Fusion, you are locked into having to get the top of the line engine choice (2.0L Ecoboost), which is going to up the base price on the Fusion AWD compared to a bare bones Legacy.

Now, if your son would be looking at a Legacy 3.6R Limited, then by all means is a fairly loaded Fusion SE, or a Titanium more of a direct competitor and worthy of cross shopping.

[Retriever]

Originally Posted by jaypee

Mitsubishi Lancer
Chrysler 200
Fiat 500X

Mitsubishi is circling the drain in the US marketplace, and is very possibly going to exit from the US marketplace, just as Suzuki and Isuzu did.

The other two vehicles listed have very poor reliability.

[CloudReader]

I did the same research this spring. I wanted a great AWD system, good gas mileage (meaning sedan) and no premium fuel requirement. The Subaru sedans were basically it, as nothing really comes close at that price point. Other car makers seem to treat AWD in a sedan as a premium/luxury item -you can get it, as long as you take a high trim level, or buy luxury.

Now this is if you buy new. If you buy used, more options will be available -including the Fusion or maybe even a nice Acura TL SH-AWD (if I didn't mind the fuel penalty, that's what I would have gotten).

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by jaypee

Mitsubishi Lancer
Chrysler 200
Fiat 500X
You might be able to find a Dodge Charger AWD for a little bit more than $25k

If these are the choices then it is hard to pass up the Subaru for a Mitsubishi.

[Pretzelogik]

Originally Posted by HappyRider

My son is looking at trading in his 09 Legacy. He definitely wants AWD but not in an SUV. Every time I look around I come back to the Subaru. I like other brands, Fusion for example, but AWD is often either not available or costs thousands. You can get a ’16 Legacy for under $25K. Anybody even close?

Not if you want something that's reliable. Look here. Car Reliability Comparisons

[funcrusher3000]

Subaru really has the court when it comes to AWD in a sedan at a reasonable price. The lancer, charger, etc are really very poor choices in general (let alone when compared to the Subaru). The only AWD sedans that come to mind are considerably more expensive (3 Series, Infiniti Q40/50).

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by funcrusher3000

The only AWD sedans that come to mind are considerably more expensive (3 Series, Infiniti Q40/50).

New, yes.

But 2-3 year old lease turn-ins are sitting on dealer lots for $25K or less with under 20K miles usually.

Sounds like the OP is looking new though.

[Redraven]

BMW X-drive?
Like a good used 328ix?
If only they would put the x-drive under a convertible...