In brief, the 2009 Subaru Legacy offered multiple transmission options depending on trim: the base 2.5i could be ordered with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic; the turbocharged 2.5GT offered a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic; and the 3.0R used a five-speed automatic only. All trims shared Subaru’s standard all-wheel-drive layout.
Overview of the transmission options by trim
The following breakdown shows which transmissions were typically available for each Legacy trim in 2009. Availability could vary by market or specific model year configurations.
Transmission options by trim for the 2009 Subaru Legacy are summarized below:
- 2.5i (base) and 2.5i Premium/Limited: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic (4EAT).
- 2.5GT (turbo): 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic (5EAT).
- 3.0R (H6): 5-speed automatic only.
In summary, the 2009 Legacy lineup offered manual transmissions on the 2.5i and the 2.5GT, with automatic options available across the board, while the 3.0R relied solely on a five-speed automatic. No CVT was offered on the 2009 Legacy.
Detailed per-trim breakdown
2.5i and 2.5i Premium/Limited
These trims used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and were available with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic (4EAT). All-wheel drive was standard on these Legacy variants.
2.5GT
The turbocharged 2.5GT typically offered a six-speed manual transmission, with an optional five-speed automatic (5EAT) depending on the market and configuration. All-wheel drive remained standard.
3.0R
The 3.0R, powered by a 3.0-liter flat-six, came with a five-speed automatic transmission only; a manual option was not offered for this trim in 2009.
Notes on transmission technology
While modern Subarus increasingly use CVTs in some models, the 2009 Legacy did not offer a continuously variable transmission. The available transmissions were traditional automatics (4EAT/5EAT) and manuals (5MT/6MT) depending on trim.
Summary
The 2009 Subaru Legacy offered a range of transmissions that varied by trim: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic on the base 2.5i; 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic on the 2.5GT; and a 5-speed automatic only on the 3.0R. All models generally featured AWD, and no CVT was offered in this model year.