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The New York Auto Show is the backdrop for the 2010 Subaru Legacy's unveiling, and we just checked it out on the display stand downstairs here at the Jacob Javits Center. The red car you see in the gallery below is a Legacy 2.5 GT equipped with the six-speed manual gearbox, while the dark gray car above is a PZEV-certified base model. The new Legacy is clearly a step up from the car it replaces. It's taller, longer and wider, which makes for more room inside than the old car, which in turn makes for a more compelling rival to the cavernous Accord. The interior's trimmed out with decent plastics, a thick-rimmed wheel, a relatively uncluttered center stack (as opposed to the Accord's loaded Scrabble board) and nice leather seats. The mere presence of that manual shifter makes it all the more welcoming. (Man, if only you could get this trim and setup in a wagon)

Outside, the new Legacy's got a new, distinctive front end with big eyes and that familiar corporate grille. The 2.5 GT's hood scoop jazzes things up a little, too. In profile, the 2010 Legacy is inoffensive and will blend into the family-sedan crowd nicely. The rear end features large taillamps and, in the case of the 2.5GT, dual exhaust outlets. Open the trunk and you'll find a nice, large opening with thoughtfully-placed release handles for the rear seats (no need to drop them from inside the passenger compartment, which is a nice touch.) In all, the 2010 Subaru Legacy's restyling is far less controversial than the one underwent recently by the Impreza, though we're still going to miss the outgoing car's clean, handsome lines. That said, the new car is better-positioned to do battle in this hugely-competitive segment, and we expect that Subaru is eager to throw its hat in the ring against the Accord and Camry.