How to turn on cruise control on a Subaru Legacy?
Activating cruise control in a Subaru Legacy is straightforward: use the steering-wheel controls to turn the system on, set your speed, and adjust or resume as needed. If your Legacy is equipped with EyeSight Adaptive Cruise Control, you can also manage the following distance to the car ahead.
Understanding the system
The Subaru Legacy offers both standard cruise control (non-adaptive) and EyeSight Adaptive Cruise Control depending on the model year and trim. Standard cruise control maintains a constant speed you set, while EyeSight ACC automatically adjusts your speed to keep a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead, using data from the vehicle’s forward-sensing systems.
Manual Cruise Control (non-Adaptive)
This section covers the traditional cruise control system found on Legacy models without Adaptive Cruise Control. The steps assume the system is installed and the vehicle is at or above the minimum operating speed.
Key steps to activate
- Ensure the ignition is on and you’re traveling at a speed that allows cruise control (usually above about 25 mph or the model’s minimum operating speed).
- Press the CRUISE button on the steering wheel to turn the cruise control system on. A cruise indicator should illuminate on the instrument cluster.
- Accelerate to your desired speed.
- Press SET to lock in the current speed as the cruising speed.
- To adjust the speed, use the + or − controls. Press RES to resume a previously set speed after braking or canceling.
- To disengage, either press CANCEL or tap the brake pedal. The system will turn off and you’ll need to re-engage it to set a new speed.
Engaging the older, non-adaptive system means you’re responsible for maintaining lane position, speed, and awareness of traffic conditions. The feature is designed to reduce fatigue on longer drives but does not replace attentive driving.
Adaptive Cruise Control with EyeSight
If your Legacy is equipped with EyeSight and Adaptive Cruise Control, you can set a following distance in addition to the cruising speed. This helps the vehicle adjust speed automatically to maintain a safe gap from the car ahead.
Key steps to activate
- Ensure EyeSight and cruise control features are enabled on startup and that you’re traveling above the minimum speed required by the system.
- Press the CRUISE button to turn on the cruise control system. The ACC indicator should appear in the instrument cluster, signaling that ACC is available.
- Accelerate to your desired speed, then press SET to establish the cruising speed.
- Use the + and − controls to fine-tune the set speed as needed.
- Use the Distance (follow-distance) setting on the steering wheel to select how closely you want to follow the vehicle ahead. Levels range from a shorter to a longer gap, depending on model year and trim.
- To resume after a temporary interruption (such as braking), press RES or briefly tap the accelerator to re-engage at the previously set distance and speed.
- To disengage, press CANCEL or apply the brake. The system will deactivate, and you can re-engage later with the CRUISE button and SET.
With EyeSight ACC, the system can reduce speed if the lead car slows and then increase speed again when the road ahead clears. However, it remains the driver’s responsibility to monitor traffic and road conditions and be ready to take control at any moment.
Safety notes and limitations
Cruise control systems are aids that help with highway driving but do not replace driver attention. They may be limited by weather, road conditions, and the behavior of other drivers. Always stay alert, keep both hands near the wheel, and be prepared to take over if conditions change suddenly.
Summary
In a Subaru Legacy, you turn on cruise control by activating the CRUISE button on the steering wheel. For manual cruise control, set your speed with SET and adjust with +/−, resuming with RES as needed. If your model includes EyeSight Adaptive Cruise Control, you can also choose a following distance to automatically adapt to traffic while maintaining a safe speed. Always drive attentively and be ready to intervene when necessary.
