Base 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan
2020 Subaru Legacy

2020 Legacy Photos
 Editors' Pick
Autoblog Rating
7

Subaru's sedan isn't alone with all-wheel drive anymore, but it does impress with a much more premium interior and turbocharged engine option. The exterior styling is ho-hum, and the ride errs on the side of comfort over handling prowess.

Industry
N/A
The 2020 Subaru Legacy is facing a very steep climb. Though redesigned and massively improved, it's still a sedan in an increasingly SUV world – and a sedan, no less, that has always struggled to attract shoppers away from the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Even within Subaru's own dealerships, it seems destined to gather dust while buyers gobble up the brand's four popular crossovers. But, who cares about popularity? The new Legacy is extremely good, benefiting from technological advancements and massive engineering upgrades for 2020 – including the welcome return of a turbocharged engine. It's better to drive, more comfortable, and easier to use, while maintaining its sterling safety reputation and standard all-wheel-drive system. Really, the Legacy has never been so appealing and competitive in the midsize sedan segment, even if its timing is a bit lousy. If you're among those happy to avoid the SUV trend, it is absolutely worth going against the grain. What's new for 2020? The Legacy is completely redesigned for 2020 – although it's a bit tough to tell by the styling. It adopts the same platform as other recently redesigned Subarus, most notably, the 2020 Outback that continues to be effectively a lifted Legacy wagon. Or, given their respective popularity, is the Legacy now a lowered Outback sedan? In any event, the two share virtually everything except their ride heights and trunk designs. That includes a substantially stiffer structure that contributes to improved handling, steering precision, ride comfort and safety; a mostly new base engine and the welcome return of a turbocharged four-cylinder as the engine upgrade; new accident avoidance tech; and an improved interior with nicer materials, a more attractive design and a massive 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen in most trim levels. What's the interior and in-car technology like? Like the exterior, the Legacy's interior isn't as eye-pleasing as those of many rivals, but it's also better than before. It boasts better materials, including padded and stitched simulated leather on most surfaces up front that contributes to a far more upmarket look and feel. The top-of-the-line Touring XT trim level, pictured here, gets pretty swanky with its Tan Nappa Leather, and we like that Subaru didn't feel the need to spread fake wood trim about to make it seem more luxurious. The cabin's show stopper, however, is the 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen found in all but the base trim level (and even that has a pair of 7-inch touchscreens that handle the infotainment and climate systems). It's more functional than similarly sized and shaped screens in the Toyota Prius and Ford Explorer, specifically in terms of how it utilizes its extra-tall dimensions. Compared to other touchscreens, the ability to show the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interface at the same time as the audio system is an excellent feature, preventing the annoying back and forth between Apple/Android and Subaru's user interfaces. It's not perfect, however. Although there are physical buttons for the dual-zone temperature adjustment and defrosters, all other climate controls are in the …
Full Review
The 2020 Subaru Legacy is facing a very steep climb. Though redesigned and massively improved, it's still a sedan in an increasingly SUV world – and a sedan, no less, that has always struggled to attract shoppers away from the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Even within Subaru's own dealerships, it seems destined to gather dust while buyers gobble up the brand's four popular crossovers. But, who cares about popularity? The new Legacy is extremely good, benefiting from technological advancements and massive engineering upgrades for 2020 – including the welcome return of a turbocharged engine. It's better to drive, more comfortable, and easier to use, while maintaining its sterling safety reputation and standard all-wheel-drive system. Really, the Legacy has never been so appealing and competitive in the midsize sedan segment, even if its timing is a bit lousy. If you're among those happy to avoid the SUV trend, it is absolutely worth going against the grain. What's new for 2020? The Legacy is completely redesigned for 2020 – although it's a bit tough to tell by the styling. It adopts the same platform as other recently redesigned Subarus, most notably, the 2020 Outback that continues to be effectively a lifted Legacy wagon. Or, given their respective popularity, is the Legacy now a lowered Outback sedan? In any event, the two share virtually everything except their ride heights and trunk designs. That includes a substantially stiffer structure that contributes to improved handling, steering precision, ride comfort and safety; a mostly new base engine and the welcome return of a turbocharged four-cylinder as the engine upgrade; new accident avoidance tech; and an improved interior with nicer materials, a more attractive design and a massive 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen in most trim levels. What's the interior and in-car technology like? Like the exterior, the Legacy's interior isn't as eye-pleasing as those of many rivals, but it's also better than before. It boasts better materials, including padded and stitched simulated leather on most surfaces up front that contributes to a far more upmarket look and feel. The top-of-the-line Touring XT trim level, pictured here, gets pretty swanky with its Tan Nappa Leather, and we like that Subaru didn't feel the need to spread fake wood trim about to make it seem more luxurious. The cabin's show stopper, however, is the 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen found in all but the base trim level (and even that has a pair of 7-inch touchscreens that handle the infotainment and climate systems). It's more functional than similarly sized and shaped screens in the Toyota Prius and Ford Explorer, specifically in terms of how it utilizes its extra-tall dimensions. Compared to other touchscreens, the ability to show the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interface at the same time as the audio system is an excellent feature, preventing the annoying back and forth between Apple/Android and Subaru's user interfaces. It's not perfect, however. Although there are physical buttons for the dual-zone temperature adjustment and defrosters, all other climate controls are in the …
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Retail Price

$22,745 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.5L H-4
MPG 27 City / 35 Hwy
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission Lineartronic 8-spd CVT w/OD
Power 182 @ 5800 rpm
Drivetrain Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive all wheel
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