2020 Subaru Legacy Review

　　

2020 Subaru Legacy Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The midsize sedan segment is one of the most competitive in the marketplace, and it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. It's also a segment where buyers tend to have fierce loyalties, often staying with a make and model for over a decade. The Subaru Legacy has long enjoyed a loyal, if not a little cult-ish, following, but sales have trailed behind heavy hitters such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. For 2020, Subaru has redesigned the Legacy in the hopes of closing that gap.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Subaru Legacy 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$124/mo  for Legacy Base

　　Legacy Base

　　4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $22,745 MSRPPremium 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $24,995 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $26,945 MSRPLimited 4dr Sedan AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $29,745 MSRPLimited XT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $34,195 MSRPTouring XT 4dr Sedan AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $35,895 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　It's a tall order, but the Legacy offers new levels of refinement, an impressive list of standard safety features, and, as always, standard all-wheel drive for extra traction in wet conditions. An all-new interior, including an optional 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, will surely sweeten the deal. Providing motivation is one of two four-cylinder engines. While the base engine lacks a little excitement, the new turbocharged 2.4-liter engine — which replaces the previous six-cylinder — is the clear driver's choice. It provides strong acceleration and higher fuel economy than the old six-cylinder.

　　How does it all stack up? Well, the class leader remains the impressively upscale Honda Accord. We're also fond of the stylish Hyundai Sonata and, if you want all-wheel drive, the newly revamped Nissan Altima. But any preconceived notions of the Legacy should be put aside. With the combination of standard all-wheel drive, a long list of safety features, and a redesigned interior, the 2020 Subaru Legacy is one of the more intriguing choices for a new midsize sedan.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Legacy drive? The well-tuned transmission (a CVT) feels responsive, but flooring the pedal reveals there's not a ton of power on tap. With a 0-60 mph time of 8.5 seconds, the Legacy is slightly slower than similarly powered rivals, especially those with turbocharged base engines (such as the Volkswagen Passat). The Legacy shows an aptitude for handling performance, gripping the road a bit better than other midsize sedans, even though body roll feels a bit excessive in tight turns. The steering is nicely weighted, and the Subaru responds naturally to the driver's inputs.

　　There's noticeable nosedive during braking, so slowing smoothly can be challenging. Smoothness isn't a hallmark of the auto stop-start system either, and the car bucks on restart with the force of a low-speed rear collision.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Legacy? Comfort takes a central role in the Legacy's story, as you'd expect of a midsize sedan. Our Sport tester offered simple but effective front-seat adjustments. Cushioning is supportive without feeling stiff, and the bolsters keep you in place in turns. Even the back seats are sculpted for passenger comfort and feel much better than a flat bench. The ride is cushy without feeling floaty, but wind and road noise is more pronounced than in rivals. Engine noise is more subdued than in many other cars equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

　　The dual-zone climate system works well, but there is a bit of a learning curve to decipher some settings. The three-stage seat heaters work well and transition from mildly warm to overcooked.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Legacy's cabin is warm and inviting, with plenty of room throughout for tall adults. The rear is surprisingly spacious, with ample toe room under the front seats and an abundance of headroom. Adjustments are basic, but it's easy to find a comfortable driving position. Getting into and out of the Legacy is a cinch, and the large windows afford excellent outward visibility.

　　The only misstep is the overreliance on the central touchscreen. There are few physical controls, and most functions are hidden in touchscreen menus. The lack of a dedicated engine stop-start disable button is particularly egregious considering how intrusive the system is. The infotainment system is also slow to respond to user inputs. On the bright side, most menus are easy to navigate.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? There's no doubt the Legacy is loaded with tech, but the hits come as often as the misses. The navigation interface is attractive, but searching for points of interest is effectively useless. There are plenty of USB ports (four on all but the base Legacy), and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is standard. In our testing, the voice control system was largely ineffectual and Apple CarPlay, as well as the entire infotainment system, suffered from frequent crashes.

　　We like that the EyeSight suite of driving aids is standard, but some features are unintuitive. Forward collision warning is overly sensitive and will pump the brakes and sound alerts as you come gradually to a stop. Adaptive cruise is too quick to react to changing traffic situations.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? At 15.1 cubic feet, the Legacy's trunk isn't huge by class standards, trailing the average by about 0.5 cube. That said, the cargo area is deep and tall, making it perfect for storing bulky items. Contributing to its practicality are rear seats that fold down either by pulling a trunk-mounted lever or pushing a button on the seat itself. The only flaw is the middle seat belt, which remains attached to the rear shelf, so it's in the way even with the seat folded flat.

　　The cabin offers many places to store small items, including a two-tier underarm console, decently sized door pockets, a small bin in front of the shifter, and a shelf in front of the passenger. Car seat anchors are easy to access behind small Velcro flaps.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Legacy is rated at 30 mpg combined (27 city/35 highway), and we had no issue hitting 30 mpg on our 117-mile evaluation loop. The Legacy is slightly thirstier than most front-wheel-drive rivals, but it's nearly identical to the AWD Nissan Altima. It's also considerably more efficient than turbocharged (but faster) competitors such as the Buick Regal Sportback and Volkswagen Arteon.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Legacy a good value? The Subaru Legacy is slightly more expensive than comparably equipped rivals, but the gap can largely be explained by its all-wheel-drive powertrain. The same goes for its estimated fuel economy. The Legacy is a bit thirstier than front-wheel-drive competitors, but it's roughly neck and neck with the AWD Nissan Altima. The interior design is clean, and the materials mix is definitely above average.

　　Bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and roadside assistance are average for the class, though some other midsize sedans offer more generous coverage and free scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　While most midsize sedans have finally adopted more expressive designs over the last few years, the Legacy still looks relatively anonymous inside and out. The Legacy handles a bit better than rivals, somewhat bolstered by its AWD powertrain. But the uninspiring engine never really makes you look forward to driving it. Those looking for a more exciting experience should consider the turbocharged XT or, better yet, a Kia Stinger.

　　

Which Legacy does zzdcar recommend?

Unless the siren song of the XT's powerful turbocharged engine is too loud to ignore, we recommend the more sedate but still well-equipped Premium. This choice ensures you get some useful features not found on the Base trim — such as a power-adjustable driver's seat, the bigger touchscreen, dual-zone climate control and heated front seats — and keeps the cost reasonable.

　　

2020 Subaru Legacy models

The 2020 Subaru Legacy comes in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT and Touring XT. Each trim level offers a mix of appearance and luxury upgrades with the XT trims adding, among other things, a more powerful engine. Option packages are minimal and straightforward, and they provide similar features on each trim level.

　　Most versions are powered by a 2.5-liter flat-four engine (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft), while the  XT models are driven by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (260 horsepower, 277 lb-ft). Every Legacy comes standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　The Base comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, automatic climate control, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, a 7-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, and a four-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and HD and satellite radio. It also includes Subaru's EyeSight, a suite of driver aids that includes adaptive cruise control, lane centering, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning.

　　The Premium trim brings some desirable extras such as alloy wheels, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, two rear charge-only USB ports, an 11.6-inch infotainment screen and a six-speaker audio system. Two unnamed options packages are available. One adds a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and keyless entry and ignition. The other includes these items plus a navigation system and a sunroof.

　　The Sport is similar but adds black-painted 18-inch wheels, sporty exterior styling enhancements, keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, faux-leather interior trim, and red stitching throughout the cabin. Its single option package approximates the content of the Premium's more robust package.

　　Above that is the Limited, which does without the Sport's unique styling but keeps its added convenience features. Additional equipment includes adaptive LED headlights, driver-seat memory settings, thigh extension for the driver's seat, a power passenger seat, rear air vents, heated rear seats, leather upholstery, a blind-spot monitor with automatic emergency rear braking, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Its option package adds navigation, a sunroof, a heated steering wheel and a driver-attention monitoring system.

　　The Limited XT includes everything above, plus the more powerful engine. The Touring XT is the king of the hill, adding chrome trim, ventilated front seats and upgraded leather upholstery.

　　

2020 Legacy Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumSportLimitedLimited XTTouring XTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$22,745
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$124/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles