2020 Subaru Legacy

For the redesigned 2020 Subaru Legacy, there are six trim levels to choose from: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Models range from $22,745 to $36,595 and come with many standard features. It comes with 17-inch steel wheels, automatic daytime running LED headlamps, automatic climate control, 7.0-inch touchscreen display, 4-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration, satellite and HD radio, 6-way manual adjustable driver’s seat, and a 6-way manual adjustable passenger’s seat, cloth upholstery, cruise control, etc. It also includes Subaru’s EyeSight which allows the driver to get access to multiple driver aids which will be discussed further. 

Moving up the trim ladder, the Premium carries a price tag of $24,995. It comes along with all the features standard on the Base trim and adds a few more. It gets dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an 11.-inch touchscreen display with a 6-speaker audio system, heated front seats, etc. Two optional packages are available on the Premium and further trims but not on the Base. They include some driver-assist features like a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert system, keyless ignition, etc., and also a navigation system and a sunroof. 

The Sport is the next trim inline which costs $26,945. As the name suggests it is more sport-oriented and it adds features accordingly. It gets 18-inch wheels, sporty exterior trim, keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, faux-leather upholstery with red stitching, etc. The Limited is priced at $29,745 and it gets all of the features which are standard in the Premium trim. In addition, it gets adaptive LED headlights, 8-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, memory settings for the driver’s seat, a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, heated rear seats, premium leather upholstery, rear air vents, etc. Its exclusive optional package includes features like a navigation system, a sunroof, a driver-attention monitoring system, and a heated steering wheel. 

The Limited XT and Touring XT are the two top-tier trims mainly because of the more powerful 2.4L Turbocharged engine. The Limited XT is priced at $34,195 and gets everything mentioned for the Limited trim. The Touring XT is priced at $35,875. It gets exclusive chrome trim, ventilated front seats, and upgraded leather upholstery. 

Which trim should you buy?

We were most intrigued by the Sport trim. There are some trim-exclusive features that make it different from both the Limited and the Premium. It is, therefore, a trim we recommend you consider, as it has a number of advantages.

Good fuel economy is a common trait in the compact sedan segment. These cars are affordable and highly economical which makes them an attraction for buyers. The Legacy manages to deliver decent fuel economy but it is not good enough when compared to its rivals. The figures mentioned in the below table are for the base engine. The 2.4L turbocharged engine, however, does worse. It is rated at 24 MPG in the cities, 32 MPG on the highways which results in a combined fuel economy of 27 MPG.

The best fuel economy in this segment is provided by the Toyota Camry. It is rated at 29/41/34 (city/highway/combined) which outperforms the rest of the cars up against it. However, the Legacy is fitted with the largest fuel tank of 18.5-gallon capacity which helps it attain the best range. You’ll be able to move around for 555 miles (combined) on a full fuel tank. 

The 2020 Subaru Legacy’s interior is much more spacious than it was before. It is well-organized and filled with good quality materials and has decent build quality. However, design-wise it may look a bit dated but it offers great comfort regardless of where you sit. It offers excellent space in terms of headroom, shoulder room, and legroom in both rows of seats. The dashboard and center console feature a sloping and flowing design along with a huge infotainment unit in the middle. You’ll get good exterior visibility as a driver and all the functions/buttons/knobs are well within reach. 

As you move from lower to higher trims, comfort features upgrade and a few luxury features are also unlocked. For example, the base trim offers cloth upholstery and automatic climate control with manual adjusting seats. While opting for the top-tier trim Touring XT will get you upgraded leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, memory settings for the driver’s seat, power-adjustable front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The storage capacity in the trunk of the Subaru Legacy is more than just sufficient. It can hold up to 15.1 cubic feet of luggage which is outperformed by the likes of the Accord and the Altima. Out of these two, the Accord has the best storage capacity. It can store 16.7 cubic feet of luggage in its trunk. Some of the highlights of the interior are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control (premium and higher)
• Cloth upholstery (Base)
• Upgraded leather upholstery with red stitching (Touring XT)
• Heated front seats (Premium and higher)
• Ventilated front seats (Touring XT)
• Heated rear seats (Limited and higher)
• Memory settings (Limited and higher)
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror (Sport and higher)
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel (optional)

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Subaru Legacy has one of the best infotainment systems in its class. The base trim is fitted with a 7.0-inch touchscreen display and the rest of the trims get a bigger 11.6-inch touchscreen display. Both these setups are powered by Starlink infotainment. It sits vertically in the center console and is accompanied by buttons and knobs on both sides. All the functions, especially climate control have a super-fast response time. 

All the Legacy’s get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, voice-activated Bluetooth, satellite, and HD radio as standard. The base trim is fitted with a 4-speaker audio system which gets upgraded to a 6-speaker audio system in the Premium. The Limited trim and higher get a premium quality 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Satellite and HD radio
• Voice-activated Bluetooth connectivity
• USB ports
• SiriusXM
• Navigation system (optional)

The all-new design of the Subaru Legacy is attractive. It is a combination of composed looks with a hint of sportiness. It also combines the traditional and modern Subaru traits which include the headlight, grille, and taillight design. The front fascia comprises big and aggressively shaped automatic daytime running LED headlamps, a trapezoidal and horizontally-slotted grille with the Subaru badge in the middle. The front bumper comprises chrome fog light housing and the hood has subtle curves which add to the personality of the car. 

The side of the car features curvaceous body lines, a sloping roofline, and also a comparatively high ground clearance of 5.9 inches. The Legacy sits on 17-inch steel wheels for the base trim which gets upgraded to 18-inch wheels from Sport trim onwards. It also features heated power adjusting, manual-folding side-view mirrors, and has an optional sunroof as well. The rear end of the car hosts a simplistic design compared to the sporty and aggressive front end. It is characterized by LED taillamps, a rear lip spoiler, a body-colored rear bumper, and a single exhaust outlet.

When compared to its rivals, the Legacy has the highest ground clearance of 5.9 inches. The lowest in the segment is the Altima which is only 4.9 inches off the ground. The Nissan Altima is also the lightest sedan in its class and is the longest in terms of wheelbase as well as overall length. Some of the standout exterior features are:

• Automatic daytime running LED headlamps
• LED taillamps
• Sunroof (optional)
• 17-inch steel wheels (Base) 18-inch wheels (Sport and higher)
• Heated power-adjusting, manual-folding side-view mirrors
• Rear lip spoiler

This is where the 2020 Subaru Legacy shines the most. It has perfect crash-test scores which makes it an extremely safe car. It has been given a full 5-star rating by the NHTSA and the IIHS has named it as a “Top Safety Pick+'' which is the most prestigious honor in its organization. To better explain this, the Legacy is equipped with a ton of safety and driver-assist features that is unmatched by any of its rivals. Apart from the standard features, some optional features include a blind-spot monitoring system, rear automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert system, etc. Some of the key safety features include:

• 8 airbags
• Electronic Stability Control
• Driveline Traction Control with ABS
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning with lane keep assist system
• Automatic emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Back-up camera

2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is the car to beat in this segment. It ticks all the boxes in terms of performance, interior, infotainment, features, and ride comfort. It excels in its handling and is much better than the Legacy. However, the Subaru is cheaper than the Accord and its safety record is unmatched. Out of the two we’d still go for the Accord. 

2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima and the Legacy are on the same page in many aspects. Both these sedans are fitted with the same sized engine and have almost identical power figures but the Altima is slightly more powerful. The Altima offers better ride comfort and has loads of in-cabin high-tech features. It is also more economical than the Legacy but it comes with FWD as standard. The AWD is an optional drivetrain that drives the price tag higher making the Subaru a more affordable purchase. 

2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is a strong competitor for the Subaru Legacy. It rightfully outperforms every sedan in this segment in terms of power figures and mileage. It is as spacious as the Legacy and is also laden with numerous driver-assist technologies just like the Subaru. The numbers speak for themselves and hence the Camry is the preferred choice but the Legacy doesn’t fall short much. It is still a good, affordable choice instead of the Camry. 

The all-new Subaru Legacy has a lot going for it. Although it is neither as powerful nor as economical as its competitors, it has a lot of good points in its favor. For instance, it has a spacious and comfortable cabin along with several high-tech features. It has the best safety performance and is also the most affordable sedan in the segment. Those who are looking for an affordable, compact sedan should at least test-drive the 2020 Subaru Legacy. Those who don’t like it should go for the Accord or Camry.