2023 Subaru Legacy

Legacy is offered in four trim levels. The base is the juniormost model. Above that, the Premium takes the authority. The Limited costs extra while the most popular trim is the Sport. Except for the top-spec, the first three models carry the same four-cylinder engine making 182 horsepower. 17-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, cloth upholstery, and a four-speaker audio system are offered on the basic model.

Additional options include

Optional package for Premium–

• LED Foglights 
• Proximity keyless entry and push button start
• Evasive steering assist
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert 

Second package–

• Navigation 
• Navigation system

Optional package for Limited trim–

• Heated steering wheel 
• Navigation system 
• Driver monitoring system
• Sunroof

We Recommend

CARHP recommends shopping for the Sport trim. The main highlight now includes a powerful turbocharged engine that spills out 260 horsepower making it the fastest Legacy model. Red accents interior stitching, heated steering wheel, heated front, and rear seats, a 12-speaker audio system, and everything that counts on the basic trims, one can count in the Sport model. 

Release Date

The 2023 generation of the Subaru Legacy is released and is available for sale in your nearest showroom.

2.5L four-cylinder engine singularly empowers the Base, Premium, and Limited trim levels. It produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Driving with a single-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), all models are blessed with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system on a standard basis. With the regular engine, the sedan takes 8.5 seconds to meet the mark of 0-60 mph. It takes 16.2 seconds to complete a quarter-mile distance. Combined mileage of 30 mpg (27 city mpg and 35 highway mpg). With the 260 horsepower turbo engine, Sport trim manages to achieve the same 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds.

Hyundai Sonata is the fastest sedan under $30k. The 2023 Toyota Camry's horsepower is the highest. Honda Accord brings the highest amount of torque at least rpm. The most affordable mid-size sedan in the market is the Subaru Legacy which also beings the least power and torque output. It is the only sedan under $30k that possesses an all-wheel drive system by default. Honda Accord's top speed and Subaru Legacy's top speed are equal. The Camry brings more top speed than both but still takes a similar time interval to catch speed as the Subaru Legacy.

2023 Subaru Legacy Ride and Handling 

2023 Legacy sedans are comfortable to drive. Though, making mind just to buy the basic trim might not be a fruitful decision, as it barely holds convenience features. The steering wheel is light and reactive, things get better with the leather-wrapped steering heating function. The CVT feels buttery and does not cause any jittery situation in between like other transmissions. The engine is no doubt underpowered and does not freshen up the intention of revving it vigorously on highways. It is suitable for daily driving on city streets. Taking to the highways creates an image of a lethargic car due to the lower top speed in the segment. Handling is good and the seats are genuinely comfortable. They are reliable for long-distance driving. Handling around the corners is on the positive side of some of its classmates. It creates a turning diameter of 36.8 ft. Basic models get strut suspension for the front and double-wishbone suspension on the rear wheels. Upgraded suspensions on the Sport trim ensure better road holding, especially in bends and when driving at high speeds. The sedan gets three drive modes. The intelligent mode is for daily driving demands. It devises a smooth and efficient driving experience. It is good for roads covered in snow or gravel. The sport mode is for highway cruising, mountain driving, and suburban commuting. It provides faster engine response. Sport Sharp mode is for maximum fun. It does no-compromise performance enthusiasts' choice for driving thrills. Standard 17-inch wheels look evolving around the tires of the dimension P225/55/VR17.

2023 Subaru Legacy Braking System

Standard anti-lock braking system helps prevent wheels from locking under panic or harsh braking situations. Forward collision mitigation warns you of an anticipated crash and applies the brake in certain situations. Yes, the car comes with standard Adaptive cruise control, that maintains a prominent distance between the Legacy and the vehicle moving ahead of it. Though, despite such a lucrative feature with a low price, the actual braking performance does not fit well. The brake pedal creates a noticeable drop while braking 

The Subaru Legacy's curb weight makes it the heaviest sedan on our list. The best mid-size sedan with the lowest curb weight is the Hyundai Sonata. As the least expensive sedan, the Subaru sends the biggest brake calipers in the front wheels of the Legacy. Despite having shorter brake rotors the lower curb weight of the Accord makes it stop faster than the Legacy. 202 Camry and the Sonata have calipers of identical sizes. Taking the least curb weight and average size brake calipers of the Sonata into consideration, an educated guess tells us that it stops the fastest in the segment. On the rear wheels also, the Subaru possesses the largest brake calipers.

Because the engine is not induced with a turbocharger like the Sport model, it gains better mileage numbers. It shows a combined mpg of 30 while incurring 25 in the city and 35 on the highways. With a standard 18.5-gallon of fuel tank across all trims, the sedan archives a combined range of 555 miles ( 499.5 city and 647.5 highway miles). The sport model manages a combined mileage of 26 mpg (23 cities, 31 highways). Range– 425.5 city miles, 573.5 highway miles, and 481 miles combined. 

There’s a major gap of extra mpg between the efficiency of Legacy and the remaining vehicles. With the highest mpg in the city, the Honda Accord emerges to be the best mid-size sedan for city driving. On the highways, Camry wins the race to come at the top by scoring extra mpg. Hyundai Sonata and the Accord show equal fuel capacity. The Legacy brings the largest fuel tank, which helps score the best miles of range, despite showing the dullest mpg in the segment. Toyota Camry has a better highway range than Honda and Hyundai.

When entering the cabin, one can feel the difference in the available room for the passengers from their previous experience. The interior is pristine, and subtle and feels airier than before. Even still the Subaru brings cloth upholstery in its components, but refinement can be acquainted. Doors are normally large to suit the criteria of a mid-size sedan and do not feel confined when jumping in and out of the vehicle. Rear door panels cover window controls with door bins. Front door panels also have the same prosperity, but with seat adjustments, and buttons sprinkled over them. All the models pertain to a single interior shade that looks a bit shabby. Front seats hold adjustments and are reliable when deciding to go long on a picnic holiday–heating function on remaining trims. Rear seats cause issues for people carrying long height–sloping roof lines of vehicle block headroom. The Interior is serene. Visibility is decent in the class.

The dashboard holds hard-touch materials. Two 7-inch center displays sit between and chant constantly – “the bigger it is, the better it is”--- 11.6-inch touchscreens on the Premium and above trim levels. Four AC vents out of which two are clinging to the infotainment screen. The steering wheel is grippy and controls the heating function on authoritative models. It proposes various controls. There is barely any material harboring the chrome accents in the cabin. The Center console provides a well-fitted armrest of gentle height and some storage compartments under that. Cupholders, gear selector, and here’s the things round off.

The front seats of the Hyundai Sonata carry an evasive amount of space in the segment. The rear seats of the Accord record the highest amount of space to extend legs. The Cargo carrying capacity of the new Subaru Legacy is the median in the segment. With few cubic feet, the Accord wins with the largest cargo-carrying space in the comparison.

Highlights of the interior–

• 6-way manual driver and 4-way manual front passenger seat
• 60-40 folding rear seats
• Manual tilt and telescopic steering column
• Front and rear cupholder
• Powe rear windows
• Power fuel flap locking type 
• Remote keyless entry and push button start
• Power cargo access
• Cruise control with a steering wheel control
• Distance pacing
• Voice-activated automatic air conditioning 
• Locking glove box with illumination
• Driver footrest
• Full cloth headliner
• Cloth upholstery
• Daylight rearview mirror
• Driver and passenger visor vanity mirrors
• Delay-off interior lighting 
• Front map lights
• Full carpet floor covering
• Cargo space lights 
• Rear door bins
• Power door lock with auto lock 
• Manually adjustable rear head restraints 
• Front and rear center armrests
• 2 seatback storage pocket
• Perimeter alarm
• One 12V DC port
• Air filtration

How intuitive is the 2023 Subaru Legacy Infotainment system?

No one argues if we say the Subaru Legacy is filled with tech features. The standard 7-inch dual center display can be replaced with a vertically mounted 11.6-inch touchscreen. Both of the above support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An in-dash navigation system is standard on Sport trim. The base carries a four-speaker sound, that elevates to 6-speakers on the Premium and writes off to a 12-speaker Bang and Olufson stereo standard on the Limited and Sport versions. The screens are attractive and can be operated effortlessly. Other ports (4 USBs on basic Legacy) are also in plenty of numbers. Starlink infotainment system crashes many times. Forward collision warning is overly sensitive.

Key features of the infotainment system–

• SUBARU Starlink system
• 7-inch dual displays
• 11.6 infotainment touchscreen on remaining trims
• HD Radio 
• Multi-touch gesture high-res touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection
• SiriusXM radio 4 months free
• Illuminate front USB A and USB C ports
• 4 speaker audio
• 6 speaker audio on Premium 
• 12-speaker audio on Limited and Sport
• Speed-compensated volume control
• Steering wheel control
• Window grid antenna

The exterior maintains the same curvaceous traces of the sedan. It now feels minutely sharper than before. The slippery elongated hood carries an unleaded 2.5L four-cylinder engine on Base, Premium, and Limited, while it adds a turbocharger on the Sport model. That zesty line on the bonnet lid adorns the aggressive-looking personality of the car. The front grille is now freer and gains an extra part of the front fascia. The Subaru logo mounts just with the hood tip. The front grille finished in black horizontal stripes, outfits a single red line to identify the Sport model. Front LED headlights with daytime running lights. Grille-colored front bumper. The side profile is very simple and elegant. No cladding above the wheels to protect the paint. Window trims along with the door panels are finished in black. Standard 17-inch wheels move around with the tires of measurement P225/55/VR17. Available in five exterior shades, we prefer the crystal Black Silica trim. Stretched rear profile tends to make more space to carry cargo pieces of stuff. LED Brake lights, two visible exhaust tips, black rear bumper, and Subaru logo complete rear end.

The Subaru Legacy wheelbase is the least demonstrated. The other remaining vehicles carry wheelbases of identical lengths. Subaru Legacy's curb weight makes it the heaviest vehicle covering the highest ground clearance in the segment. Toyota Camry has more ground clearance than Honda and Hyundai sedans. Accord is the longest mid-size sedan, while the Sonata is the lightest.

Characteristics of exterior design include–

• 17-inch wheels with all-season tires
• Compact steel spare wheel mounted under the cargo area
• Clearcoat paint 
• Body-colored front and rear bumpers
• Window trims in black
• Black power side mirrors with manual-folding
• Fixed rear window with defroster
• Light tinted glass
• Variable intermittent wipers 
• Galvanized steel panels 
•  Metal lock bar
• Trunk rear cargo access
• Auto on-off projector-beam LED low and high beam headlights
• Daytime running lights
• Adaptive auto high beam headlamps
•  Approach light
• LED Brake lights
• Automatic high-beam headlights 

No doubt the Subaru is great at dealing with the safety of the passengers. Its EyeSight suit of driver-assistive features is impressive. Standard automatic emergency braking detects a potential collision ahead, provides a forward collision warning, and automatically brakes to avoid the collision or lessen the severity of the crash. Standard lane-departure warning alerts you when the vehicle begins to drift off from the lane. Standard adaptive cruise controls disciplinary maintains a necessary distance between the vehicle moving ahead and the Legacy. In emergencies, it also applies brakes to stop the car.

Salient features of the safety system–

• Standard automatic emergency braking
• Standard lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control with lane-centering
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Front and rear head airbags
• Airbag occupancy sensors 
• Stability control
• ABS and driveline traction control
• Child seat anchor
• Rear door child safety locks
• Emergency braking assist
• Tire pressure warning
• Dusk sensing headlamps 
• Self-leveling adaptive headlights 
• 2 front and 3 rear headrests 
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Engine immobilizer

2023 Subaru Legacy vs. 2023 Honda Accord

Though the Honda Accord costs extra, it is the champion in the segment. It is better at dealing with fuel efficiency and covers more power and acceleration. Subaru sends more miles of range and the biggest brake calipers on the table. Accord is longer, lighter and it stops faster than the Legacy. Subaru offers more ground clearance. One carries a single 8-inch display while the Legacy brings two center displays of 7-inches.

2023 Subaru Legacy vs.2023 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry costs more and brings more power with 8-speed automatic transmission. Being the most affordable mid-size sedan, the Legacy equips an all-wheel drive system by default. Toyota has more top speed but takes the same amount of time to catch the 0-60 mph mark. The Legacy looks more stylish and aggressive. Both of the cars gain 7-inch displays on the basic tris, while the premium trims of Legacy are richer with an 11.6-inch touchscreen.

2023 Subaru Legacy vs. 2023 Hyundai Sonata

Sonata scores full marks in the exterior and interior styling contests. It looks premium and gains more sophistication in its cabin and dashboard layouts. Subaru brings less money and empowers more range numbers. On the basic trim, the Legacy is offered with 17-inch wheels, while the Sonata only brings 16-inch. Also Legacy brings an all-wheel drive drivetrain which is not seen in any of the models in the segment.

It is the most affordable sedan in the segment it follows. Adaptive cruise control, a composed ride quality, a spacious cabin, an all-wheel-drive system, and tons of standard safety offerings make this a value-for-money choice. The engine feels underpowered and it is. Braking performance is not up to the mark. These are some drawbacks to consider before shopping for it. The Accord is the segment leader, though it costs extra but brings more mpg. What else would be more reliable than a Camry? The Sonata is the most stylish sedan that brings better power by charging extra than your budget.