2020 Subaru Legacy Limited XT Review: Not Just Another Sedan
"The 2020 Subaru Legacy combines electronic brains with mechanical power."
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Powerful engine
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Well integrated touch screen
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Technology that combats distraction
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Comfortable ride
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Badly tuned transmission
The Subaru Legacy has always behaved differently than other midsize sedans, offering all-wheel drive and unorthodox boxer engines to stand out from the competition in cookie cutters. While the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry have dominated the market for decades, the Legacy has built a small but loyal following, mostly in the Subaru strongholds of the northeast and northwest.
With the revised Legacy 2020, however, Subaru wants to break out of its niche and directly challenge other midsize sedans.
As with its Outback sibling, the standout new features of the 2020 Subaru Legacy are an available 11.6-inch touchscreen and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, reminiscent of sporty turbo legacy models of the 2000s and 2010s. Our Legacy Limited XT test car had both items plus a sticker price of $ 35,095, compared to $ 23,645 for a base Legacy.
Design and interior
The style is subjective, but if you look at the exterior of the 2020 Legacy, it's clear that Subaru had different priorities. Nothing about the design is different or groundbreaking, and while it is a new generation of Legacy, the 2020 model is similar to its predecessor. The 2020 Legacy is slightly longer, taller and wider than the 2019 model, but has an identical wheelbase.
Under the skin, the Legacy rides on the same Subaru Global Platform as the automaker's other current models such as the Crosstrek and Ascent. Subaru claims that the 2020 Legacy has 70% stiffer torsional stiffness than its predecessor, which helps improve driveability and gives the car a more solid feel. Subaru also claims that the 2020 Legacy can absorb more than 40% more energy in front and side impacts.
Lots of screens seem like a waste of space, but Subaru got it right.
Typically Subaru, the interior is simple but well laid out. Our Limited test car (a step down from Touring's top trim level) had leather seats that were reasonably comfortable but could have used firmer cushioning. Subaru also threw in lots of shiny black plastic and fake chrome trim that caused significant glare in direct sunlight and looked like it was easily scratched.
The Legacy has an Environmental Protection Agency-rated passenger volume as top competitors like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat. However, the headroom and legroom in both rows are only average. At 15.1 cubic feet, the trunk is a little below average.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The 2020 Legacy gets the same 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen as the Outback. The screen is standard on all Legacy trim levels except for the base model (which has a 7.0-inch touchscreen), while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board. For the first time, the Legacy will also have an integrated WiFi hotspot.
Big screens are all the rage these days, but most automakers seem to prioritize form over function. While a lot of these screens seem like a waste of space, Subaru got things right. As in the outback, the symbols are large and easier to read while driving. Climate control icons are also at the bottom of the screen – where analog controls and buttons are usually located – and Subaru included an important volume control. At some point, however, the audio system stopped working, a problem we didn't have with an Outback with the same head unit. It was fixed by restarting the car.
The 2020 Legacy also receives Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance suite, which uses front-facing cameras near the rearview mirror instead of the radars used by most other automakers. The adaptive cruise control with lane centering is standard, while the blind spot monitoring, the lane change assistant and the rear cross traffic alarm are optional extras. This is similar to the standard driver aid package for the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry.
EyeSight has one advantage over competing systems: technology that ensures it is not used irresponsibly.
As with the Outback, EyeSight's adaptive cruise control easily maintained a steady pace, but was slow to respond when cars pulled in abruptly. However, the lane-centering function performance was poorer and showed a tendency to pull aside as if the car needed a wheel alignment. It also made the car drift out of its lane a couple of times. An outback test car didn't have these problems on the same track. Given the similarity between the two models (the Outback is essentially a legacy station wagon), the lack of consistency was worrying.
Even so, EyeSight still has one advantage over competing systems: technology that ensures it is not used irresponsibly. Subaru is one of the few automakers (along with BMW and Cadillac) to use a camera facing the driver to monitor the distraction. The DriverFocus system, which was introduced in the Forester, sends audible and visual warnings when the driver takes their eyes off the road. As in other Subarus, DriverFocus did its work in the Legacy unobtrusively and without false positives.
Experience at the wheel
The 2020 Legacy continues Subaru's use of its trademark boxer engines, which sit deeper in the chassis than other engine configurations, helping to lower the car's center of gravity. The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine was carried over from the 2019 model year, but it now produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, up from 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet previously. All Legacy models have standard all-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
XT models get a more powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger. Together with the Outback and Ascent, it makes 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. That's more than the 3.6-liter boxer-six this engine replaces, as well as the optional turbo engines on the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. The Toyota Camry's 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 has more power (301 hp) but less torque (267 lb-ft).
The Legacy also beats the Hyundai Sonata in performance, though Hyundai is preparing a sporty N-Line model with a 2.5-liter turbo four that makes 290 hp and 310 lb-ft. This engine is already available in the 2021 Kia K5 GT.
The turbo engine offers a lot of power for an ordinary family sedan.
Regardless of the competition, the turbo engine offers a lot of power for an ordinary family sedan. Hence, the Legacy XT can easily be thought of as a bigger sibling of the Subaru WRX. However, this is not the case. That Legacy is decently quick (zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds, according to Subaru), but nothing else is sporty. The chassis is designed for comfort and not for handling. This is a sensible decision as most mid-size sedans will actually be used. The Honda Accord and Mazda 6 remain the better choices for driving enthusiasts.
The CVT also sabotages the engine with uneven power output. As in the outback, the engine and transmission don't seem to be on the same side. The jerky acceleration feels like riding with a beginner learning to ride a stick. This car requires a different transmission or at least a readjustment of the CVT. That would turn a good car into a great one.
Fuel economy and safety
Turbocharged 2020 legacy models like our test car have a combined output of 27 mpg (24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway), compared to 23 mpg combined (20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway) for the old six-cylinder model. According to the car's on-board computer, we got an average of 24 mpg over a week. With the less powerful base engine, the Legacy is paired with 30 mpg (27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway).
The Legacy offers slightly better combined fuel economy in the city than a 2.0-liter turbo Honda Accord, but the Honda gets the same 32 MPG highway. The Nissan Altima is rated at 29 mpg (25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway) when combined with its optional turbo engine that uses variable compression to force out extra mpg. The Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry are also available with hybrid drives, but the Legacy is not.
The 2020 Legacy received the highest Top Safety Pick + rating from the Road Safety Insurance Institute as well as an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – the highest safety rating from the federal agency.
Subaru offers a three year base 36,000 mile warranty and a five year 60,000 mile warranty on the powertrain. That's about the average for a mainstream brand, though Hyundai and Kia offer longer warranty periods. Subaru also has an excellent reputation for reliability.
How DT would configure this car
The Limited XT trim level tested here seems to be the sweet spot of the 2020 Legacy range. It gets the turbo engine, which is worth the extra money over a base engine that hasn't impressed in other newer Subaru vehicles. The Limited is also the lowest equipment option for the DriverFocus camera system, but only as part of an option package that also includes navigation, an electric sunroof and a heated steering wheel.
At the same time, it doesn't seem to make sense to upgrade to the highest touring trim level. The only features that are added are a front camera and nappa leather seats. The Limited is already equipped with leather seats, but allegedly made of inferior material.
It's unclear how much aftermarket support the 2020 Legacy will get, but this seems like a car with potential. Subaru is unlikely to offer a new version of the old Legacy 2.5GT Spec.B performance model, but it would be great to see one of these cars with stickier tires, bigger brakes, and improved suspension to match its turbo-charged performance.
Our opinion
The 2020 Subaru Legacy continues to stand out from the crowd. The optional turbo engine gives this new model the much needed momentum, and the all-wheel drive traction remains beneficial even in snowy climates. In addition, there is the EyeSight and DriverFocus technology as well as one of the best integrated touchscreens in the industry. The Legacy was meant to appeal to more than just traditional Subaru fans.
The legacy is not perfect. The Honda Accord and Mazda 6 are better driver cars, and the Hyundai Sonata has its own clever technology in the form of Smart Parking Assist self-parking. The Nissan Altima is better able to balance turbocharged performance with good mileage bring, and the Accord, Sonata and Toyota Camry are all available with hybrid drives for even better MPG.
Nevertheless, the Legacy covers all bases and, with its standard all-wheel drive, offers additional insurance for bad weather.
Should you get one
Yes. With all-wheel drive and lots of tech, the Legacy is a great alternative to the mainstays of the midsize sedan.
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