It will not win any trend contests, however the Legacy’s actual magnificence is discovered inside.
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Despite not wanting all that totally different, the 2020 Subaru Legacy pictured here’s a brand-new sedan. And whereas it may not stir feelings with its design, those that look beneath the conservative sheet metallic will uncover a spacious inside chock full of recent know-how, to not point out a extra strong chassis that makes the Legacy a lot nicer to drive.
LikeStandard all-wheel driveCushy trip comfortMassive infotainment display screen
Don’t LikeBland exterior stylingBase engine is considerably gutless
Beneath the pores and skinThe 2020 Legacy rides on Subaru’s new international platform that additionally underpins the Ascent, Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza and Outback. This stiffer, stronger body varieties the bones of a sedan that is about the identical measurement as earlier than, with a 108.3-inch wheelbase.
2020 Subaru Legacy: Sleepy styling, however stuffed with substance
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For these hoping the stiffer platform interprets to tighter, extra responsive dealing with, I’m sorry to say that is not the case. Tossing the Legacy Sport into curves, you will expertise some dive below braking and a little bit of managed roll at flip in. The automotive’s road-holding skills are simply OK by bends, however pushing it reasonably onerous leads to howls from the 18-inch Yokohama Avid GT BluEarth tires. Even with essentially the most aggressive Sport Sharp drive mode activated, the Legacy’s steering is numb off middle, although weight builds progressively as you flip. The brakes boast sturdy preliminary chunk on the high of the pedal stroke and are simple to modulate.
Where the Legacy actually shines, although, is within the trip consolation division. The softer-sprung suspension and 50-series sidewall tires are nice for cozy jogs round city, smoothing out impacts from bumps and ruts alongside the best way.Updated base and new turbo engine choicesThe 2020 Legacy has a brand new 2.4-liter turbo engine choice that replaces the previous boxer-six. Rated at 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, it is the identical turbocharged flat-four you will discover within the Ascent and Outback.
The 2.5-liter flat-four ought to return 35 mpg on the freeway with all-wheel drive.
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My Sport trim, nevertheless, rocks an up to date model of Subaru’s 2.5-liter naturally aspirated boxer-four with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft, mated to a repeatedly variable transmission and normal all-wheel drive. In the Sport Sharp setting, the engine delivers sufficient grunt to get the Legacy hustling in control for freeway merging. With the automotive within the default Intelligent mode, nevertheless, and acceleration is leisurely at finest.
The Legacy’s CVT does a reasonably seamless job of switching between ratios so the engine will not annoyingly buzz like mad throughout wide-open throttle functions. Opting to vary ratios your self by way of the steering wheel paddles will be completed, too, however the responses are so frustratingly muted that it is best to let the computer systems deal with “shifting.”As for gas economic system, the bottom drivetrain setup returns an EPA-estimated 27 miles per gallon within the metropolis and 35 mpg on the freeway. That’s not shabby contemplating the Legacy comes normal with all-wheel drive.The cabin is snug and cleanly styled.
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Clean styling with contemporary techThe Legacy is definitely understated in comparison with extra modern midsize sedans like the most recent Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda6 and Nissan Altima. Even with the Sport mannequin’s further touches like its distinctive grille, black mirror caps, black wheels and trunk spoiler, the automotive merely will get misplaced within the crowd. Then once more, in the event you favor to fly below the radar, this is likely to be the sedan for you.Things do get extra fascinating inside, not less than. The Legacy’s cabin is ethereal with numerous glass letting in oodles of pure gentle. There’s beneficiant room for passengers up entrance or in again, with the latter gaining an extra 1.4 inches of legroom in comparison with the previous Legacy. The inside has a comparatively simple design and all the things is constructed from high-quality supplies with leather-wrapped, soft-touch and properly stitched surfaces all through. Even the hard-plastic parts really feel sturdy and are properly completed. The seats are soft, there are quite a few cubbies to stash issues and the trunk, with 15.1 cubic ft of house, will swallow absolutely anything you throw at it.The 11.6-inch show is colourful and simple to make use of.
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There’s a large, 11.6-inch middle touchscreen housing the Subaru Multimedia Plus infotainment system. It’s packed stuffed with goodies comparable to a TomTom navigation system, Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite tv for pc radio and Bluetooth. While these occupy the center portion of the show, the underside homes local weather changes like fan pace, vent settings and three-stage heated entrance seats. For essentially the most half, I just like the intuitive infotainment interface. It’s received large, clearly labeled icons and rapidly swaps pages between totally different menu screens. Thankfully, Subaru would not put all the things within the touchscreen, with a few knobs and some onerous buttons on the aspect to regulate radio quantity, tuning and cabin temperature.On the driver-assistance know-how entrance, each Legacy comes normal with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of options together with adaptive cruise management, lane-keeping help with lane-centering and pedestrian detection. My check automotive can be outfitted with obtainable blind-spot monitoring, reverse automated braking and lane-change help that every one work as marketed.How I’d spec itAfter spending per week with the serviceable, however barely underwhelming base engine, my best Subaru Legacy must have the turbo. I’d go together with the Limited XT that begins at $35,095, together with $900 for vacation spot. With choices like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert normal, I’d go away it at that and be glad as a clam. It’s a good quantity greater than the $30,090 automotive reviewed right here, however belief me, in the event you can swing the turbo, get it.The Legacy affords strong all-wheel-drive worth.
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All-wheel drive worth playMidsize sedan entries providing all-wheel drive aren’t as sparse as earlier than with the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry now obtainable with this tech, although the Legacy stays the one one within the class with it normal. And with its $23,645 base value, the Subaru is essentially the most inexpensive choice if you’re on the hunt for a midsize sedan with energy going to all 4 wheels. To get all-wheel drive within the Altima you will should half with not less than $26,575, whereas the Camry will set you again $27,365 to start out.Yes, the Legacy lacks standout model and is not a hoot behind the wheel, but it surely’s a really well-rounded, snug sedan, full of tech and incorporates a spacious cabin at an inexpensive value level. It will not set hearts ablaze, however these are nonetheless some sturdy deserves to face on.