2020 Subaru Legacy Review: Comfort, Safety, and Practicality

Introduction

The 2020 Subaru Legacy is a mid-size sedan that prioritizes comfort, safety, and practicality over flashy performance. While it may not be the most exciting car in its class, it excels in areas that matter most to everyday drivers. With standard all-wheel drive, a spacious interior, and a host of advanced safety features, the Legacy is a strong contender in the competitive mid-size sedan market.

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Design and Styling

Subaru gave the Legacy a significant redesign for 2020, introducing a new platform and more robust styling. The sedan now features a more muscular stance, with a wider grille and sharper lines. The interior, while not groundbreaking, is well-appointed with high-quality materials and a focus on comfort. The standout feature is the 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, which is standard on all trims except the base model.

• Exterior: Beefier styling, wider grille, and sharper lines.
• Interior: High-quality materials, comfortable seating, and a user-friendly touchscreen.
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Performance and Powertrain

The 2020 Legacy offers two engine options: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and an optional 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 260 horsepower. While the base engine is adequate for daily driving, it lacks the responsiveness and refinement found in competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The turbocharged engine, however, provides a significant boost in performance.

• Base Engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 182 horsepower.
• Optional Engine: 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, 260 horsepower.
• Transmission: Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT).
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Fuel Economy

Due to its standard all-wheel drive, the Legacy's fuel economy is slightly lower than some of its front-wheel-drive competitors. The base engine achieves an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged engine offers 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. While these numbers are respectable, they fall short of class leaders like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

• Base Engine: 27 mpg city / 35 mpg highway.
• Turbocharged Engine: 24 mpg city / 32 mpg highway.
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Ride Comfort and Handling

One area where the Legacy truly shines is ride comfort. The sedan's soft suspension tuning and excellent noise isolation make it an ideal choice for long drives. The all-wheel-drive system, which is standard across all trims, provides added stability and confidence in various driving conditions. While the Legacy may not be the most engaging car to drive, it offers a smooth and composed ride that is hard to beat in its class.

• Ride Quality: Soft suspension, excellent noise isolation.
• Handling: Stable and confident, thanks to standard all-wheel drive.
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Interior and Technology

The Legacy's interior is designed with comfort and practicality in mind. The front seats are plush and supportive, making them ideal for long journeys. The rear seats offer ample legroom, making the Legacy a great choice for families. The highlight of the interior is the 11.6-inch touchscreen, which is easy to use and highly customizable. However, the system does have some quirks, such as slow responsiveness when using the map and a small backup camera display.

• Seating: Plush front seats, spacious rear seats.
• Technology: 11.6-inch touchscreen, customizable interface.
• Quirks: Slow map responsiveness, small backup camera display.
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Safety Features

Subaru is known for its commitment to safety, and the 2020 Legacy is no exception. The sedan comes standard with the EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. New for 2020 is a lane-centering function and an optional driver attention system that uses facial recognition to detect fatigue or distraction. While these features are generally effective, they can be overly sensitive at times.

• Standard Features: Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking.
• New for 2020: Lane-centering function, driver attention system.
• Quirks: Overly sensitive safety alerts.
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Comparison with Competitors

The 2020 Subaru Legacy faces stiff competition from other mid-size sedans like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Nissan Altima. While the Legacy may not match these rivals in terms of performance or fuel economy, it offers unique advantages such as standard all-wheel drive and a more comfortable ride. Additionally, the Legacy's advanced safety features and user-friendly technology make it a compelling choice for safety-conscious buyers.

• Honda Accord: Better performance and fuel economy, but lacks all-wheel drive.
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• Toyota Camry: More refined powertrain, but less comfortable ride.
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• Nissan Altima: Similar fuel economy, but less advanced safety features.
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Pricing and Value

The 2020 Subaru Legacy starts at around $23,600, making it one of the more affordable options in the mid-size sedan segment. When you consider the standard all-wheel drive, advanced safety features, and comfortable ride, the Legacy offers excellent value for money. While it may not be the most exciting car to drive, it is a practical and reliable choice for everyday commuting and family trips.

• Starting Price: $23,600.
• Value Proposition: Standard all-wheel drive, advanced safety features, comfortable ride.
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Pros and Cons

Before making a decision, it's important to weigh the pros and cons of the 2020 Subaru Legacy:

• Pros:
  • Standard all-wheel drive.
  • Comfortable and spacious interior.
  • Advanced safety features.
  • User-friendly technology.
• Cons:
  • Lackluster performance with the base engine.
  • Lower fuel economy compared to competitors.
  • Overly sensitive safety alerts.
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Final Verdict

The 2020 Subaru Legacy may not be the most exciting car in its class, but it excels in areas that matter most to everyday drivers. With its standard all-wheel drive, comfortable ride, and advanced safety features, the Legacy is a practical and reliable choice for those who prioritize safety and comfort over performance. While it may not match the refinement of some competitors, it offers excellent value for money and is a strong contender in the mid-size sedan market.