10 Things You Need to Know About the 2020 Subaru Legacy

Although this piece is titled “10 Things You Need to Know About the 2020 Subaru Legacy,” the main thing to be aware of is that it’s worth your time going into greater detail. Even if you might not necessarily be looking for a brand-new mid-size sedan right now, it’s always good to have some background knowledge.

Subaru vehicles have a great reputation for reliability and safety, and there’s every reason to believe the new Legacy will remain on that impressive path. The company’s products in general, and the Legacy in particular, have also enjoyed strong resale values. So these are already major plus points even before we start on our 10 things — which happens right about now.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy marks the introduction of this mid-size sedan’s seventh generation, based on an all-new platform. Which means it’s stronger than before, stiffer yet lighter. Benefits including greater crash protection (Subaru is anticipating top crash test scores) and more precision when tuning the suspension.

Dimensions-wise, it’s virtually the same as the outgoing model, but Subaru has managed to improve rear legroom from 38.1 to 39.5 inches. Construction is far less similar. The new Legacy employs a lot of industrial adhesive in the same places as welds, strengthening joints and reducing noise. On top of all this is an exterior design that hardly breaks with tradition, so the Subaru faithful (of which there are many) will know exactly who made the car.

Standard all-wheel drive is a Subaru specialty. Only the little BRZ coupe has rear-wheel drive, and that’s something of an anomaly, albeit a fun one.

Back to business, the 2020 Legacy has all-wheel drive included in the base price. Right now, the only other mid-size sedan to offer four driven wheels is the Nissan Altima, where it’s optional. Don’t bother checking out the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, or Kia Optima if this feature is a must-have. This is one reason why Subaru has enclaves of avid buyers in places like the northeast of the United States and Colorado. The reassurance of optimum grip in rough weather should never be underestimated, and some people don’t necessarily want to buy an SUV just to get it.

In its base form, the 2020 Subaru Legacy starts at $23,645 including destination charges. For comparison, the 2020 Kia Optima is priced from $24,115. The 2020 Legacy in Premium trim is $25,895, the Sport is $27,845, and the Limited is $30,645.

An XT suffix denotes a bigger engine. The Limited XT comes in at $35,095, while the Touring XT tops the range at $36,795. Standard equipment includes EyeSight, Subaru’s package of driver assistance features that include adaptive cruise control and forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, LED headlights, and satellite radio are also part of the deal. The Touring XT is the only trim to have Nappa leather upholstery. Cloth or less-upscale leather is in the rest of the range.

Another Subaru hallmark is the horizontally opposed engine, also known as a boxer or flat-four. The 2020 Legacy range starts with a 2.5-liter unit making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. That's perfectly adequate for most requirements. Those seeking more can consider a turbocharged 2.4-liter developing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. But that means buying one of the top two trim levels.

Subaru engines aren’t always frugal, but the 2.5-liter is expected to average 30 mpg, while the 2.4 turbo should manage 27 mpg. Both engines link to their own versions of a continually variable transmission (CVT). A CVT never usually gets pulses racing because of slow responses (among other things), but they each work well enough here.

All-wheel drive in the 2020 Legacy is standard, but that doesn’t mean it’s a cheap, unsophisticated system. It’s actually an intelligent setup, able to send torque to different wheels, according to which ones have the most grip at any given time.

This ability can also be used in another way: torque vectoring. It sounds complicated, but it contributes to the fun. When going around a corner, the outside wheels are made to turn faster than the inside wheels so the car can complete the maneuver more efficiently and with greater stability. Some cars simulate this effect by subtle braking of the inside wheels. The result is the same, but the Legacy’s feature is the real deal and even the base model has it.

The aforementioned torque vectoring is merely one aspect of the 2020 Legacy’s overall ride and handling abilities. Subaru also gets the basics right, driving a fine line between comfort and composure. Drivers and passengers who just want to reach their destination with minimal fuss will find the Legacy easygoing.

Anyone who likes to put in a little more involvement to extract a lot more fun might also connect with the new Legacy. It even has little details like hollow anti-roll bars to save weight. The steering is electrically assisted, as is the way with virtually every vehicle these days and to the general dismay of drivers who value steering feel. But the Legacy is far from numb; there’s a pleasant weight and directness.

The cabin of the 2020 Legacy is wonderfully hushed. This description could not really apply to several of Subaru’s past vehicles, which makes it particularly notable here. 

The quietness starts from the body shell, which has those welded/glued joints we mentioned earlier. The windshield and front side windows are made from acoustic glass, while the rest of the glass is also thicker than before. Subaru has even redesigned the door seals for extra acoustic insulation and tweaked the shape of the side mirrors to produce less wind noise.

We’ve already touched on the increase in rear legroom. The rest of the 2020 Legacy is not much different from the previous sixth-generation model in terms of passenger and cargo space. Then again, it didn’t really need to improve. Only the Honda Accord is roomier.

Just one minor gripe: The front footwells curve into the center, so people with big feet might find this a tad uncomfortable at first. OK, one more minor issue: The moonroof that becomes optional at the Premium trim level is on the small side. Trunk space is 15.1 cubic feet, the same as the 2019 Legacy and the current Toyota Camry. That’s pretty generous, enough for four roller bags, and the aperture is nice and wide.

Wi-Fi is available for the first time in a Subaru mid-size sedan. And four USB ports (two front, two rear) are standard, while wireless charging is an extra.

The base 2020 Legacy has a pair of 7-inch screens to deal with infotainment and heating/air conditioning. But we’d recommend going at least for the Premium trim, which brings a rectangular 11.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen that’s set upright. An optional front-view monitor enables a 180-degree image. Blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert is also available, along with reverse automatic braking and a driver attention alert, plus adaptive headlights that direct their beams in response to the steering.

Sorry, but we couldn’t leave it at 10 things you need to know about the 2020 Subaru Legacy. Here are some more important highlights:

An airbag for the driver’s knees is a new addition. The continuously variable transmissions are programmed to simulate eight gears and come with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The base trim comes with 17-inch steel wheels, which is slightly disappointing, but another reason to go for the Premium and get 17-inch alloy wheels — plus dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a heated 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated side mirrors. The Sport trim has an SI driving mode, which is predictably sportier than normal; no other 2020 Legacy has selectable driving modes. The rear seats are heated in the Limited trim, and the Touring adds ventilation for the front seats. A Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system upgrade is also available.