Turbo Power + AWD = Driving Fun!
Subaru has been busy. First they launched the all-new 2020 Outback, and then along comes the all-new 2020 Legacy. Based on the same platform, both come with all-wheel drive (AWD) standard and offer an optional turbocharged engine. The Outback is known for its off-road capabilities, but what about the Legacy sedan? Will it also use the AWD traction to leave dry pavement or will it use it to improve everyday handling? Our suspicions are both.
Choices: Turbo or Non-Turbo
The Legacy is available with two engines–the base 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder and the optional 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder, which is new for 2020. The base 2.5L has 182 horsepower (hp) and 176 pound-feet of torque (lb.-ft.), but Clean Fleet Report opted for the 2.4L turbo, which delivered 260 hp and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. A boxer engine has horizontally opposed pistons, instead of configured in a V or inline pattern.
Power is delivered to the symmetrical AWD system through Subaru’s high-torque Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that had a manual mode and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The turbocharged 2.4L has an EPA fuel economy estimate of 24 mpg city/32 highway/27 combined while using 87 octane. In 200 miles of driving throughout Southern California, we averaged 30 mpg combined, which was impressive considering we did some spirited mountain driving. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience. Your numbers may differ.
Seat Time: Stiffer and More Responsive Platform
The Legacy is a very comfortable car to drive, absorbing most road imperfections with minimal noise or vibrations felt in the cabin. It passed, with flying colors, our drive on the grooved Southern California concrete freeways, where the seams can produce a thump-thump-thump sensation, plus there was nearly imperceptible wind and road noise. In town, it was easy to maneuver and park and has a passable 36.8-inch turning radius.
Cornering was flat, aided by the low profile boxer engine dropping the Legacy’s center of gravity. The active torque vectoring splits the AWD, which transfers grip, front-to-rear, based on steering input, acceleration and braking, and tightened the suspension for accurate road feel. Body roll was apparent only when the 3,700-pound Legacy was pushed too hard. The Legacy drives and rides like a premium sedan, with firm steering and even the steering wheel has a heft that bred confidence.
The drivability of the 2.4L turbocharged engine and the CVT provided smooth performance, whether in-town or on the highway. When pressed, the engine remained quiet, but the CVT would get louder, and you could feel the “shifts”. About those shifts: A CVT does not have gears, but Subaru has simulated eight ratios that feel and sound like gears. If you choose to, the shifter can be placed in the manual setting and then the paddle shifters will control the CVT shift points.
One beef with the Legacy is the stop/start feature that is designed to reduce fuel consumption when stopped at a light or in stop-and-go traffic. The engine would turn off quickly as designed, but when reengaging, there is a noticeable shudder and shake. The Subaru system has the least amount of sophistication we have experienced, which was odd as all other aspects of the engine are top notch. The stop/start can be turned off, but the control is buried in the infotainment screen, and can’t be set to remain off, so it needs to be set every time you start the engine. Therefore, most owners will just get used to it and, after awhile, not even notice it.
Driving Experience: Exterior
The all-new seventh generation 2020 Subaru Legacy underwent a mild redesign, giving it a lower profile. The changes for 2020 are LED headlights being standard on all models and a redesigned grille. The tail light design has been reworked, with the lights a combination of LED and incandescent. Our Legacy Touring XT model had chrome trim on the grille, chrome accents on the door handles, along the front lower fascia and twin exhaust outlets, which tells you it has the turbo engine.
Our Legacy Touring XT, painted in a very attractive Abyss Blue Pearl, had a smooth body with color-keyed door handles and a shark fin antenna. The folding exterior mirrors (with turn signals) had a satin chrome finish, and the 18-inch machine finished alloy wheels had black painted pockets. Overall, the Legacy has a classic, somewhat conservative design.
Driving Experience: Interior
The Legacy Touring XT interior comes in tan and chocolate. This combination is pretty common in 2020 across several brands, and Subaru did it nicely. The interior, which featured quality materials, was well-built, with even the door gave a reassuring, solid thunk when closed.
The power, ventilated and heated Nappa leather-trimmed seats have 10-way power adjustments for the driver (with two-position memory) and eight-way power adjustments for the passenger. We liked the subtle top stitching on the seats and door panels, and how the low-slung dash and thin A pillars provided for good forward visibility. Soft touch materials abound, with the door and center console arm rests comfortable and positioned properly. There were small storage areas in the front cabin, found on the dash, below the center stack and in the doors. None of them were particularly large, but could handle a mobile phone or other small items.
The round speed and tachometer gauges, separated by a driver information screen, were easy-to-read with black faces and white numbers. Another nice feature is that all four windows were one-touch up and down.
The Legacy’s infotainment system is housed in an 11.6-inch, vertical tablet-style high-resolution touchscreen. Subaru’s Starlink connected services technology is the heart of the system with Tom Tom navigation and multimedia of SiriusXM, HD FM/AM, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The overall system was easy to read and use, and we especially liked knobs for volume and channel selecting. The leather wrapped steering wheel (with contrasting top stitching) had radio, Bluetooth voice command, steering wheel heat and cruise control switches. LTE Wi-Fi connectivity is an option.
The controls for the automatic climate system and the heated seats could be designed for easier use, as the touch points on the screen were too small and the reactions were slow. Changing these out for knobs, switches or buttons would make for a more pleasurable driving experience, like is found on the base model Legacy.
The comfortable rear seats accommodated three adults, with the outbound passengers getting heat. The rear seat folds 60/40 and has a drop-down armrest. Additional interior features include dark tint privacy glass, power moonroof, rearview compass mirror with Homelink and keyless access with push button start.
Safety and Warranties
Subaru calls its advanced driver safety assistance system (ADAS) EyeSight, which they say offers “an extra set of eyes on the road.” With more than one million EyeSight-equipped vehicles sold, Subaru adds that “EyeSight has been found to reduce the rate of rear-end crashes with injuries by up-to 85 peercent.” EyeSight has the full suite of driver safety technology including pre-collision braking, lane departure, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and blind spot monitoring and a head-up display. The Driver Focus Distraction Mitigation System can detect and identify driver inattention caused by fatigue or distraction. When you take a test drive in the 2020 Legacy, have the dealer sales representative show you how to set-up the system and then how to test it.
Other safety items include LED fog lights, eight airbags, ABS with brake assist, auto hold, reverse automatic braking and an electronic parking brake.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, has awarded the Legacy Five Stars, their highest safety ranking. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS, tested the Legacy and it made its Top Safety Pick+ list.
The 2020 Legacy comes with these warranties.
Basic Three years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Five years/60,000 miles
Rust Perforation Five years/Unlimited miles
Price
The 2020 Legacy comes in six trim levels, with these base prices including the $900 destination and delivery charge.
Legacy $23,645
Legacy Premium $25,895
Legacy Sport $27,845
Legacy Limited $30,645
Legacy Limited XT $35,095
Legacy Touring XT $35,895
Clean Fleet Report’s Legacy Touring XT had a final MSRP of $36,795.
Observations: 2020 Subaru Legacy Touring XT
The all-new 2020 Subaru Legacy is an example of why car companies should continue building sedans. Clean Fleet Report has driven several sedans recently and can say, without equivocation, that this type of vehicle has never been better. It is obvious Subaru believes in sedans, as the all-new Legacy is at the top of the midsize sedan category. While not flashy in its design, the Legacy makes a great case for being on your sedan shopping list.
The Legacy interior is quiet and spacious, the seats are comfortable and the rear seat can truly hold three adults. The base model has a good list of standard driver safety technologies, and its government and independent safety ratings are excellent. The composed ride finds the Legacy equally at home on the highway, in-town or on mountain sweepers. Its 8.3-seconds-to-60 mph is more than enough for the important parts of driving, such as entering a highway or passing a big rig on a two-lane road.
Subaru could improve the Legacy’s rough stop/start, the climate control interface and maybe get the fuel economy numbers a bit higher. A hybrid Legacy would bump those fuel economy numbers close to the magic 40 mpg number. These are not deal breakers, so the next step is a test drive at your local Subaru dealer.
Make sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter so you will know when our more detailed Road Test reviews are posted.
Whatever you end up buying, Happy Driving!
Related Stories You Might Enjoy—AWD Sedan Options
Flash Drive: Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor
Road Test: 2018 Audi A5 Coupe
Road Test: 2019 Genesis G70
Road Test: 2019 Ford Fusion
Flash Drive: 2019 Toyota Prius AWD
Road Test: 2018 Kia Stinger
Road Test: 2016 Dodge Charger
Road Test: 2020 Volvo S60
Road Test: 2016 Acura RLX
Road Test: 2019 Toyota Camry
Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class. We also feature those that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
18 thoughts on “Road Test: 2020 Subaru Legacy Touring XT”