Page 89 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

COTY I Finalists

PRO Supremely comfortable ride • Strong on value and features • Improved interior CON Zero fun factor • Bland styling • Merely adequate engines

2020 Subaru Legacy

ince its introduction in 1989, the dashboard, shifter, and engine for not being well paired
the Subaru Legacy has steering wheel.” with the CVT, the Legacy’s only
Squietly chugged along as Loh agreed, but like many transmission option.
the cult favorite of the midsize other judges, he took issue With either engine option, the
sedan segment, never posing with the infotainment system’s Legacy was an understeering
a serious threat to the sales functionality: “Although the giant mess on the winding track. The
volumes of Honda Accord, Toyota screen looks impressive at first, it’s tires aren’t suited for spirited
Camry, or Nissan Altima. Instead, underwhelming when you dig into driving and squeal in protest
the Legacy has existed as an its features.” at every corner. The trade-off are created equal. Judges
alternative sedan option for First attempts at tapping or of such uninspiring handling, complained of random warning
buyers who want the confidence swiping the vertically oriented however, is exceptional ride beeps—without any explanation—
of all-wheel drive at a compet- 11.6-inch touchscreen often don’t comfort. that became so annoying that
itive price. The 2020 Subaru register, and even when they do, “I can’t stop being impressed we turned off all the systems that
Legacy continues that tradi- the system is often slow to call by the suspension and ride could be turned off (though some
tion but is now even more of a up the desired function or menu. quality that this Legacy has,” have no “off” switch). So much for
bargain—just as long as “fun” isn’t Judges also knocked the screen Cortina said. “It rides better than preventative safety.
one of your car-shopping criteria. for its predilection for glare and most luxury cars.” Furthermore, the lane keep
Like most modern Subarus, the finger smudges. Markus agreed. “The ride assist system doesn’t assist
exterior of the seventh-genera- Mainstream Subarus aren’t quality is very creamy, soaking up very well. “Active steering occa-
tion Legacy is “pleasant enough built for performance, and the bumps as well as anything here,” sionally steered the car over the
but forgettable,” Theodore Legacy is no exception. Most he said, “including the big luxury centerline and then beeped for
said—a sentiment shared by judges found the base 2.5-liter sedans.” me to fix it,” Markus said. “Thanks
just about everyone else on the naturally aspirated flat-four’s Subaru has become the for the help!”
judging panel. But in the interior 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque mainstream Volvo with its multiple MacKenzie said Subaru’s
design and quality department, to be merely adequate for IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards “innovative, low-cost EyeSight
the new Legacy makes healthy everyday driving. The upgraded and EyeSight safety suite that’s system is starting to reach the
strides. engine in the Legacy XT, a new available across the lineup. The limits of its capability,” adding
“The materials are all superb 260-horsepower, 277-lb-ft 2020 Legacy maintains that trend that it’s “noticeably behind other
for the class, especially the 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four, by offering EyeSight standard on driver assist systems in terms of
Nappa leather on the Touring enhances the driving experience all Legacy models. performance in some areas.”
grade,” Ogbac said. slightly but suffers from turbo lag. But buyer beware: Not all It might not be the best car in
Even the lower-trim 2.5i Sport Theodore knocked the upgraded advanced safety systems the field, but MacKenzie captured
model earned praise for its cabin, the consensus of COTY judges by
with Markus saying it “looks the declaring the Legacy “an endear-
business with red stitching on ingly honest car.” Alex Nishimoto

SPECS 2020 Subaru Legacy Sport 2020 Subaru Legacy Touring XT
Base Price/As Tested $27,845/$30,090 $36,795/$36,795
Power (SAE net) 182 hp @ 5,800 rpm 260 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 176 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm 277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 8.1 sec 6.1 sec
Quarter Mile 16.2 sec @ 87.5 mph 14.8 sec @ 94.5 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 127 ft 128 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.79 g (avg) 0.78 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.3 sec @ 0.59 g (avg) 27.3 sec @ 0.64 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 27/35/30 mpg 24/32/27 mpg Touring XT

Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan Engine/Transmission Sport 2.5L DOHC 16-valve flat-4/cont variable auto Touring XT
2.4L turbo DOHC 16-valve flat-4/cont variable auto Curb Weight (F/R Dist) Sport 3,528 lb (59/41%) Touring XT 3,756 lb (59/41%) Wheelbase 108.3 in
Length x Width x Height 190.6 x 72.4 x 59.1 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy Sport 125/96 kW-hr/100 miles Touring XT 140/105 kW-hr/100 miles
CO2 Emissions, Comb Sport 0.64 lb/mile Touring XT 0.72 lb/mile
JANUARY 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 89