Overview
It’s easy to forget about the 2024 Subaru Legacy, but that’s not because it’s one of Subaru’s only non-SUV offerings—it’s because its bland road manners give us little to fondly remember. Based on the same platform as the popular Outback station wagon, the Legacy can be had with either a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged four-cylinder, each connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Legacy is at least generously equipped with standard driver assistance and infotainment features, but so is every other modern family sedan. If your automotive use case only calls for comfortable commutes and demure styling, the Legacy delivers exactly that, but we much prefer the more joyful driving demeanor of the Honda Accord, the styling of the Kia K5, and the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Camry.
What’s New for 2024?
The Sport trim gains an upgraded Harman/Kardon stereo system as standard equipment, but otherwise, the Legacy is unchanged for the 2024 model year.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The midrange Sport offers a good balance between price and features. Not only does it come with the more powerful 260-hp turbocharged four-cylinder it also adds a bunch of desirable equipment. The Sport comes standard with 18-inch wheels, a power sunroof, LED fog lamps, a rear spoiler, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry with push-button start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass, rear automated emergency braking, and cloth upholstery with red contrast stitching.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
A 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is standard and makes 182 horsepower. Sport and Touring XT models come with a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. All Legacy models have all-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). We’ve tested both engines now, and what a difference a turbo makes. The Touring XT managed to hit 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds while the non-turbo Sport required a lackluster 8.0 seconds. Regardless of which engine is under the hood, the new Legacy boasts slightly improved handling dynamics over the last generation and a similarly compliant ride.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The non-turbo cars achieve higher fuel-economy estimates from the EPA—27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined—but the turbocharged models aren’t far behind at 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. In our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy tests, both powertrains delivered 34 mpg. That said, the Subaru pales in comparison with the 2.5-liter-equipped Camry, which delivered an impressive 45 mpg. For more information about the Legacy’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Though the measurements may not show it, the Legacy’s cabin feels much bigger than the last generation’s, particularly in the back. While its design is still on the dowdy side, the Legacy’s interior is functional, with well-chosen materials throughout. Cloth upholstery is standard, but the high-end Limited and Touring models have leather. The front seats are well-sculpted and comfortable, and the upper trims feature a manual thigh extension for the driver’s seat, a boon to long-legged buyers. The trunk is generously sized and held eight carry-on suitcases in our testing, one more than the Accord and two more than the Camry.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Base models use a version of Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system that features dual 7.0-inch displays. The one-rung-up Premium model has the company’s latest 11.6-inch vertically oriented infotainment display that looks as if it had been borrowed from a Volvo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come standard. And while in-dash navigation is only standard on the Limited and Touring XT models, it’s optional on all but the base Legacy. A four-speaker stereo is standard, the Premium trim comes with a six-speaker setup, and anything above that gets a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Legacy is a great choice when it comes to safety. All Legacy models come with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features. For more information about the Legacy’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control with lane-centering
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Subaru’s standard warranty package is basic but matches what most rivals in this class offer. The Hyundai Sonata and the Kia K5 both provide longer warranty terms, and the Camry comes with two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2020 Subaru Legacy Sport
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$30,090 (base price: $27,845)
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
152 cu in, 2498 cc
Power
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque
176 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 12.4-in vented disc/11.8-in vented disc
Tires: Yokohoma Avid GT, 225/50R-18 95V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.3 in
Length: 190.6 in
Width: 72.4 in
Height: 59.1 in
Passenger volume: 103 cu ft
Trunk volume: 15 cu ft
Curb weight: 3540 lb
C/D
TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
Zero to 60 mph: 8.0 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 22.0 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 40.4 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.6 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.2 sec @ 88 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.84 g
C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 28 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 34 mpg
Highway range: 620 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 30/27/35 mpg
2020 Subaru Legacy Touring XT
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE AS TESTED
$36,795 (base price: $36,795)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement
146 cu in, 2387 cc
Power
260 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque
277 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 12.4-in vented disc/11.8-in vented disc
Tires: Yokohoma Avid GT, 225/50R-18 95V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.3 in
Length: 190.6 in
Width: 72.4 in
Height: 59.1 in
Passenger volume: 103 cu ft
Trunk volume: 15 cu ft
Curb weight: 3781 lb
C/D
TEST RESULTS
Rollout, 1 ft: 0.3 sec
Zero to 60 mph: 6.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 15.6 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 24.3 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.7 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.7 sec @ 97 mph
Top speed: 140 mph (C/D est)
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.80 g
C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 34 mpg
Highway range: 620 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 27/24/32 mpg
