The 2020 Subaru Legacy has made its debut at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, a few days after teaser images of the D-segment sedan were posted online. Now built on the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), the seventh-generation Legacy has been completely redesigned inside and out.
In terms of design, the new Legacy remains largely similar to its predecessor, with a few defining cues to set it apart. For starters, the front face gets a new frameless, hexagonal grille that is flanked by more shapely headlamps with C-shaped LED daytime running lights. Subaru also notes that the windscreen has been enlarged.
The lower apron has also been tweaked to incorporate a wide, black trim piece that connects both fog lamp enclosures that are subtler in appearance. Progressing down the sides, new side mirrors are now positioned closer to the A-pillars, while the fenders have been widened.
You’ll also notice the character line, which starts from the front fenders, run closer in parallel to the door handles towards the taillights. As for the rear, it looks relatively unchanged from before, aside from the slightly smaller taillight clusters and a raised trunk surface for a smoother connection to the C-pillars.
While the exterior may be a little too familiar, the new Legacy’s cabin undergoes a more significant overhaul. The new three-tier dashboard now seamlessly flows from end to end, with highlights being a more angular instrument binnacle, slim top dash display and more upholstered areas. Nappa leather is available on higher-end trim levels, which Subaru says is a first for its models.
Of course, the most prominent item on the dashboard is the 11.6-inch, tablet-style touchscreen, which is linked to the car’s infotainment system (Subaru Starlink in the United States). Aside from the usual media, telephony and connectivity functions, the system is also responsible for HVAC controls and the car’s around-view monitor.
Base models come with a different multimedia system, which features dual 7.0-inch displays that split multimedia and HVAC controls.
The large screen clears up a lot of switchgear found in the previous Legacy, and it forces the air vents to be repositioned to either side of it. Meanwhile, noise intrusion is down by almost three decibels at highway speeds thanks to new door weather strips and thicker sound-insulated glass.
The adoption of the SGP also allows for increases in front shoulder room, front/rear hip room and rear legroom. Subaru claims a cargo capacity of 427 litres, and the Legacy “can comfortably hold four full-size roller bags.”
With the new architecture, the new Legacy is 70% stiffer in both torsional and front-suspension rigidity, and 100% stiffer in both front lateral flexural and rear subframe rigidity compared to the previous Legacy’s platform.
The front suspension setup employs MacPherson struts with new internal rebound springs, aluminum lower L-arms and a 23 mm hollow stabilizer bar. For the rear, a double-wishbone layout with subframe is used together with coil springs and a new 19 mm hollow stabilizer bar. Depending on trim level, the Legacy comes with either 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes being standard.
Under the bonnet, the Legacy will get a turbocharged engine for the first time since the fifth-generation model. In this case, it is the FA24F 2.4 litre turbo four-cylinder that is also used in the Ascent.
Developing 260 hp at 5,600 rpm and 376 Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm, the motor is linked to a Lineartronic CVT and the company’s proprietary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system – good for a 0-96 km/h run of 6.1 seconds.
There’s a non-turbo option too in the form of the FB25DI, a 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder with direct injection. This engine debuted in the latest Forester, and delivers 182 hp at 5,800 rpm and 239 Nm at 4,400 rpm – 0-96 km/h in 8.4 seconds.
In the US, all Legacy trims will come as standard with the EyeSight suite of driver assistance systems, with Lane Centering Function being a new add-on. With it, steering assist is provided when the vehicle veers outside its lane, helping the driver maintain a direct path.
There’s also a Front View Monitor that captures images within the driver’s blind spots in front of the vehicle and displays a 180-degree view on the primary display. Other available systems include LED Steering Responsive Headlamps, Reverse Automatic Braking and Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
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Subaru continues its mission to produce more ‘conventional’ looking cars. Interior looks impressive, possibly taking a page out of Mazda’s playbook to improve the interior significantly compared to immediate competitors. However the exterior looks too understated, much like the effort by Suzuki (Kizashi) when they attempted to make a mid size sedan – too bland and not bold enough.
Nobody pays that much money for blandness anymore.
Interior taken from Volvo.
facelift accord?
The game changer has been unveiled, habisla Prevé
Copy paste: “Legacy is Dsegment Preve is Csegment. Next time you lie, don’t make it too obvious, numbnut.”
Prevé?? This car is the size of Perdana/Accord and Camry lah…
Remember the previous-gen Subaru Legacy sold here in Malaysia?? (Rm250k XD)
He likely meant it as a compliment to Preve for being able to continue punching above it’s weight versus new D-segment sedans. That or Japan car innovation have seriously went down the drain. Either way kudos to Proton!
That Volvo/Geely/Proton X70 Interior design…
Is making me confused#!$@/@$!#
Whole Interior: Geely
Touchscreen: Volvo
Seats and Rear Aircon: Proton X70
So what car is this? Subaru Geely X70/S90
The most beautiful Subaru
Boxer engine high maintenance. I’ll pass this
interior is awesome, exterior wise , every angle is handsome except the front ,
260 bhp all wheel drive sounds solid fun , but a torque converter auto is more responsive than a cvt
CVT’s provide far more consistent acceleration than any other form of transmission making it the most efficient. However, there are downsides such as rubber-band feeling at lower speeds and consistent exhaust noise without the gear change sound.
Noise is normal in jepunis cars. Only fanboys deny.
Subaru Malaysia should bring this to Malaysia and offer it as a choice for both engines options.