Subaru has taken the wraps off the 7th generation Legacy sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. The 2020 model according to the company, is the most advanced Legacy in the nameplate’s 30-year history.
As for the design, the designers have retained the silhouette, but the changes are noticeable. The new Legacy combines the “Dynamic x Solid” design philosophy with the “Bold in Movement” concept, which according to Subaru, makes the car appear to be in motion, even when standing still. The resigned ORVMs help with better aerodynamics and the mirrors can also be interlocked with seat position memory, reducing the time required to adjust them before driving. In addition, the Touring trim offers power-folding and reverse interlocked tilt-down functions for the side mirrors.
The Sport trim boasts a performance-oriented exterior that features an exclusive rear bumper, front grille with high-gloss black bar, high-gloss black ORVMs, trunk lid spoiler and dark metallic 18-inch alloy wheels.
On the inside, the Touring trim gets genuine Nappa leather upholstery – a Subaru first, while the Sport comes with aluminum pedals and red contrast stitching. The tablet-style 11.6-inch Full HD display is standard on Premium, Sport and Limited trims. The top-of-the-line 11.6-inch Multimedia with Navigation adds navigation powered by TomTom (3-year free map updates) and voice-activated navigation, which is optional for Premium, Sport and Limited and standard for Touring.
Limited and Touring models feature 10-way power front seats with lumbar support, adjustable cushion length (driver only) and heated front & rear seats. For 2020, seat heaters come with three levels of temperature adjustment as well as extended coverage up to the shoulders for improved comfort. Touring models add ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with the latter optional on Limited.
Options list includes 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, in-car Wi-Fi, and Subaru Starlink Connected Services packages. The Starlink Safety Plus package includes SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and automatic collision notification.
Safety
The new Legacy is built on an optimized Subaru Global Platform, boasting a structure that is 70% stiffer in both torsional and front-suspension rigidity and 100% stiffer in both front lateral flexural and rear subframe rigidity compared with the previous Legacy’s platform. According to Subaru, notable contributors to the increased stiffness include a 13% jump in ultra-high-tensile-strength steel, a 371% increase in the structural adhesive (compared with the initial iteration of the Subaru Global Platform) and, for the first time in a Subaru, a floor crossmember that is filled with a highly rigid and lightweight two-part foam material.
In another Subaru first, the new Legacy utilizes a full inner frame construction in which only the outer panels are welded to the structure after the entire body framework is assembled, unlike a conventional manufacturing process in which the upper and underbodies are assembled separately and then joined. This new inner-frame construction is significantly stiffer and lighter than the previous Legacy’s conventional structure, Subaru said.
In addition, the new body absorbs over 40% more energy in front/side crashes than the current model. The Legacy also gets 8 standard airbags.
As for the active safety features, standard on all trims is EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, now equipped for the first time in the U.S. with Lane Centering Function. When using EyeSight’s Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control feature, Lane Centering Function provides steering assist when the vehicle veers outside its lane, helping the driver maintain a direct path. DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, optional on Limited and standard on both XT trims, uses a dedicated camera and facial recognition software to identify signs of driver fatigue or driver distraction.
The 2020 model also offers a Front View Monitor. Standard on the Touring XT, the technology captures images within the driver’s blind spots in front of the vehicle and displays a 180-degree view on the 11.6-inch display. Options list includes LED Steering Responsive Headlamps (Limited, Touring), Reverse Automatic Braking and Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Powertrains
For the first time since 2012, the Legacy lineup will feature a turbocharged engine. Standard on XT models, the 2.4-litre turbocharged BOXER engine offers 260 hp at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft (376 Nm) of torque from 2,000-4,800 rpm, paired with a CVT with (simulated) manual mode and paddle shifters. Apparently, the Legacy’s CVT hydraulic system features a lower viscosity oil that reduces horsepower loss by 32% compared with the previous model’s CVT. Subaru estimates a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) acceleration time of 6.1 seconds.
The standard naturally aspirated engine is a revised 2.5-litre BOXER that debuted in the 2019 Forester. With nearly 90% of its parts new, the 2.5-litre puts out 182 hp at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft (239 Nm) of torque at 4,400 rpm, paired with a CVT. The standard Active Grille Shutters help achieve an estimated fuel economy of 27/35 mpg city/highway.
As for the suspension, the front utilizes MacPherson struts with a new internal rebound spring, aluminum lower L-arms and a new 23 mm hollow stabilizer bar. The rear-end features a double-wishbone layout with subframe, coil springs and a new 19 mm hollow stabilizer bar.
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