Why New Subaru Outback And Legacy Are Utility And Car Of The Year Semifinalists

It’s a prestigious award to get if a car is nominated North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year winner, and Subaru has two vehicles making the shortlist for the award. The all-new sixth-generation 2020 Subaru Outback and newly-redesigned seventh-generation 2020 Legacy sedan are announced as semifinalists for 2019. And Outback is already getting awards for 10-Best User Experience.

It’s another great honor if one or both of the Subaru vehicles get the award, but what does it mean for customers looking to buy one of the all-wheel-drive vehicles. The early reviews on both new vehicles are coming in and the verdicts are very good. Both models get a complete redesign and are made at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana for North American customers. Here’s what to expect.

2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback is Subaru of America’s flagship and top-selling model so they need to get it right. The new Outback gets many improvements over the outgoing model with the biggest being under the hood. The new SUV/Crossover gets a new Ascent-sourced 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This will replace the outgoing 3.6R six-cylinder trim. The new engine will have added power and will be more fuel-efficient over the outgoing 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated engine.

Customers can also expect the Outback to have an improved ride quality. Cars.com says the new all-wheel-drive 2020 Outback is the best model the Japanese automaker has ever produced. The all-new model’s driving dynamics is being compared with luxury models like the Audi A6 or Volvo V90 wagon. It’s because the new Outback rides on the new Subaru Global Platform that gives the SUV greater collision protection, agility, cabin quietness, and ride comfort.

2020 Subaru Legacy

The all-new 2020 Subaru Legacy is built on the same platform as Outback and gets many of the same characteristics as its stablemate and also gets the new 2.4-liter turbo engine. The sedan also comes with the same upgrades in driving dynamics and cabin quietness. Where the Legacy shines brightest is in interior improvements.

In a recent interview, Subaru of America CEO Tom Doll says the interior of the new Legacy is the best the brand has ever produced. Doll says, “Based on our research, one of the reasons why people may have shied away from the Legacy sedan may have been because of the interior. If you look at the Legacy interior now, it's second to none.”

2020 Subaru Outback and Legacy interiors are much-improved

The new 2020 Legacy features a revamped upscale interior highlighted with a new 11.6-inch tablet-style full HD multimedia display, the largest, most advanced infotainment screen ever in a Subaru. The cabin is larger and offers more legroom, now offering 41.1 inches of rear legroom, (more than Accord, Camry, Altima, Malibu, and Sonata) and features higher-grade materials, and the new Legacy Touring trim gives customers genuine Nappa leather. The Touring trim also brings a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.

Customers looking to buy the Outback or Legacy will get a model with serious upgrades over the outgoing models. You can expect improved ride quality, a quieter cabin, improved safety tech, fuel-efficiency and the best interiors Subaru Corp has ever produced.

Whether the all-new 2020 Subaru Outback SUV/Crossover and 2020 Legacy Sedan win North American Utility and Car of the Year awards, customers will get the best cars the brand has ever produced. The finalists will be announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, and judges will award winners in early 2020. Stay tuned.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA