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Why You Should Choose The New Subaru Legacy Over An SUV

With SUVs taking over the market, is there a place for the Subaru Legacy sedan in the lineup? We found 7 reasons why you should choose it over an SUV.
2020 Subaru Legacy, features, specs, best sedans

The all-new 2020 Subaru Legacy gets ready to launch this summer and it gets significant upgrades for customers over the outgoing model. It rides on the same platform as the new 2020 Outback SUV/Crossover so why not just buy one of those when it hits dealer showrooms later this summer? Sedans sales have dropped as customers choose SUVs for their greater utility and cargo room. Are sedans on their way out and is there a place for the Legacy sedan in the SUV-heavy Subaru lineup?

Why choose Legacy over an SUV?

Not everyone needs a bigger SUV. If you don’t have a family too haul around and you don’t use your vehicle for weekend adventures, you don’t really need that extra space. The advantage of a sedan over the Outback is it’s lighter, more aerodynamic, and it offers better performance compared to the equally powerful Outback. If you need to get moving quickly, with the same 2.4-liter turbo Boxer engine as Outback, the new Legacy XT launches from 0-60 mph in an estimated 6.1 seconds.

Ride quality for four passengers will be better than the higher-riding Outback. For the first time in any Subaru vehicle, Legacy gets a floor cross member that is filled with a highly rigid and lightweight two-part foam material, and an all-new suspension that is lighter, stronger and more responsive. Legacy’s stiffened platform and strengthened suspension will lower the center of gravity, providing more responsive steering and handling, and a smoother, quieter ride.

Save money at the pump

Being lighter also contributes to better fuel economy as well over a bigger SUV. Subaru says the Legacy XT returns EPA mileage figures estimated at 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway. The standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-4 engine gets a manufacturer’s estimated fuel economy of 27/35 mpg city/highway. The 2020 Outback’s manufacturer’s estimated fuel economy is 26/33 mpg city/highway for the 2.5-liter and 23/30 mpg city/highway for the XT turbo. So you will save money at the pump.

AWD 2020 Subaru LegacyStandard AWD

Legacy is still the only sedan in America that comes standard with all-wheel-drive, so you don’t need an SUV to get you safely home. It comes with Subaru’s excellent Symmetrical AWD system for all-weather capability. You don’t need to worry about getting through snow, ice, or muddy roads.

Capable cargo

If you don’t need to throw a mountain bike in the back, Legacy offers capable cargo-carrying ability. The 2020 Legacy comes with 15.1 cu ft of cargo capacity and 1.4 inches of additional cargo floor length, the trunk in the 2020 Legacy can comfortably hold four full-size luggage bags, giving it the functionality to match that of many small crossovers. If you do need to carry additional cargo, Legacy offers standard roof brackets for quick installation of a rack, box or tray, making it easy to load surfboards, canoes and other sports equipment.

Subaru hasn’t released pricing on the new 2020 Legacy sedan, but the outgoing model is $3,800 less for a comparably equipped Outback. The new model should arrive at dealer showrooms late this summer. Stay tuned for pricing closer to launch.

You Might Also Like: All-New 2020 Subaru Legacy; Everything You Want To Know

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Photo credit: Subaru USA

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Comments

Digitaldoc (not verified)    June 1, 2019 - 12:24PM

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Why I Won't Choose The New Subaru Legacy Over An SUV...

The lack of ground clearance, a particular issue for those that live in the snowy Northeast that need to back off of a snow covered driveway would not lead me to purchase any AWD sedan, including the Legacy. At least the Legacy has an optional engine, unlike the Crosstrek and Forester.

I drive a crossover for that reason.

digitaldoc (not verified)    June 6, 2019 - 10:11PM

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Not exactly. There are times when I have to get out early in the morning, and I live at the bottom of a hill so I get plowed in. It's also the main access for the neighborhood so they keep plowing- there have been times when I get the driveway cleared, go inside to grab my stuff, and in a few minutes I get plowed in.

I really have needed the ground clearance of my former Toyota 4Runner on more than one occasion that could deal with this crazy snow.

D Munson (not verified)    June 12, 2019 - 9:20AM

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I totally agree. If it could take me up my 400 ft gravel driveway when it's covered with 8 inches of snow I would consider the sedan. Make the ground clearance the same as my Outback, while keeping the back seat low enough for my big dog to get in, and it would work for me.

Mike (not verified)    June 1, 2019 - 8:23PM

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We have a 2018 legacy and 2014 forester
They each have their uses.
We love the legacy and use it 90% of the time

The legacy is a magnificent vehicle

ASC (not verified)    June 2, 2019 - 8:41AM

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It's still not a highchair for mommy or daddy, the prime reason I hear stay-at-homes' preference for all the crossovers and SUVs. They like the elevated seating position despite poor vehicle dynamics, poor fuel economy, poor luggage capacity, poor rear seat legroom, poor rear visibility and less than stellar reliability records. It's their top item and outranks hard facts

Overly valued personal preferences illogically override reality in this market segment. Quietly enjoying the competence, capacities and reliability of our '18 Legacy and '08 Outback.