“It's a great car for winter weather because it's heavy and low enough to the ground to feel exceptionally stable with AWD/4WD.”
2020 Subaru Legacy: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 13, 2026
The 2020 Subaru Legacy is a full redesign and the first year of its seventh generation. Its biggest change is the move to the Subaru Global Platform, which brings a stiffer structure, a quieter and roomier cabin, and an extensively updated powertrain, safety, and technology package.
About the 2020 Subaru Legacy
7th generation (2020-2025), first year of a full redesign
Subaru positions the Legacy as a midsize sedan for drivers who want sedan comfort and space without giving up all-weather traction. Its core identity is a safe, roomy, durable daily driver with standard AWD, strong active-safety coverage, and a calm, quiet ride. Against rivals like the Accord, Camry, and Altima, the Legacy’s clearest differentiator is that every trim gets AWD, and Subaru leans hard on long-term durability, family-friendly safety, and confidence in bad weather rather than flashy styling.
The base Legacy keeps things straightforward with standard AWD, LED headlights, and a full driver-assistance suite, while Premium is the practical comfort pick with heated front seats and an 11.6-inch touchscreen. Limited adds leather and premium audio, and the new Limited XT pairs those comforts with a 260-hp turbo engine. Touring XT tops the range with Nappa leather, ventilated front seats, navigation, and a front-view camera.
What changed, by category
Structural
The Legacy moves to the Subaru Global Platform. The new, stiffer structure improves ride comfort while helping create a quieter cabin and more interior room.
Powertrain
Most trims get a revised 182-hp, direct-injection 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The new Limited XT and Touring XT use a 260-hp, 2.4-liter turbo four, replacing the previous lineup's 3.6-liter six-cylinder approach.
Safety
Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance suite becomes standard on every trim and adds adaptive cruise control with lane centering. Limited gains standard blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking, while the XT trims add driver-attention monitoring.
Styling
The redesign brings an all-new body with a sleeker profile and wider stance. Sport gets black exterior details, dark 18-inch wheels, and red cabin stitching, while Touring XT receives its own upscale exterior trim.
Tech
The cabin gets a new dashboard and infotainment layout. Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT use an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen, while the base trim has two 7-inch screens.
2020 Subaru Legacy specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.4 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode | Automatic, CVT w/Lineartronic & 8-Spd Manual Mode |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 24 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | 35 mpg | 32 mpg | 32 mpg |
| Horsepower | 182 hp | 182 hp | 182 hp | 182 hp | 260 hp | 260 hp |
| Torque | 176 lb-ft | 176 lb-ft | 176 lb-ft | 176 lb-ft | 277 lb-ft | 277 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 2700 lb | 3000 lb | ||||
| Trunk/Cargo | 15.1 cu-ft | 15.1 cu-ft | 15.1 cu-ft | 15.1 cu-ft | 15.1 cu-ft | 15.1 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 39.5 in | 39.5 in | 39.5 in | 39.5 in | 39.5 in | 39.5 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ||||||
| Alarm System | ||||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | ||||||
| Automatic Leveling Headlights | ||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||||||
| Rear View Camera | ||||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||||
| Fog Lights | ||||||
| Heated Mirrors | ||||||
| LED Headlights | ||||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | ||||||
| Power Moonroof | ||||||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | ||||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||||
| Navigation System | ||||||
| Premium Audio | ||||||
| Satellite Radio | ||||||
| Smartphone Interface | ||||||
| Subwoofer | ||||||
| Touch Screen Monitor | ||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | ||||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | ||||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||||
| Rear Air Conditioning | ||||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||||
| Heated Rear Seats | ||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | ||||||
| Leather Seats | ||||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | ||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | ||||||
| Power Driver Seat | ||||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | ||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | ||||||
| Remote Start | ||||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | ||||||
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Subaru Legacy a full redesign?
Yes. The 2020 Legacy begins the seventh generation with a new platform, an all-new body, revised engines, a roomier and quieter cabin, and updated safety and infotainment systems.
Does the 2020 Subaru Legacy still have a six-cylinder engine?
No. The former 3.6-liter six-cylinder setup was replaced by a 260-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the new Limited XT and Touring XT. Other trims use a revised 182-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Is EyeSight standard on every 2020 Subaru Legacy?
Yes. Every 2020 Legacy includes Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance suite, and the redesign adds adaptive cruise control with lane centering. The suite also includes pre-collision braking.
Which 2020 Subaru Legacy trims have the 11.6-inch touchscreen?
Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT have the 11.6-inch touchscreen. The base Legacy uses a dual-screen layout with two 7-inch displays; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included with both setups.
How did the Subaru Legacy trim lineup change for 2020?
The 2020 lineup added Base, Limited XT, and Touring XT and dropped 2.5i and 3.6R Limited. The previous 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Sport, and 2.5i Limited continued under the shorter Premium, Sport, and Limited names.
2020 Subaru Legacy Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2020 Subaru Legacy.
4.2
2020 Subaru Legacy
(376 reviews)
“I would comment on how incoming traffic on dark roads are blinded by the low beam headlight angle.”
“It's a very comfortable ride and don't need leather seats. Very smooth for long drives.”