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Subaru Boss,“Our Old Legacy Interior Kept Buyers Away, New Model Will Be Second-To-None”

The 2020 model change for the new Subaru Legacy sedan will bring big improvements. The interior could bring the biggest upgrade of all.
2020 Subaru Legacy, 2020 model change, features, specs, best sedans, best interiors

What used to be a weakness for Subaru, the new 2020 Legacy sedan now turns into a strength. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Subaru of America CEO Tom Doll told the automotive journal the previous-generation Legacy interior kept buyers away from the brand but that will be very different with the 2020 model change.

Subaru unveiled the new Legacy 2020 model change at the Chicago Auto Show in February and the sedan didn’t appear to change much on the outside, but inside it’s a different story. The interior could bring the biggest upgrade of all.

2020 Subaru Legacy2020 Subaru Legacy upscale cabin

When asked what he sees happening with the newly-redesigned Legacy the new CEO had a revealing response. Doll told AN, “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 Legacy2020 Subaru Legacy 11.6-in tablet

Legacy now 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 2020 model change also brings with it a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.

2020 Subaru Legacy

Subaru has certainly come a long way with its interiors. The Japanese automaker’s interiors were the weak point for all their all-wheel-drive cars but the brand has come a long way since they had more hard plastic inside than anything else. Subaru interior materials were cheap and the fit and finish were poor. Those days have changed with the introduction of the 2020 Legacy and especially the Touring trim.

What changed?

Subaru learned their lesson with the Tribeca that was a failure for the brand. They brought the new Ascent family hauler and gave it luxury customers were asking for. The top trim Ascent Touring comes with a power driver’s seat, Panoramic dual glass moonroof, rear privacy screen, second row fold-and-slide captains chairs, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, Carmel cream wood accents, driver assistance steering wheel controls, a large center stack screen, and ambient lighting.

2020 Subaru Legacy

When the new 2020 Subaru Legacy sedan arrives in September, customers won’t shy away from it anymore because of a cheap interior. Legacy will get luxury upgrades like the new Ascent 3-Row. Doll went on to say, “When you look at the price point where the Legacy competes, and what you're getting at that price point, I think customers are going to be very impressed.”

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Photo credit: Subaru USA

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Comments

Digitaldoc (not verified)    July 11, 2019 - 2:36PM

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The Tribeca was a nonstarter, and didn't sell as it had goofy styling.

The Legacy is comparatively expensive, especially to get the optional engine, which is holding back sales. For what they are charging, the interior is going to need to be high end.

The CVT will be a downside to the new Legacy for some buyers, but at least it offers a turbo- unlike the Crosstrek and Forester.

asc (not verified)    July 12, 2019 - 5:12AM

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Planning to keep my 5MT Outback 2.5i going as long as possible for lack of equivalent Subaru replacement. Can't be all champagne wishes and caviar dreams, some focus on dirty utility is mandatory. They need to retain the daily utility of these vehicles, not focus and objectify the upscale fluff to patronize potential buyers' aspirational desires.

We all don't want a rubber stamp Lexus RX (or such) for the car line. What impresses me isn't fancy interiors, intact my first Legacy wagon was due to the pimping of other AWD/4x4 interiors and prices to ridiculousness for a vehicle that I would get into from the mud, drive safely through it and clean up from it afterward.

Tony DaSilva (not verified)    July 14, 2019 - 2:22PM

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I am a long time Subaru owner, 5 new Subarus over 20+ years. I'm in the market for a new 2020 vehicle but am concerned with Subaru's current build quality issues.