The Subaru Legacy is one of those cars that prioritizes comfort above all else. And because of this, Consumer Reports has deemed it as one of the best road trip vehicles you can buy. This sedan is versatile enough to fit a variety of driver’s needs and comes with many desirable features. Here we will help you determine if your next road trip car should be the Subaru Legacy.

Comfort and space 

Just how comfortable is the Legacy? Well, the Legacy boasts a roomy interior that’s up there with luxury sedans. This is a pleasant surprise, given the Legacy looks simple and rugged on the outside. The Legacy can seat up to five, and there’s plenty of head- and legroom in the cabin. Its seats are super comfortable and are reminiscent of how a living room chair should feel, making this sedan a great option for long car rides.

The Legacy’s standard cloth upholstery is plush and welcoming but the available leather options make the inside look more enticing. Excellent visibility for the driver is another great aspect of the Legacy’s comfortable interior. The only real downside interior-wise is that the Legacy’s trunk space is only average. 

Performance and capability 

One of the more attractive benefits of getting a Subaru is the fact the all-wheel-drive comes standard on almost every model. The Legacy is no exception and AWD is ideal for improved stability and maneuvering slippery roads. This sedan was redesigned for 2020 and features updated powertrain options.

For 2020, you have a choice between two powertrains. There’s the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a 182 horsepower and the new 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that’s available on the XT trim levels. The standard engine is pretty blah, but it gets the job done. While the new turbo-four is faster and more powerful, it’s still not what we would call a thrilling ride.

On the plus side, the Legacy is very easy to handle, which is also why it’s a classic option for long road trips. The base model gets a combined 30 mpg and the turbo-four is slightly lower with a combined 28 mpg. These ratings are about average. 

Infotainment 

The Legacy’s standard infotainment features cover all the basics. Standard features include a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. These features are generally easy to use which is another perk. You also have the option to upgrade to a larger 11.6-inch, tablet-style touchscreen that’s gotten great reviews from consumers and critics.

Safety and reliability 

The Legacy has earned high crash-test safety scores from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  To help avoid crashes altogether, the Legacy comes standard with advanced driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and sway warning. There are also some impressive available features that include driver drowsiness monitoring and reverse automatic braking. 

Overall, the 2020 Legacy has a decent predicted reliability score from Consumer Reports. But you should be aware of a recent safety recall on the sedan which is related to a brake deformation problem.