The next-generation Subaru Legacy will be presented officially next week during the 2019 Chicago Auto Show. The new edition of the sedan will feature a slew of new, advanced technologies, get a fairly major redesign and, especially, sit on the automaker’s new modular architecture.
The Legacy has never been a dominant player on the market for Subaru, but the company is serious about remaining active in the midsize sedan segment. This category is populated by heavyweights like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, but it has also seen other models fall by the wayside in recent years (for example the Ford Fusion and the Chrysler 200).
The Legacy’s new platform already underpins a few other models in the Japanese automaker’s lineup, notably the Impreza and the Ascent. We don’t know much yet about the styling, other than the teaser you see here, but given Subaru’s generally conservative nature we don’t expect any radical design overhaul.
Subaru has also shown one image of the interior, and it highlights a massive floating screen – Subaru is keeping with the industry trend in this respect. That trend shows auto manufacturers being so intent on standing apart with their infotainment screens that their products end up looking alike. In this case, it looks unfortunately like the climate control commands have been moved to this screen. At least the radio, hazard lights, defrosters and temperature control are still accessible via physical buttons, so there’s that…
Mechanically, the 2020 Legacy will be powered by a reworked version of the 2.5L 4-cylinder engine it had previously, and this unit will again be mated to a continuously variable transmission. Higher-end trims could also come with the 2.4L 4-cylinder turbo that is currently found in the Ascent SUV.
Stay tuned next week for the official unveiling of the 2020 Legacy at the Chicago Auto Show. We’ll be there for all the big events!