2020 Subaru Legacy model shares valuable traits with sibling Outback

OJAI, Calif.— For the redesigned 2020 Subaru Legacy, the benefit of being on the brand's global platform goes beyond a stiffer body.

The seventh-generation sedan was developed together with the redesigned Outback midsize crossover. Subaru describes them like siblings, and the family resemblance is clear inside and out — while efficiencies in the process hold down costs so more features can be standard.

"We do find that you do get a lot advantages from having the DNA be very similar as part of a global platform," said Peter Tenn, car line planning manager, at the Legacy's media introduction here.

For Legacy customers, the advantage of having similar DNA to the Outback is evident in the vehicle's pricing. A base Legacy starts at $23,645, while a base Outback starts at $27,655 including shipping. The Legacy Limited XT starts at $35,095 while the Outback Limited starts at $38,755 including shipping.

That's not to say that Subaru put less content in the Legacy than it did the Outback.

Outside of Outback-specific features such as higher ground clearance, off-road modes and the design and structure of the crossover's rear, the Legacy has essentially the same features as the Outback but at a lower price, positioning it as a value play for the automaker.

"Being able to spread some of that development cost over two vehicles instead of one really helped bring the price down," Tenn said. "That's another advantage of having that brother-sister relationship."

Both models have the same engine choices of a standard 2.5-liter boxer engine with 182 hp and 176 pound-feet of torque or the optional 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque.

Subaru's EyeSight driver-assistance technology remains standard and now includes advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

Both models also have the same infotainment options. Base Legacys and Outbacks get a dual 7-inch screen setup, while all other trims get an 11.6-inch touch screen.

While the two models were developed together, the Legacy and Outback will go down different paths now.

"The reality is they do share a lot, but in fact when we market the vehicle, when we're launching the vehicles, they're different vehicles because they are," Tenn said.

Production of both models began July 29 at Subaru's Indiana plant. The Legacy is Subaru's oldest nameplate and was the first model the automaker built in Indiana.

As U.S. consumers have flocked to crossovers, Subaru has seen its U.S. sales mix of sedans and light trucks drastically change as its overall sales have ballooned.

Through July, Subaru has sold 403,631 vehicles, with just 18 percent of sales from its car lineup. That's down from 24 percent a year earlier and down from 28 percent the same months in 2016 and 2017, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Legacy sales totaled 40,109 units in 2018, a drop of 20 percent from 2017.

The nameplate posted its first monthly sales gain since December 2016 in July, when Subaru sold 3,244, an increase of 25 percent.

In an interview last month, Jeff Walters, Subaru's senior vice president of sales, said the automaker will end up selling around 36,000 Legacys this year. But 2020 could be a rebound year.

"We expect that we'll be able to do more, even if the segment is declining, next year," Walters told Automotive News.

"But we'll keep doing it on our terms. We should be able to move about 40,000-plus next year and make money doing it."