Pros: Supremely comfortable ride Strong on value and features Improved interior Cons: Zero fun factor Bland, anonymous styling Merely adequate engines Since its introduction in 1989, the Subaru Legacy has quietly chugged along as the cult favorite of the midsize sedan segment, never posing a serious threat to the sales volumes of Honda Accord , Toyota Camry , or Nissan Altima . Instead, the Legacy has existed as an alternative sedan option for buyers who want the confidence of all-wheel drive at a competitive price. The 2020 Subaru Legacy continues that tradition but is now even more of a bargainjust as long as fun isnt one of your car-shopping criteria. Read about Car, SUV, and Truck of the Year contenders and finalists HERE . Like most modern Subarus, the exterior of the seventh-generation Legacy is pleasant enough but forgettable, product guru and guest judge Chris Theodore saida sentiment shared by just about everyone else on the judging panel. But in the interior design and quality department, the new Legacy makes healthy strides. The materials are all superb for the class, especially the Nappa leather on the Touring grade, associate online editor Stefan Ogbac said. --> Even the lower-trim 2.5i Sport model earned praise for its cabin, with technical director Frank Markus saying it looks the business with red stitching on the dashboard, shifter, and steering wheel. Editor-in-chief Ed Loh agreed, but like many other judges, he took issue with the infotainment systems functionality: Although the giant screen looks impressive at first, its underwhelming when you dig into its features. First attempts at tapping or swiping the vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen often dont register, and even when they do, the system is often slow to call up the desired function or menu. Judges also knocked the screen for its predilection for glare and finger smudges. How did the Subaru Outback perform at 2020 SUV of the Year testing ? Find out here . Mainstream Subarus arent built for performance, and the Legacy is no exception. Most judges found the base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-fours 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque to be merely adequate for everyday driving. The upgraded engine in the Legacy XT, a new 260-hp, 277-lb-ft 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer-four, enhances the driving experience slightly but suffers from turbo lag. Theodore knocked the upgraded engine for not being well paired with the CVT, the Legacys only transmission option. With either engine option, the Legacy was an understeering mess on the winding track. The tires arent suited for spirited driving and squeal in protest at every corner. The trade-off of such uninspiring handling, however, is exceptional ride comfort. I cant stop being impressed by the suspension and ride quality that this Legacy has, MotorTrend en Espa ol managing editor Miguel Cortina said. It rides better than most luxury cars. Markus agreed. The ride quality is very creamy, soaking up bumps as well as anything here, he said, including the big luxury sedans. Subaru has become the mainstream Volvo with its multiple IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards and EyeSight safety suite thats available across the lineup. The 2020 Legacy maintains that trend by offering EyeSight standard on all Legacy models. But buyer beware: Not all advanced safety systems are created equal. Judges complained of excessive, random warning beepswithout any explanationthat became so annoying that we turned off all the systems that could be turned off (though some have no off switch). So much for preventative safety. Furthermore, the lane keep assist system doesnt assist very well. Active steering occasionally steered the car over the centerline and then beeped for me to fix it, Markus said. Thanks for the help! International bureau chief Angus MacKenzie said Subarus innovative, low-cost EyeSight system is starting to reach the limits of its capability, adding that its noticeably behind other driver assist systems in terms of performance in some areas. It might not be the best car in the field, but MacKenzie captured the consensus of COTY judges by declaring the Legacy an endearingly honest car. 2020 Subaru Legacy Sport Touring XT Base Price/As tested $27,845/$30,090 $36,795/$36,795 Power (SAE net) 182 hp @ 5,800 rpm 260 hp @ 5,600 rpm Torque (SAE net) 176 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm 277 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm Accel, 0-60 mph 8.1 sec 6.1 sec Quarter-mile 16.2 sec @ 87.5 mph 14.8 sec @ 94.5 mph Braking, 60-0 mph 127 ft 128 ft Lateral Acceleration 0.79 g (avg) 0.78 g (avg) MT Figure Eight 28.3 sec @ 0.59 g (avg) 27.3 sec @ 0.64 g (avg) EPA City/Hwy/Comb 27/35/30 mpg 24/32/27 mpg The post Review: What the 2020 Subaru Legacy Can Offer Camry and Accord Buyers appeared first on MotorTrend .