2024 Subaru Legacy Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
Sedans may be falling by the wayside in favor of SUVs, but the Subaru Legacy soldiers on. This midsize car has been part of Subaru's lineup for decades, with the most recent generation introduced for model year 2020. Competitors for the 2024 Subaru Legacy include the Honda Accord and Kia K5 .
What's New
After an extensive update for 2023 that brought new styling and features, updates for the 2024 Legacy are few. The sole change applies to the Sport trim level, which upgrades to a large 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen in place of the dual 7.0-inch display setup it used previously.
What We Think
For some, the appeal in a sedan is simplicity; they just want a comfortable, safe, straightforward car. That's just what the 2024 Subaru Legacy delivers.
Its spacious cabin offers a very adjustable driver's seat and good outside visibility. Going with the turbocharged engine makes the Legacy more drivable, but the standard powertrain gets the job done. Either way, standard AWD gives the Legacy plenty of stability and traction.
How well the Legacy rides is among its strong suits, but the overall driving experience is a bit dull. Both engines produce a fair amount of vibration. Although the large infotainment screen looks good, its user interface makes some simple processes needlessly challenging. The Legacy's fuel economy isn't bad, but unlike some of its competitors, there's no hybrid option.
Even if the 2024 Legacy isn't particularly exciting, it's very agreeable. Time-tested and a solid value, it's as solid a bet as ever.
Performance and MPGs
The Legacy is offered with a choice between two flat-four engines, both working with a CVT automatic and AWD.
The standard 2.5-liter engine produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. In MotorTrend testing, it took a little more than 8.0 seconds to reach 60 mph. Legacy models with this engine should return about 27/35 mpg city/highway.
Choosing a Legacy XT brings a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, which is much stronger with 260 hp and 270 lb-ft. It cuts the 0-60 mph run down to 6.1 seconds. Expect fuel economy of approximately 24/32 mpg.
Safety Ratings and Features
Subaru says the Legacy has been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 18 years running. That streak continues with the 2024 model, which earns a 2023 Top Safety Pick rating.
Like essentially every Subaru, the Legacy comes with EyeSight, which comprises many driver-assist and active safety features. Among these are front automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking are added on higher-end trims.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The 2024 Legacy feels reasonably roomy, but some of its competitors offer more interior space.
Technology
The Legacy base trim gets an infotainment system combining two 7.0-inch displays, but all trims above have an 11.6-inch tablet-oriented touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Models with the larger screen get USB ports in both rows of seats. Premium tech upgrades include built-in navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and—drumroll, please—a CD player.
Trim Levels
The 2024 Legacy lineup consists of Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring XT trims. The Sport and Touring XT models have the turbocharged engine. Our pick of the range is the Sport trim, which offers a nice mix of design and feature upgrades along with useful, enjoyable power. The 2024 Subaru Legacy Sport goes for about $36,000.
