Vernon, B.C. For a company that used to embrace weirdness SVX, XT, BRAT, Baja, anyone? Subaru has spent much of the 21st century becoming decidedly conventional. Not that going mainstream has done the manufacturer any harm; its sales growth, at least in North America, has outpaced most of its rivals. Still, when it comes to its cars, Subaru is turning into a Japanese version of what Volvo used to be, (with the exception of the street hoodlum WRX STI versions); safe, long lasting and kind of plain.Which brings us to the new Legacy, a genuinely affordable, honest, mid-sized, all-wheel-drive, four-door family sedan seemingly a perfect fit for a Canadian audience. Yes, those are a lot of qualifiers, but for those tired of seeing crossovers of various types and sizes in every driveway the 2020 Legacy delivers the goods with pretty much the same four-season capability as the higher-riding soft-roaders. In fact, the tag line for the new models launch is the SUV of sedans.And, for the enthusiasts out there who prefer a little more zip in their daily commutes, good news: The seventh-generation sedan sees the return of the turbocharged GT models, offering a sportier and more engaging driving experience. The turbocharged 2.4-litre boxer four-cylinder, first introduced in the Ascent crossover, pumps out a solid 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, a significant jump compared with the base models (Convenience, Touring, Limited and Premier) normally aspirated, 182-hp 2.5L four. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission with eight discrete steps built in, so Subaru isnt building super-sport four-doors here. The new model might appear to be a subtle improvement over the previous generation, but there are a lot of subtle improvements, starting with small increases in length (up 38 millimetres) and wheelbase that result in increased room for occupants and a small uptick in cargo space. A base engine overhauled with 90 per cent new parts as well as direct injection and auto start/stop an all-new suspension, torque vectoring on all wheels, greater fuel efficiency, improved aerodynamics, more sound deadening, added content, tablet-style infotainment system, upgrades to the EyeSight safety system; the list goes on.As much as it would be a better test of Subarus vaunted full-time all-wheel-drive system to be driving in slippery, sloppy conditions, the Okanagan Valley was basked in summer-like heat and abundant sunshine. With the keys to a Limited model ($34,295) in our hand, we started the morning drive route north on Highway 97, hugging Okanagan Lake toward Vernon before dipsy-doodling onto various undulating back roads throughout the valley, including some gravel stretches to test out the effectiveness of the new Legacys additional sound deadening the car proved to be impressively quiet over the entire route, no matter the road surface. Equally deserving of praise is the sedans ride and handling. The car, whether powered by the 2.5 litre or the turbo 2.0L, offered up well-damped suspension while impressing with a sporty agility and a light touch to the steering on the twisty bits. Subaru puts its faith in the standard active torque vectoring for the cornering performance, as well as the cars highly rigid structure (the Subaru Global Platform underpinning the Legacy boasts an increase in the use of structural adhesive and ultra-high tensile-strength steel. In addition, torsional- and front-suspension rigidity has been improved by 70 per cent, and front lateral flexural- and rear-subframe rigidity increased 100 per cent compared to the previous Legacys platform). That might be a bit too tech-geeky for most people, but it speaks to the fact that this family four-door has some legit performance bona fides in the chassis dynamics department.If only the two engines offered were as impressive. OK, the news isnt horrible, just a little disappointing. The 2.5L boxer four is certainly smoother and quieter than the engine in the previous-generation Legacy, the caveat being that Subaru boxer motors have an inherent coarseness to them, especially on startup. The bigger issue is a lack of solid mid-range zip, the engine requiring a heavier foot on the gas pedal when it comes to passing power or on steeper, longer inclines.Jumping into a Limited GT version ($37,095) for the jaunt to Salmon Arm before pointing the car south highlighted what an additional 78 hp will bring to the table. The turbo-four spooled up quickly and gave the Legacy decidedly more urge when additional acceleration was required (zero to 100 km/h in just over six seconds). More noticeable with this engine, however, was that the CVT seemed to lag a bit when big throttle was applied. Looking inside, the Legacy cabin at least the tested Limited and Limited GT trims is striking in both content and execution. The most conspicuous improvement is the upgraded infotainment system, integrated into a vertically
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Subaru Legacy