2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 BMW 3 Series

The 2020 BMW 3 Series evoked a sense of awe reminiscent of majestic marine life. Its design, featuring lidded headlights, a curved hood, wide air intakes, and an oversized grille, gave it an aquatic appearance. Despite its high price, starting at $40,750 and reaching $69,570 with options, the 3 Series, especially the M340i trim, was praised for its exhilarating driving experience. The interior offered a variety of customization options, with high-quality materials and a focus on quality, making the price more palatable.

In contrast, the 2020 Subaru Legacy focused on pragmatic sensibility, which sometimes made it struggle to stand out. While it had sharp angles and details, it lacked the boldness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's interior featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but its reliance on digital controls for basic functions was seen as a drawback. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim recommended for its features and value. The Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT trims added various enhancements, including a more powerful turbocharged engine in the XT versions.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series was lauded for its driving dynamics, with significant improvements over previous generations. The M340i trim featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, thanks to its rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system and M Sport differential. The 8-speed automatic transmission, while not manual, was praised for its performance and paddle shifters.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque in its base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims. The Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's CVT with manual mode and paddle shifters provided a responsive driving experience. While the base engine was adequate, the turbocharged engine was preferred for its power. The Legacy's chassis and handling were commended, but the auto stop-start system was criticized for its jarring operation.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered comfortable and supportive front seats, with high-quality leather and heating features. Rear-seat entry and exit were somewhat awkward, but once inside, passengers found the seats comfortable. The trunk space measured 17 cubic feet, though its narrow design limited its practicality. The infotainment system was well-integrated, with a widescreen display and intuitive controls.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy provided solid trunk space at 15.1 cubic feet, though it couldn't compete with crossovers. The backseat offered impressive head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, with ample storage options. However, the center stack's small tray was a minor inconvenience.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured an advanced iDrive infotainment system with a touchscreen display, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system was intuitive, with multiple ways to interact, including a knob and buttons on the center console. The "Hey, BMW" voice recognition system was highly effective, and the head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's Starlink infotainment system, with its 11.6-inch screen, was criticized for its complexity. Basic functions like adjusting heated seats required multiple steps. The system's portrait orientation limited Apple CarPlay's display. While the system was responsive, its design was seen as a misstep. The base trim offered a simpler dual-screen setup, but it shared similar issues.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series required two Driving Assistance option packages for advanced safety features. While the systems were accurate, they lacked smoothness. The lane-keeping assist system was abrupt, reminding drivers to stay engaged. The 3 Series received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive full LED headlights.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used intuitive head-up light alerts. Additional safety features included airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.