2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 BMW 2 Series

The 2020 Subaru Legacy was a vehicle that prioritized pragmatic sensibility over flashy design. While it was a handsome car, it often struggled to stand out among its competitors. The Legacy featured sharp angles and details, but these elements did not always come together to create a cohesive look. Compared to the bold and rakish styling of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Legacy appeared smaller and less assertive. Despite Subaru's attempts to go mainstream with the Legacy, its design often felt like a sedan version of the Outback. Inside, the Legacy boasted a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many features were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks like adjusting climate controls. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim being particularly well-equipped, featuring 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power moonroof. Higher trims added more luxurious features, such as adaptive LED headlights and a turbocharged engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series, particularly the Gran Coupe, was a new addition to the lineup, joining the established two-door coupe and convertible models. The Gran Coupe was built on a front-wheel-drive platform, unlike the rear-wheel-drive bias of the traditional 2 Series Coupe and Convertible. The front end of the Gran Coupe echoed the styling cues of the larger 8 Series, with swooping headlights and an angular twin-kidney grille. However, the rear design struggled to maintain the aesthetic of the two-door coupe, with awkward window trim and evident pillars. Inside, the 2 Series Gran Coupe featured a modern cockpit layout with solid fit-and-finish, though not as elegant as Mercedes-Benz interiors. The Gran Coupe offered various model designations, with the 228i xDrive being the standard variant. It came with features like power-folding heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8.8-inch iDrive touchscreen. The Premium Package added amenities such as a heated steering wheel and panoramic sunroof, while the M Sport Package included a rear spoiler and a sporty steering wheel.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine in its base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Legacy's powertrain was responsive, making it suitable for city driving, but it struggled to deliver strong acceleration at highway speeds. For those seeking more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine, generating 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis offered precise cornering and refined ride quality, making it a well-rounded vehicle. The auto stop-start system aimed to conserve fuel, contributing to an impressive fuel economy of 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined for the base engine. The turbocharged engine's fuel economy was slightly lower at 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series 228i Gran Coupe was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or xDrive AWD. The engine provided solid power for city and backroad driving, though there was noticeable turbo lag. The Gran Coupe featured a Drive Mode selector with Sport, Comfort, and Eco Pro modes, with Sport mode enhancing the driving experience. For more power, the M235i variant offered 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. The 2 Series Coupe and Convertible provided even more powerful options, with the M240i boasting a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 335 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. The 228i Gran Coupe's steering was sharp and responsive, but its FWD layout lacked the natural feel of the RWD Coupe and Convertible. While body roll was minimal, the Gran Coupe struggled to absorb road imperfections, making it less suitable for rough roads.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for a sedan, with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. While it couldn't compete with crossovers in terms of cargo space, it was still respectable for its class. The Legacy's backseat provided impressive head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, and the cabin featured practical storage solutions, such as deep door pockets and in-door cupholders. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it challenging to access the USB port.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe provided 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing competitors like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The 2 Series Coupe offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Convertible had 11.8 cubic feet with the top up and 8.8 cubic feet with the top down. The front seats were supportive and comfortable, but the rear-seat legroom was limited, making it suitable for one or two passengers in most situations. The cockpit layout was straightforward, with easy-to-locate climate controls. However, the cupholders and center console were small, requiring larger water bottles to be placed in the in-door cupholders.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system. While the icons were large and easy to read, the system required multiple steps for simple tasks like adjusting climate controls. The portrait orientation of the screen also scrunched Apple CarPlay into a third of the display. Despite these drawbacks, the system had no lag-time or bugs, and Subaru retained real dials for volume and tuning. The infotainment system was present in all trims except the base, which had a dual-screen setup with similar issues.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe came standard with an 8.8-inch iDrive touchscreen with touch functionality and Android Auto. It also offered wireless Apple CarPlay. The fully-digital instrument panel displayed navigation in the center, flanked by the tachometer and speedometer, and could be personalized. The available head-up display (HUD) was also customizable. BMW's infotainment system was user-friendly, with touch functionality and center console buttons for quick menu navigation.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used a head-up light system for alerts, which was intuitive. EyeSight also included an alert for when the car in front started moving, helping to prevent traffic backups. Other standard safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The 2020 BMW 2 Series included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera. Available safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assistance, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The driver-assist systems were seamless and customizable, with a button on the dash for quick access.