2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a conundrum with its styling, balancing pragmatic sensibility with an attempt to stand out. While it was a handsome car, it struggled to make a bold impression compared to competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's design featured sharp angles and details, but it often felt smaller, almost compact, which was evident when comparing its front end to that of the Subaru Impreza. Despite Subaru's efforts to go mainstream, the Legacy's design was more akin to 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 recommended for its features, including the All-Weather Package and a clever windshield wiper de-icer.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was praised for its stunning design, which garnered compliments even from non-car enthusiasts. The Sonata's sleek, fastback profile and tailored body were a testament to Hyundai's design evolution, led by design chief Peter Schreyer. The Sonata's transformation was likened to a leap from DVD to VR headset in terms of visual appeal. The car featured the coolest LED running lights, a wide grille, and a low stance, contributing to its aerodynamic look. The Hybrid version included unique turbine-style wheels, a redesigned grille, and the option of a solar roof. Inside, the Sonata's interior was better-made and designed than many luxury brands, with big screens, ambient lighting, and luxury-grade materials. The Sonata Hybrid's interior felt special and unique, reflecting Hyundai's journey to elevate its design standards.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine across 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, providing a responsive driving experience, especially in city settings. However, the powertrain showed some weaknesses when accelerating to highway speeds, requiring a push and generating noise. For those seeking more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis was praised for its precise cornering and refined ride quality, making it a great candidate for the turbo engine. The Legacy employed an auto stop-start system to conserve fuel, achieving 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined with the base engine, while the turbocharged engine offered slightly lower fuel economy.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid utilized a 2.0-liter engine running on the Atkinson cycle, paired with a 51-hp electric motor and a 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery, resulting in a total of 192 hp. The Sonata Hybrid featured a six-speed automatic transmission, providing more normal-feeling acceleration compared to the CVTs found in most hybrids. While the gearbox occasionally hesitated, the Sonata Hybrid's silent interior, plush ride, and competent chassis overshadowed this behavior. The Hybrid's suspension was soft yet controlled, and the steering was light and well-tracked. The Blue trim level offered the best fuel efficiency, achieving 50 mpg city, 54 highway, and 52 combined, while the SEL and Limited trims returned 45/51/47. The Sonata Hybrid's powertrain allowed for battery-only operation at highway speeds, contributing to its impressive fuel economy.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for its class at 15.1 cubic feet, although it couldn't compete with crossovers like the Forester or Impreza hatchback. The Legacy surprised with its backseat head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The backseat featured in-door cupholders, a fold-down center armrest with additional cupholders, and rear USB ports. The front seats were supportive, with deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it challenging to access the USB port.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited trim featured solar panels that could generate extra driving range, providing several hundred "free" miles annually. The solar-panel roof also allowed for more headroom for the driver and front passenger. The rear-seat legroom was spacious, with amenities like vents, manual side-window shades, and heated seats. Cargo space was generous at 16 cubic feet, with a trunk that could be opened with a hidden button. Visibility was excellent, enhanced by crisp 360-degree cameras. The push-button gear selector was intuitive, and the center stack featured automatic dual-zone climate control. The Limited trim boasted a high-res 12-inch digital dash and a 10-inch touchscreen with sophisticated software.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system. However, the system's design required multiple steps for simple tasks like adjusting heated seats or climate controls. While the icons were large and easy to read, the portrait orientation of the screen scrunched Apple CarPlay into a third of the display. The system was found in all trims except the base, which had a dual-screen setup with similar issues. Test-driving the tech was recommended to see if it met individual preferences.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's infotainment system on the Limited trim was praised for its soothing color scheme and attractive typefaces. The system was quick and easy to use, with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Hyundai Blue Link. The Sonata Hybrid featured a digital key, live camera feeds for blind spots, and a trunk that opened automatically when the key was nearby. Voice recognition was fast, and the car could detect windshield washer fluid use to prevent odors. The Highway Driving Assist provided accurate semi-automated driving, and the head-up display showed detailed information. The infotainment system's intuitive features and polished graphics made the Sonata Hybrid feel like a more expensive car.

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 avoid traffic backups. Standard safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four stars in a frontal crash. The regular Sonata was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with top ratings in six crash tests. The Sonata Hybrid came standard with lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention monitor, rear emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Parking sensors and Highway Driving Assist were available on the Limited trim, and a driver's knee airbag was standard.