Subaru Legacy vs Volvo S60

Volvo had managed to completely transform its image from quirky to sexy over the past decade. The 2019 S60, a scaled-down version of the flagship S90 sedan, competed with luxury cars like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. The S60 featured straight lines and precise angles, but its rear fender and C-pillar gave it an athletic stance. The design was so appealing that it invited further investigation, even if it didn't always put function first.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came in three trims: Momentum, R-Design, and Inscription. The entry-level Momentum included a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other features. The R-Design, which was tested, added fog lights, power-retractable side-view mirrors, and an R-Design steering wheel with paddle shifters. The top-tier Inscription offered genuine leather upholstery and 4-zone climate control, along with the optional Advance Package, which included active bending headlights and a 360-degree camera.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy, while handsome, struggled to stand out in a crowded market. Its styling featured sharp angles and details, but it lacked the boldness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's front end appeared smaller, often leading to confusion with the compact Subaru Impreza. Despite this, the Legacy aimed for pragmatic sensibility, though it could have benefited from a more mainstream presentation.

Inside, the Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many functions were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks like adjusting the climate controls. The Legacy came in six trims: base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The base trim was well-equipped with remote keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, and Subaru EyeSight driver assistance features. The Premium trim, which was tested, added 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power moonroof. Higher trims like the Limited and Touring XT offered additional features such as adaptive LED headlights, a turbocharged engine, and full Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2019 Volvo S60 offered three powertrain options: T5, T6, and T8. The T5 featured a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, sent to front-wheel drive (FWD). The T6, which was tested, had a twin-charged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine making 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, sent to all-wheel drive (AWD). The range-topping T8 was a plug-in hybrid with a combined output of 400 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque, featuring a hybrid AWD layout and a 21-mile all-electric range. All powertrains used an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The T6 provided plenty of acceleration, with instantaneous throttle and transmission responses. Despite its FWD layout, the S60 felt like a firmly planted rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sedan, staying flat through corners. The T6 with AWD had an estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 32 highway, and 25 combined. In a week of combined driving, it achieved 23.2 mpg. The T5 had an estimated 24 mpg city, 36 highway, and 28 combined, while the T8's overall fuel economy was not specified.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims featured a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, routed to standard AWD through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a manual mode and paddle shifters. The Legacy excelled in city driving but struggled to reach highway speeds without significant noise. A new 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine, available in the Limited XT and Touring XT, produced 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, also routed through a CVT.

The Legacy's chassis offered precise cornering and refined ride quality, but the base engine's performance was underwhelming. The auto stop-start system, designed to conserve fuel, was jarring and required multiple steps to disable. The base engine achieved an estimated 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, with observed fuel economy of 29 mpg. The turbocharged engine's fuel economy dropped to 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2019 Volvo S60 prioritized form over function in its interior design. While steering-wheel-mounted controls were sensible and there was ample cubby space, some physical controls were awkwardly placed. The starter's location between the front seats required an awkward reach, and the drive-mode selector was a cumbersome roller. However, the conventional shifter was a welcome choice. The backseat offered decent space, and the S60's 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space was average for the class.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space at 15.1 cubic feet, better than the 2019 model but still less than crossovers and hatchbacks. The backseat provided impressive head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, with deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack tray was small, making it difficult to plug in cables. Despite these minor issues, the Legacy's interior was practical and spacious.

The 2019 Volvo S60 featured the Sensus touchscreen infotainment system, which took a tablet-like approach to menu navigation and graphics. While visually appealing, the system buried too many features within the screen, complicating tasks like adjusting the climate controls. The system occasionally lagged and froze, causing frustration. However, it included a Volume dial, Play/Pause button, and a Home button for easier navigation.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system required multiple steps for simple tasks like adjusting heated seats or climate controls. The system's portrait orientation scrunched Apple CarPlay into a third of the screen, and while an over-the-air update improved functionality, the system remained frustrating. The base trim's dual-screen setup had similar issues, leaving no escape from the Legacy's poor system.

The 2019 Volvo S60 came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It also included driver-assistance systems like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and traffic-sign recognition. The Advance Package added a head-up display, headlight washers, a 360-degree camera, and active bending headlights, along with Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system with smart cruise control.

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