With the SUV revolution, budget sedans are becoming rare and old. But, Subaru has kept the Legacy sedan alive by updating it for the 2023 model year. The updates include an aggressive front fascia, an updated driver assistance system called EyeSight, an updated infotainment system, and a turbocharged engine for the Sport trim. The updates were very important since it competes with well-known rivals such as the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata.

Updated front fascia- Best-looking Legacy of all times.

Consumers who are familiar with the outgoing model year of the Legacy will not be too excited. Yes, the 2023 Legacy has an updated face, but that’s about it on the outside. The other exterior bits look the same as the outgoing model year. The LED headlights are now sharper and complex looking, with an enlarged intake grille in the middle. The lower bumper has a lip spoiler kind of design, with the fake air vents and the redesigned LED foglights flanking the sides. If you want an even better-looking front-end, you should opt for the Sport trim that features a trunk spoiler and a red-accented grille. The trim also sports 18-inch wheels and a power moonroof.

A tech-laden interior

While the interior design is mostly unchanged, there are a few interior features that are the highlights of the 2023 model year. While the base model still comes with a seven-inch touchscreen display, the higher trims - Premium trim onwards - will benefit from a new 11.6-inch touchscreen display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. The Sport and Touring XT now come with a 360-degree camera and heated steering wheel, with the All-Weather Package, as standard. The Premium trim also adds a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support and dual-zone automatic climate control. The next-in-line Limited trim sports perforated leather upholstery, keyless entry, a premium Harman Kardon sound system, and heated rear seats. Finally, the Touring XT trim packs all of the above features, plus ventilated seats at the front and a front-view monitor.

Wider Availability for the Turbocharged Engine

While the lower trims are still powered by the sluggish 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-four, the Sport trim now comes with the more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine was previously only available for the Limited XT and the Touring XT. All trims benefit from an all-wheel-drive system, a CVT, torque vectoring tech, and vehicle dynamics control. Subaru claims that the base engine is now more economical with up to 35 miles per gallon combined and can deliver more than 600 miles with a full tank.

2023 Subaru legacy specifications

More driver assistance tech ensures added safety on the road

Subaru’s EyeSight advanced driver aids come standard on all models of the 2023 Legacy. It packs the following features:

- Adaptive cruise control

- Lane centering with steering assist

- Automatic emergency braking

- Blindspot monitoring

- Forward collision mitigation

The Touring XT, which is the top-spec model, gains a mono wide-angle camera for pedestrian and cyclist detection on the go. Subaru also expects that the 2023 Legacy will claim the “Top Safety Pick+” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Final Thoughts

Subaru will release the pricing details when the 2023 Legacy arrives this fall. However, we speculate an increase of about $1,000 to the starting price. Given the number of updates, the price hike will be justified. For your reference, the 2022 Legacy starts at $23,495 and opts out at $36,695. The 2023 Legacy is more modern and should attract enthusiasts. Subaru will struggle to find an audience where the market is already leaning toward the other part of the Japanese sedan world, which includes the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and the Nissan Altima.