2018 Subaru Legacy Preview

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Competes with: Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry

Looks like: Your typical mid-cycle facelift

Drivetrains: 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 256-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder with continuously variable automatic transmission; all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Summer 2017

Just one model year after Subaru updated the Legacy with more safety features and a new trim level, the automaker’s family sedan receives a slew of small updates and new features for 2018. The sum of them makes for a significantly updated Legacy; it hits dealerships this summer. Given that Subaru often updates the Legacy in tandem with its wagon sibling, the Outback, it’s likely the latter will get similar updates soon.

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Exterior

Up front, the Legacy’s headlights get a more horizontal design, while the foglights also get some horizontal framework and busier openings. The lower bumper opening has sharper edges, while Subaru’s logo sits on a more prominent grille slat — a cue that recalls the automaker’s onetime attempt at a winged grille. The rear has some restyled bumper cladding with shapelier inserts on the outside edges; otherwise, it’s essentially a carryover from last year.

Interior

The interior adds some stitched dashboard veneer on higher trim levels — a feature that’s nearing ubiquity in today’s cars — and the center controls sit inside a single framework instead of last year’s stacked design. Piano black appears to be a major theme: Subaru expanded it to cover nearly all the center controls, plus the steering-wheel buttons.

Subaru overhauled the multimedia system, which has larger displays (6.5 inches standard, 8 inches optional) versus last year’s 6.2- and 7-inch screens. The 8-inch unit has much faster startup times, according to Subaru. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, formerly unavailable, are now standard; the system also incorporates more than a dozen smartphone apps. Subaru also claims more intuitive climate controls, better temperature regulation and an easier-to-read clock.

Under the Hood

Subaru claims updates for 2018 to the Legacy’s suspension, steering, brakes, aerodynamics and noise insulation will improve ride quality, agility and quietness. The automaker says it retuned the standard CVT for smoother acceleration, too. Most versions employ the automaker’s 175-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with Subaru’s 256-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder available only on the top Limited trim. As before, all-wheel drive is standard.

Safety

A backup camera is again standard, and Subaru says it updated the sedan’s Latch anchors for easier car-seat installation. Blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning automatic emergency braking are optional. New for 2018, adaptive headlights and automatic high-beams are also optional.