This is the 4th Subaru Legacy we've had since 2015. As with all those previous, I continue to feel that the car bests its competitors in many ways yet confoundingly remains an underperformer in sales.


This is the 4th Subaru Legacy we've had since 2015. As with all those previous, I continue to feel that the car bests its competitors in many ways yet confoundingly remains an underperformer in sales.
Compared to the Accord | |
Interior styling |
![]() |
The interior is a distinctly Subaru design, with the only aspect seemingly borrowed from any other automaker being the large portrait-oriented center screen. Materials are of notably higher quality than others in the class, with almost all surfaces armrest-and-higher being softly padded, stitched, and pleasantly textured. The Nappa leather and caramel color of the Touring XT is particularly upscale in appearance, looking and feeling like a car that would cost 10K more. The level of hard plastic/materials is seemingly lower than in more expensive cars like an Avalon. Honda should be ashamed that the (more expensive) Accord Touring's interior has much more hard plastic, as Subaru proves that it can be avoided at this price.
Feature availability |
![]() |
Ride smoothness |
![]() |
The ride quality is sublime. Even with the largest OEM wheels, there's ample tire sidewall. In hundreds of miles of continuous driving there was not a single road imperfection on our notably poor roads that the car couldn't deftly handle. The suspension is wonderfully soft yet remarkably well-controlled. Easily one of the best riding cars I've ever driven. Considering I've driven cars from Bentleys to Kias, this is a remarkable achievement.
Quietness |
![]() |
The Legacy's interior is very quiet. I have excellent hearing with no hearing loss, and am well accustomed to the isolation of an 7 Series or S Class. That's not to say the Legacy is as quiet as those cars, but only on the loudest concrete pavement does the road noise become loud, and even then that sort of pavement would be downright headache inducing in many other cars costing the same or more. Suffice it to say, road noise is well controlled. The front part of the cabin is quieter than the rear, as is the case in most non-luxury brand cars (though I have not ridden in the rear on the highway, so cannot comment how loud it is). Wind noise is well abated on trims with the acoustic laminated front door glass, and is better than previous Subaru's in all models overall.Note: the tires are thinner than other vehicles, so this is likely a factor in the noise levels.
Front seat support & comfort |
![]() |
Compared to the Accord | |
Controls and instruments |
![]() |
Controls are a mixed bag. Some common controls, such as volume, tuning, temperature, and defroster, have hard buttons. Others, such as the seat heating and ventilation, are located in the center screen. This has been decried by many owners, myself included, as they are within a submenu and require multiple taps to access.
Audio & nav systems |
![]() |
The navigation system is visually pleasing, if nothing else. It is simple to use but hindered by such lag that it can be frustrating. Voice guidance is average for in-vehicle systems; that is to say, worse than the popular mapping applications on iOS and Android. Navigation duties are best left to Carplay or Android Auto, with the built in TomTom system remaining as a backup for when cellular service is unreliable.
Powertrain performance |
![]() |
This pertains to the turbocharged 2.4L engine: If you like to floor it, you'll be disappointed in the powertrain. There's ample power, but the CVT does not deliver linear poerformance. As mentioned, the car has a smooth and compliant ride that shows it is not meant for track racing.
Handling |
![]() |
If you're looking for a sports car, look elsewhere. The Legacy is firmly a comfort-focused car.
Reliability & durability |
The car feels durable and generally reliable, but expect some software glitches and likely more small issues than one may encounter in a Toyota. I still feel their cars to be more reliable than any American car though, and given the cars seem to have more thoughtfulness in their design/engineering I find this to be a worthwhile tradeoff.
Compared to the Accord | |
Exterior styling |
![]() |
The exterior is handsome and understated, if a little generic overall. 2020-2022 models are elegant in the front and a little more aggressive in the rear, with a side profile reminiscent of modern Buicks. 2023 models have, bluntly, and ugly and unattractive.
Cargo capacity |
![]() |
The trunk isn't the most nicely finished in terms of carpet quality, but the hinges are at least covered and will not crush cargo. The opening is somewhat small, but the capacity is large and the seats fold down with a well-sized opening.
Materials & workmanship |
![]() |
As mentioned, materials quality is very high for the price. It is a tactically pleasant car in the upper trims, but even the lower trims do not suffer from abundant hard plastic as others do (ahem, Accord and Camry). In the lower trims, some of the stitched (faux) leather are replaced with padded cloth; in no area is a soft material swapped with a hard one.
The Subaru Legacy is an example of the prowess of Subaru's engineers. As Subaru does not have a luxury brand, they are unencumbered when designing the Legacy and their effort in making it a truly nice car are evident.