Compare the2022 Subaru LegacyVS 2021 Audi S5 Sportback

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Legacy are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Legacy Sport/Limited/Touring has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Legacy’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the S5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Legacy its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 62 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S5 Sportback is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Legacy 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S5 Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S5 Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Legacy’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Legacy has larger alternators than the S5 Sportback:

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Legacy has a standard 620-amp battery. The S5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 27th in initial quality. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 17th in reliability. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 6 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Legacy lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Legacy XT CVT turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the S5 Sportback (24 city/32 hwy vs. 20 city/28 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Legacy uses regular unleaded gasoline. The S5 Sportback requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Legacy has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the S5 Sportback (18.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Legacy has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Legacy is 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the S5 Sportback.

For better maneuverability, the Legacy’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the S5 Sportback’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Subaru Legacy may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 450 pounds less than the Audi S5 Sportback.

The front grille of the Legacy 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Legacy Sport is quieter than the S5 Sportback Prestige:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Legacy a Large car, while the S5 Sportback is rated a Mid-size.

The Legacy has 14.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S5 Sportback (105.5 vs. 91).

The Legacy has 1.5 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the S5 Sportback.

The Legacy Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Legacy’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Legacy Base). The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Legacy’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The S5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Legacy has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The S5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Legacy, based on reliability, safety and performance.