Compare the2022 Subaru LegacyVS 2021 Lexus IS Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 IS Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Legacy has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The IS Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Legacy. But it costs extra on the IS Series.

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 IS Series doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the IS Series 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Legacy is safer than the Lexus IS Series:

	Legacy	IS Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Legacy is safer than the Lexus IS Series:

	Legacy	IS Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	99
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	335 lbs.	474 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	581 lbs.	691 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	104	295
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	681 lbs.	806 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Legacy’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Legacy’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS Series’ camshafts. If the IS Series’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

Engine

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 IS Series doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Legacy’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The IS Series doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

The Legacy has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the IS Series (18.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Subaru Legacy as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Lexus IS Series is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Transmission

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 IS Series doesn’t offer a CVT.

Chassis

The Subaru Legacy may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Lexus IS Series.

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 IS Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Legacy a Large car, while the IS Series is rated a Compact.

The Legacy has 15.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the IS Series (105.5 vs. 90.2).

The Legacy has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 7.3 inches more rear legroom, .8 inches more rear hip room and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the IS Series.

Cargo Capacity

The Legacy has a much larger trunk than the IS Series (15.1 vs. 10.8 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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 IS Series 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 IS Series’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Legacy has standard extendable sun visors. The IS Series doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Legacy and the IS Series offer available heated front seats. The Legacy Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the IS Series.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Legacy (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The IS Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Legacy will cost $3455 to $7870 less than the IS Series over a five-year period.

The Legacy will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Legacy will retain 53.49% to 55.52% of its original price after five years, while the IS Series only retains 46.75% to 51.07%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Legacy is less expensive to operate than the IS Series because typical repairs cost much less on the Legacy than the IS Series, including $187 less for a water pump, $191 less for a muffler, $559 less for a starter, $445 less for fuel injection, $28 less for a fuel pump, $21 less for front struts, $722 less for a timing belt/chain and $1019 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Legacy will be $19088 to $19116 less than for the Lexus IS Series.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Legacy and the Lexus IS Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.