Compare the2022 Subaru LegacyVS 2021 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
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 Avalon doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the Avalon 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
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 Toyota Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	163
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	220	266
Hip Force	581 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	267
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	681 lbs.	719 lbs.

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

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 Avalon has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Legacy has a standard 620-amp battery. The Avalon’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Legacy XT’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Legacy 2.5i CVT gets better fuel mileage than the Avalon AWD 4 cyl. (27 city/35 hwy vs. 25 city/34 hwy).

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 Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Legacy has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Legacy has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XSE/Limited/TRD/Touring’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons).

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 Avalon doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Legacy’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches

The Legacy’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Legacy has larger tires than the Avalon (225/55R17 vs. 215/55R17).

Suspension and Handling

The Legacy Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Legacy’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Legacy’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The Legacy is 5.3 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Legacy easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Avalon 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 Avalon is rated a Mid-size.

The Legacy has .9 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Legacy. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Legacy is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

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 Avalon 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 Avalon 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 Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Legacy’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Legacy will cost $910 less than the Avalon 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 Avalon only retains 41.63% to 42.3%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Legacy is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the Legacy than the Avalon, including $36 less for a water pump, $128 less for a muffler, $34 less for front brake pads, $96 less for a starter, $217 less for fuel injection, $44 less for a fuel pump, $29 less for front struts, $935 less for a timing belt/chain and $115 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 $10084 to $12993 less than for the Toyota Avalon.

Recommendations

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