The Legacy has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
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 |
HIC |
158 |
162 |
Neck Injury Risk |
26% |
35% |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
230/249 lbs. |
499/567 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
241 |
302 |
Chest Compression |
.6 inches |
.8 inches |
Neck Stress |
147 lbs. |
180 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
51 lbs. |
64 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
161/137 lbs. |
447/453 lbs. |
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 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon has not been fully tested, yet.