Compare the2022 Nissan AltimaVS 2022 Subaru Legacy

The Nissan Altima has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Legacy doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Altima Platinum has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Legacy only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Altima and the Legacy 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights, 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 Nissan Altima is safer than the Subaru Legacy:

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, results indicate that the Nissan Altima is safer than the Subaru Legacy:

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

There are over 69 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Altima’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Altima first among midsize cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Legacy isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 24th, below the industry average.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Altima 4 cyl. is faster than the Legacy 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Altima higher (7 out of 10) than the Subaru Legacy (3 to 7). This means the Altima produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Legacy every 15,000 miles.

The Altima stops much shorter than the Legacy:

For better traction, the Altima SR/Platinum’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Legacy (235/40R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Altima SR/Platinum’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Legacy Sport/Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Altima SR/Platinum has standard 19-inch wheels. The Legacy’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Altima has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Legacy doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Altima has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Legacy doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Altima’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Legacy (111.2 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The Altima SR handles at .90 G’s, while the Legacy Touring XT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Altima Platinum executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Legacy Sport (26.3 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Altima S’ turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Legacy’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

The Nissan Altima may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Subaru Legacy.

The Altima SL/Platinum uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Legacy doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Altima has 1 inch more front legroom and .1 inches more front shoulder room than the Legacy.

The Altima has a larger trunk than the Legacy (15.4 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

The Altima Platinum’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Legacy doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the Altima the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Legacy can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Altima’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Legacy’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Altima’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Legacy’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Altima is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Legacy doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Altima is less expensive to operate than the Legacy because it costs $236 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Altima than the Legacy, including $105 less for a water pump, $118 less for a starter, $24 less for a fuel pump and $93 less for front struts.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its December 2019 issue and they ranked the Nissan Altima SR AWD higher than the Subaru Legacy Sport.

The Altima was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2019. The Legacy has never been an “All Star.”

The Nissan Altima outsold the Subaru Legacy by over four to one during the 2021 model year.