Compare the2022 Subaru LegacyVS 2023 Acura Integra

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 Integra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Legacy has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Integra 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 Integra doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the Integra 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.

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 Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Integra has not been tested, yet.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 20 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The Legacy XT’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (260 vs. 200) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 192) than the Integra’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

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 Integra doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

The Legacy has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Integra (18.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Integra are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Legacy has larger tires than the Integra (225/55R17 vs. 215/50R17).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Legacy is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Integra.

The Legacy’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Integra’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Legacy more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Legacy’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Integra’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

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 Integra doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Legacy has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Integra (105.5 vs. 95.8).

The Legacy has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Integra.

The engine in the Legacy is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Integra. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Legacy Limited/Touring’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Integra’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Integra doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 Integra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Legacy’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Integra has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Legacy and the Integra 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 Integra.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Legacy Touring XT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Integra doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

With standard voice command, the Legacy offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Integra doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Legacy as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.