Compare the2024 Subaru LegacyVS 2023 Toyota Camry

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

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 Camry doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the Camry 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, rear parking sensors 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 Camry:

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 Camry:

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

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Legacy has a standard 620-amp battery. The Camry’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Legacy has more powerful engines than the Camry:

As tested in Motor Trend the Legacy Sport/XT 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Camry 4 cyl.:

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 Camry doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Legacy gets better mileage than the Camry:

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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Camry doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Legacy has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Camry 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 Camry FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons).

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 Camry doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

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 Camry are solid, not vented.

The Legacy stops shorter than the Camry:

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

The Legacy’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Camry’s (59.5% to 40.5%). This gives the Legacy more stable handling and braking.

The Legacy Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Camry XLE pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Legacy’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Camry LE’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Legacy’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Camry AWD SE/XLE/XSE’s (36.8 feet vs. 39.3 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 Camry doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Legacy Sport is quieter than the Camry LE (76 vs. 77 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Legacy a Large car, while the Camry is rated a Mid-size.

The Legacy has 5.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Camry (105.5 vs. 100.4).

The Legacy has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Camry.

The front step up height for the Legacy is 1.5 inches lower than the Camry (13.5” vs. 15”). The Legacy’s rear step up height is .5 inches lower than the Camry’s (14” vs. 14.5”).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Legacy’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Camry’s useful trunk space.

The Legacy’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

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

When two different drivers share the Legacy Limited/Touring, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Camry doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Legacy’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Camry’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 Camry doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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 Camry doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Legacy Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Camry’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Camry offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Legacy and the Camry 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 Camry.

The Legacy has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Legacy with a number “1” insurance rate while the Camry is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Legacy is less expensive to operate than the Camry because typical repairs cost much less on the Legacy than the Camry, including $93 less for a water pump, $132 less for a muffler, $22 less for front brake pads, $115 less for a starter, $246 less for fuel injection, $53 less for a fuel pump, $898 less for a timing belt/chain and $623 less for a power steering pump.

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

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2021 issue and they ranked the Subaru Legacy Limited three places higher than the Toyota Camry SE.