Compare the2025 Subaru LegacyVS 2024 Kia K5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
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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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Legacy have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia K5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 K5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Legacy is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Kia K5, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Legacy	K5
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-3 MPH
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-15 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-13 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	3.4 sec	1.8 sec

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Legacy. But it costs extra on the K5.

Both the Legacy and the K5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Kia K5:

	Legacy	K5
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	158	295
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	444/276 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	241	373
Neck Injury Risk	43%	50%
Neck Stress	147 lbs.	147 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	58 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 Kia K5:

	Legacy	K5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	110
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	62 G’s	75 G’s
Hip Force	581 lbs.	687 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	297

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Legacy is safer than the K5:

	Legacy	K5
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	71	216
Head Peak Forces	no contact	40 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.14 in	1.85 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.26 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis Force	1227 lbs.	1294 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Legacy’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the K5 runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Legacy has larger alternators than the K5:

	Legacy	K5
Standard Alternator	150 amps	130 amps
Optional Alternator	190 amps	150 amps

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 4 places higher in reliability than Kia.

Engine

The Legacy Sport/XT’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 80 more horsepower (260 vs. 180) and 82 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 195) than the K5 1.6T’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Legacy Sport/XT 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the K5 1.6T 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Legacy	K5
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.5 MPH	87.4 MPH

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 K5 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Legacy gets better mileage than the K5:

			MPG
Legacy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/35 hwy
K5
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Legacy’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Kia only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the K5 LX.

The Legacy has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the K5 (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Subaru Legacy as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Kia K5 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

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 K5 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Legacy’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the K5:

	Legacy	K5
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.2 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 K5 are solid, not vented.

The Legacy stops shorter than the K5:

	Legacy	K5
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Legacy has larger tires than the K5 (225/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Legacy Base/Premium’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the K5 LXS’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Legacy Base/Premium has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the K5 LXS.

Suspension and Handling

The Legacy Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the K5 EX pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

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 K5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Legacy has .1 inches more front shoulder room, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the K5.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Legacy easier. The Legacy’s trunk lift-over height is 26.8 inches, while the K5’s liftover is 28.6 inches.

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 K5’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Legacy. The K5 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 K5. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Legacy’s standard front power windows 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 K5’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Legacy Limited/Sport/Touring’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches.

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 K5 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 K5 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 K5’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 K5 offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Legacy and the K5 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 K5.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Legacy will cost $590 to $2960 less than the K5 over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Legacy and the Kia K5, based on reliability, safety and performance.