2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was celebrated for its striking design, which stood out in the market despite not being a sports or luxury car. Available as both a sedan and a hatchback, the latter was particularly praised for its sleek lines and sports-car-like taillights, making it a head-turner. Inside, the Mazda3 continued to impress with a luxurious interior that featured a forward-positioned cupholder design, clean spaces, and seamless technology integration. The driver and front passenger enjoyed a low, sports-car-like seating position, enhancing the exclusive feel of the vehicle. The Mazda3 offered various trims, with the Hatchback's base trim providing more features than the Sedan's base trim, including 18-inch alloy wheels and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Premium trims further elevated the luxury experience with leather seats and a head-up display.

In contrast, the 2020 Subaru Legacy had a more pragmatic design, which, while handsome, struggled to stand out against competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's front-end design was understated, making it feel smaller than it was. Inside, the Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many controls were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim recommended for its features like the All-Weather Package and 11.6-inch touchscreen. The Sport trim added racier details, while the Limited trims introduced adaptive LED headlights and leather upholstery. The top-tier Touring XT trim featured a turbocharged engine and Nappa leather upholstery, enhancing its appeal.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The option for all-wheel drive (AWD) was available with the automatic transmission, providing versatility for different driving conditions. The Mazda3's SkyActiv-G engine delivered responsive acceleration and athletic handling, making it a joy to drive. Fuel efficiency varied across trims, with the most efficient being the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, achieving 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The AWD hatchback was the least efficient, returning 24/32/27 mpg. During testing, the Mazda3 achieved an observed fuel economy of 28.2 mpg.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims were powered by a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard AWD. The Legacy's powertrain was responsive in city driving but required effort to reach highway speeds. For more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims offered a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis provided precise cornering and refined ride quality. The auto stop-start system aimed to conserve fuel, contributing to a fuel economy of 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined. The turbocharged engine's fuel economy was slightly lower at 24/32/27 mpg.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The hatchback's cargo space was serviceable for the class, but the Kia Soul offered more. The Mazda3's low seating position was reminiscent of a sports car, benefiting front-seat passengers but making rear-seat accommodations tight, especially for taller individuals. The center console design was criticized for its awkward armrest/console cover.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy boasted 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, slightly improved from the previous model. The Legacy's backseat offered impressive head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The rear seat included in-door cupholders, a fold-down center armrest, and rear USB ports. The front seats were supportive, with deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it challenging to access the USB port.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured an 8.8-inch screen with the MazdaConnect infotainment system, offering crisp graphics and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system was entirely remote-controlled, lacking touch functionality, which some users found inconvenient. The test model included a head-up display and a digital instrument panel, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system required multiple steps for simple tasks like adjusting climate controls, which was frustrating for users. The system's portrait orientation limited Apple CarPlay's display, although an update may have improved this. The Legacy's system was present in all trims except the base, which had its own set of issues.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3's base hatchback trim came standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, these features were not standard on the base sedan trim. The hatchback's C-pillars created blind spots, and the auto-engage parking brake system was unintuitive.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured Subaru’s EyeSight suite, offering forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used a head-up light system for alerts and included a feature to alert drivers when the car in front moved forward. Standard safety features also included airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera.