2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2019 Nissan Altima

The 2019 Nissan Altima borrowed design elements from its larger sibling, the Maxima, to stand out in a competitive market. It featured a bold trapezoidal grille, sharply raked headlights, and a black stripe in the C-pillar, which added a touch of visual excitement. Inside, the Altima's interior layout was similar to other contemporary sedans, with a floating center stack and familiar controls. The inclusion of infotainment systems was well-executed, with Nissan opting for user-friendly volume, tuning, and climate-control knobs. The Altima was available in several trims, each offering a range of features from the comfortable Zero Gravity seats in the base S trim to the luxurious amenities in the Platinum trim.

In contrast, the 2020 Subaru Legacy focused on pragmatic sensibility, resulting in a design that was handsome yet struggled to stand out. While it had sharp angles and details, it lacked the boldness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's interior was dominated by a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, which, although impressive, buried many features within its digital interface. The Legacy was available in six trims, each offering a variety of features, from the well-equipped base trim to the range-topping Touring XT with its turbocharged engine and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2019 Nissan Altima offered two engine options. The standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque, providing a slight power increase over the previous model. The SR and Platinum trims had an available turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with variable compression technology, delivering V6-like power with improved fuel economy. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system was a first for Nissan sedans, providing confidence in various driving conditions. The 2.5-liter engine achieved fuel economy ratings of 28 mpg city, 39 highway, and 32 combined, while the turbocharged engine returned 25 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine in its base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed to standard AWD through a CVT with a manual mode and paddle shifters. The Legacy's powertrain was responsive, making it suitable for city driving, but it required effort to reach highway speeds. The Limited XT and Touring XT trims offered a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine, generating 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's base engine achieved fuel economy ratings of 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the turbocharged engine returned 24 mpg city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2019 Nissan Altima's interior was highlighted by its extremely comfortable Zero Gravity seats, designed to reduce fatigue on long journeys. The cabin offered ample space for passengers, with a back seat accommodating tall adults comfortably. The trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space, competitive within its class. However, the center console was not very deep due to the AWD and transmission tunnel, limiting storage options.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space at 15.1 cubic feet, slightly improved from the previous model. The backseat was surprisingly spacious, with ample head- and legroom for tall passengers. The Legacy's front seats were supportive, and the cabin featured deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it challenging to access the USB port.

The 2019 Nissan Altima came equipped with NissanConnect, a user-friendly infotainment system featuring large, colorful icons and easy-to-read fonts. The system included seamless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, ensuring drivers stayed connected. A 7-inch color Drive Assist display provided essential information, navigable via a steering-wheel-mounted directional pad.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured the Starlink infotainment system with a massive 11.6-inch screen. However, the system's complexity made simple tasks like adjusting climate controls cumbersome, requiring multiple steps. While the icons were large and easy to read, the portrait orientation of the screen limited the display of Apple CarPlay. The system was present in all trims except the base, which had its own set of challenges.

The 2019 Nissan Altima included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, and a reversing camera. The Platinum trim featured ProPilot Assist, a suite of driver-assistance systems offering partially autonomous driving functions. ProPilot Assist was standard on the SV, SL, and Platinum trims, while forward-collision warning and driver-alertness monitoring were standard across all trims.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used a head-up light system for alerts, providing intuitive feedback. Additional standard safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).