2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2019 Toyota Camry

When purchasing a 2019 Toyota Camry, buyers had to choose between standard and sporty styling, and then decide among a 4-cylinder, a V6, and a hybrid powertrain. Trim levels varied based on engine selection, including L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE. The review focused on the Camry XSE equipped with a V6 engine, featuring Toyota's Driver Assist package, carpeted floor mats, and two-tone Blue Streak paint with a Midnight Black roof. The sticker price was $39,669, including the $955 destination charge.

Despite the Camry XSE V6 being quick and entertaining to drive, it wasn’t the recommended trim. For better value, the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in LE trim was suggested. The upscale XLE was a favorite, and the Hybrid, though offering excellent gas mileage, was deemed less cost-effective in the long run. The Camry's styling, especially in XSE trim, was bold but not cohesive, with oversized forms that didn’t appeal to all. Inside, the Camry XSE had high-quality materials but lacked some refinement, such as a classier fabric wrap for the windshield pillars and better-integrated switchgear.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy, while pragmatic in design, struggled to stand out. It had sharp angles and details but lacked the boldness of competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's front end appeared small, almost compact, which didn’t help its mainstream appeal. Inside, the Legacy featured a massive new 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many controls were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple adjustments. The Legacy came in six trims: base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT, each offering various features and upgrades.

The Premium trim, which was tested, included 17-inch alloy wheels, power side mirrors, four USB ports, and the large touchscreen. It also had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power moonroof. The Sport trim added racier exterior details and interior enhancements, while the Limited trim included adaptive LED headlights and additional power adjustments. The Limited XT and Touring XT featured a more powerful turbocharged engine and further luxury upgrades.

The 2019 Toyota Camry's standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was suitable for daily driving, but the available 301-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine offered a thrilling experience with 83 more pound-feet of torque. The V6 added weight to the front end but didn’t limit handling, making the car quick and responsive. The 8-speed automatic transmission provided smooth and satisfying shifts, especially in Sport mode. The Camry XSE, with its sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch aluminum wheels, offered responsive handling without sacrificing comfort.

Steering was firm and natural, and the brakes performed well under repeated use, though the pedal had a dissatisfying “thunk” when released quickly. Fuel economy was a downside, with the V6 achieving only 21.9 mpg in testing, below the EPA’s 26-mpg rating. Despite this, the V6 engine's performance was enjoyable, making it one of the last V6 options in a midsize car.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims featured a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The transmission was responsive, and the car performed well in city driving, though it struggled to reach highway speeds without significant noise. The new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims offered 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, providing more power and better performance.

The Legacy's chassis was impressive, with precise cornering and refined ride quality. However, the auto stop-start system was jarring, and disabling it required navigating the infotainment system. Fuel economy for the base engine was 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, with observed fuel economy at 29 mpg. The turbocharged engine had lower fuel economy at 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2019 Toyota Camry had ample storage, including a large center console bin and a hidden compartment under the wireless charging pad. However, the glove box was small and hard to reach, and the door-panel storage pockets were narrow. The trunk was also small for a midsize car, at 15.1 cubic feet, making it less practical for larger items.

The front seats offered 8-way power adjustment and heating, but ventilated seats were unavailable. The rear seats were less comfortable, with narrow door openings and a low seating position. Rear air-conditioning vents were only available in upper trims. The climate control system performed well, even in extreme heat, but the lack of ventilated seats was a drawback.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy had solid trunk space at 15.1 cubic feet, comparable to the Camry. The backseat offered impressive head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The rear seats included in-door cupholders, a fold-down center armrest with additional cupholders, and rear USB ports in the test model.

The front seats were supportive, with deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack tray was small, making it difficult to plug in cables. Overall, the Legacy provided a spacious and comfortable interior, with thoughtful features for both front and rear passengers.

The 2019 Toyota Camry featured a smart dashboard layout with the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, which was intuitive and easy to use. The system included Apple CarPlay but lacked Android Auto. The test car had a wireless smartphone charging pad and a navigation system that occasionally lagged. The 9-speaker JBL premium sound system was powerful but lacked clarity. A 10-inch head-up display was a useful feature, remaining visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy's 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system was less user-friendly, with many controls buried in the digital interface. Adjusting basic settings required multiple steps, and the portrait orientation of the screen limited the display of Apple CarPlay. The system had no lag-time or bugs, and real dials for volume and tuning were a plus. However, the overall experience was frustrating, and the system was present in all trims except the base.

The 2019 Toyota Camry excelled in safety, earning 5-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It included a standard Toyota Safety Sense suite with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Camry also came with a standard subscription to Safety Connect for three years, providing additional safety features.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. EyeSight featured intuitive alerts and an alert for when the car in front starts moving. Other standard safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.