2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a conundrum with its styling. It was a handsome car, but it struggled to stand out among competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy had sharp angles and details, but its design felt smaller and less bold. The front end, in particular, looked compact, almost making it resemble a Subaru Impreza. Inside, the Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many controls were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks like adjusting the climate or radio. The base trim was well-equipped, but the Premium trim, which we drove, added several desirable features, including a power moonroof and heated seats.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Altima, especially in the Platinum trim, looked terrific with its 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels. The redesign cleaned up the car's styling, though some details like the door handles and rear diffuser panel could have been better. Inside, the Altima's design was clean and contemporary, with an ergonomic layout. The touchscreen infotainment system was user-friendly, with stereo knobs and clear climate controls. The materials quality was on par with the midsize sedan segment, though color options were limited to black or gray. The interior was dressed up with matte chrome detailing and simulated wood trim, providing a premium feel.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options. The base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims came with 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 all-wheel drive (AWD). The Legacy was responsive off the line, making it suitable for city driving, but it struggled to reach highway speeds without making significant noise. The turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine, available in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims, delivered 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided more power, enhancing the car's impressive handling. The Legacy's fuel economy was commendable, with the base engine achieving 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined. The turbocharged engine's fuel economy dropped to 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2020 Nissan Altima also offered two engine options. Most trims came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing up to 188 horsepower, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive (FWD). All-wheel drive (AWD) was an option with this engine. The optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, available in the SR and Platinum trims, delivered 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. This engine featured Nissan's variable-compression technology, providing the power of a V6 with the efficiency of a 4-cylinder. The Altima's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to standard Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control. The turbocharged engine achieved 29 mpg in combined driving, though our test car averaged 26.2 mpg.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for its class at 15.1 cubic feet, though it couldn't compete with crossovers. The backseat provided surprising head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, and the cabin featured deep door pockets and rear USB ports. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it difficult to plug in cables.

The 2020 Nissan Altima's seats were designed for superior comfort, inspired by NASA. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and ventilated front seats were not available. The Altima offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote engine starter with climate control. Rear air conditioning vents were standard, but heated rear seats were not available. The trunk provided 15.4 cubic feet of space, with optional grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle for convenience.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system. While the screen was large and responsive, many controls were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks. The portrait orientation of the screen also scrunched Apple CarPlay, making it less user-friendly. The base trim had a dual-screen setup with similar issues, leaving no escape from the Legacy's complicated system.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered a nearly perfect infotainment system with an 8-inch display. The system was user-friendly, with physical and virtual buttons providing shortcuts to main menus. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included a navigation system, a Bose premium audio system, and NissanConnect Services. The door-to-door navigation function was particularly helpful, continuing to provide directions via a smartphone app. However, the voice recognition technology required specific commands, which could be improved.

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 and included a helpful feature that alerted drivers when the car in front started moving. Other standard safety features included a full array of airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The 2020 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on the base S trim. Higher trims included pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance. Additional safety systems included a driver monitoring system, road-sign recognition, and a surround-view camera. ProPilot Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid, was available but proved difficult to trust. The Altima received a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).