2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2020 Nissan Versa

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a conundrum with its styling, balancing pragmatic sensibility with an attempt to stand out. While it was a handsome car, it struggled to make a bold impression compared to competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's design featured sharp angles and details, but it often felt smaller, reminiscent of a compact Subaru Impreza. Despite its attempts to go mainstream, the Legacy's front-end design remained more of a sedan version of the Outback. Inside, the Legacy boasted a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many features were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple controls. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim being recommended for its features like the All-Weather Package and 10-way power front seats. Higher trims added sporty and luxurious touches, with the Touring XT topping the range with a turbocharged engine and premium features.

The 2020 Nissan Versa shed its previous "big car" styling for a more handsome design, taking cues from its larger siblings, the Maxima and Altima. The Versa's styling was evocative without borrowing oversized elements, marking a significant improvement. Inside, the cabin shared similarities with the Nissan Kicks, offering ample interior space for a subcompact sedan. The Versa's cabin was straightforward yet stylish, featuring a two-tone theme and unique seat designs. The Versa came in three trims, with the SV trim recommended for its balance of price and content. The SV trim added features like upgraded cloth fabric, an armrest, and an enhanced infotainment system. The range-topping SR trim offered additional features, but the SV was deemed the best value. Despite some cost-cutting measures, the Versa's cabin gained ground compared to its predecessor.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered a choice between two engines. The base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims were equipped 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's powertrain was responsive, making it suitable for city driving, but it required effort to reach highway speeds. For those seeking more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis offered precise cornering and refined ride quality, making it a pleasure to drive. The auto stop-start system aimed to conserve fuel, contributing to fuel economy figures of 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined for the base engine. The turbocharged engine's fuel economy was slightly lower at 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2020 Nissan Versa retained its 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, now producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT, with the CVT standard on the SV and SR trims. The Versa's acceleration improved, offering decent performance for its class. The CVT managed power well, and a Sport mode added liveliness to the driving experience. The Versa's steering was responsive, and it handled turns with precision. Fuel economy with the manual transmission was 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the CVT achieved 32/40/35. In real-world driving, the Versa delivered impressive fuel economy of 34.7 mpg.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for a sedan, with 15.1 cubic feet available. While it couldn't compete with crossovers in terms of cargo capacity, it provided ample room for its class. The Legacy's backseat surprised with generous head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, and the cabin featured practical storage solutions, though some areas could have been more spacious.

The 2020 Nissan Versa retained its predecessor's trunk size, offering 15 cubic feet of space. However, it lost 6 inches of rear legroom, impacting backseat comfort. While the backseat was less spacious, the front seats provided ample legroom, even for taller drivers. The Versa's trunk had a large opening, making it practical for loading gear. Despite the reduced rear space, the Versa remained a suitable choice for personal commuting.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured a large 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system. While the screen offered large, easy-to-read icons and minimal lag, it required multiple steps for basic functions like adjusting climate controls. The portrait orientation of the screen compressed Apple CarPlay, potentially frustrating users. The system was present in all trims except the base, limiting options for those who preferred simpler interfaces.

The 2020 Nissan Versa impressed with its standard 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and hands-free text-messaging assistant. The SV trim added the NissanConnect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enhancing connectivity. The upgraded instrument panel featured a digital screen with various functions, offering a familiar yet modern interface. The Versa's technology seamlessly integrated into daily life, providing a user-friendly experience.

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 intuitive head-up light alerts for various warnings. Additional safety features included a full array of airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2020 Nissan Versa introduced standard driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. While these features enhanced safety, they also increased repair costs due to sensor integration. The Versa also included a reversing camera, airbags, and Nissan's Easy Fill Tire Alert, which signaled when tires were properly inflated.