2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 BMW 2 Series

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a pragmatic design that, while handsome, struggled to stand out among its competitors. Its styling featured sharp angles and details, yet it lacked the boldness seen in rivals like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's front end appeared smaller, often leading to confusion with the compact Subaru Impreza. Despite Subaru's attempt to go mainstream with the Legacy, the 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 like climate and radio settings. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim being particularly recommended for its features, including the All-Weather Package and a clever windshield wiper de-icer.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was the first BMW in the U.S. to feature standard front-wheel drive, despite its name suggesting a coupe. It was a four-door sedan with a conventional trunk, offering an entry-level BMW experience. The 2 Series Gran Coupe came in 228i and M235i models, with xDrive AWD optional for the 228i and standard for the M235i. The car's design used visual tricks to manage its proportions, with large LED headlights and a tapering roofline. Inside, the 2 Series adhered to BMW's modern design with geometric shapes, a touchscreen infotainment system, and digital instrumentation. The materials were upscale, and the optional leather added appeal, making the car feel more sophisticated than its entry-level status suggested.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered 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. This engine was paired with a CVT and standard AWD, providing a responsive driving experience, especially in city settings. However, the powertrain showed weaknesses at highway speeds, requiring effort to reach higher velocities. 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 was praised for its precise cornering and refined ride quality, though the auto stop-start system was noted as jarring. The base engine achieved a fuel economy of 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the turbocharged engine offered 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, specifically the 228i xDrive model, featured a 228-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine with AWD. It accelerated from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, offering a lively driving experience. The eight-speed sport automatic transmission, along with performance-enhancing technologies like brake-fade compensation and cornering brake control, contributed to its dynamic performance. The M Sport Package enhanced the driving experience with M Sport steering, providing swift and direct handling. The suspension was firm but manageable, and the car averaged 27.9 mpg during testing, slightly exceeding the EPA's estimate of 27 mpg combined.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space at 15.1 cubic feet, though it couldn't compete with crossovers like the Forester. The backseat provided surprising head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, with ample storage in the door pockets. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it challenging to access the USB port.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was practical for two passengers, with sport-bolstered front seats and adequate storage. However, the rear seats were less accommodating, with limited headroom and legroom. The trunk offered 15.2 cubic feet of space, including a storage compartment under the load floor. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seat added utility, but the car lacked the full sportback treatment seen in other BMW models.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured an 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system, but its interface was criticized for burying simple controls within menus. While the system had large icons and no lag, its portrait orientation limited Apple CarPlay's display. The system was present in all trims except the base, which had its own set of issues.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe came with Live Cockpit Plus, featuring a 5.1-inch display between analog gauges. The Premium Package upgraded to Live Cockpit Pro with a 10.25-inch digital display. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system used iDrive 7.0 technology, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a navigation system. The system was user-friendly, with multiple control options and responsive software. The car also had a premium sound system and an optional head-up display.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used intuitive light signals for alerts and included a feature to notify drivers when the car in front moved forward. Standard safety features also included airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and TPMS.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered the Active Driving Assistant package, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. The lane-keeping system was effective but could be aggressive. The IIHS rated the car highly for crash protection, though it missed a Top Safety Pick due to headlight ratings and vehicle-to-pedestrian test results.