2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Subaru Legacy was a car that prioritized pragmatic sensibility over flashy design. While it was a handsome vehicle with sharp angles and details, it often struggled to stand out among its competitors. The front end of the Legacy appeared smaller, making it easy to mistake for a compact Subaru Impreza. Despite its attempts to go mainstream, the Legacy's design felt more like a sedan version of the Outback. Inside, the Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many functions were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks like adjusting climate controls. The base trim was well-equipped, but the Premium trim, which we drove, offered additional features like 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power moonroof. Higher trims added more luxury and performance features, with the Touring XT topping the range with a turbocharged engine and Nappa leather upholstery.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra embraced Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language, resulting in a distinctive and appealing look with sharp creases and dramatic angles. The Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors was a bold design cue that helped the Elantra stand out. The Elantra came in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited. Prices ranged from $19,650 to $25,450, with the high-performance Elantra N expected to cost less than $34,000. Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering more luxurious and high-tech interiors. The Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray was particularly impressive, with a modern and upscale look. The Elantra SEL with the Premium Package had a drab black interior, but overall, the Elantra's cabin was a pleasant place to be.

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 continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Legacy was quick off the line, making it suitable for city driving, but it struggled to reach highway speeds without making a lot of noise. For those needing more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis was impressive, offering precise cornering and refined ride quality. However, the auto stop-start system was jarring, and its fuel economy was 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined for the base engine, dropping to 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined for the turbocharged engine.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine in the SEL trim produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. This setup provided fine power around town but felt gutless on the highway. The Elantra Hybrid used a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine combined with an electric motor, producing 139 horsepower and achieving up to 54 mpg in combined driving. The Elantra N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, offering a fun driving experience with its sport suspension and performance tires. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, was a driving enthusiast's dream, offering impressive handling and a dynamic driving experience.

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 ample head- and legroom, even for taller passengers, and included features like in-door cupholders and rear USB ports. The front seats were supportive, with deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack tray was small, making it difficult to plug in a USB cable.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The Limited Hybrid trim included heated and ventilated front seats. The rear seat provided best-in-class legroom, though the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support. The Elantra's trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. Some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release, but the lack of a grab handle inside the trunk was a drawback.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system. While the icons were large and easy to read, the system required multiple steps for simple tasks like adjusting heated seats or climate controls. The portrait orientation of the screen also scrunched Apple CarPlay into a third of the display. The base trim had a dual-screen setup with similar issues, making it difficult to avoid the Legacy's poor infotainment system.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the SE, SEL, and N Line trims. The Limited trim featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, providing a significant wow factor. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system was inconsistent, but the Bose premium sound system impressed with its audio quality. Hyundai Digital Key allowed for remote access and control of the vehicle using an Android-based smartphone.

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. EyeSight also included an alert for when the car in front started moving, helping to avoid traffic backups. Other standard safety features included front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform designed to absorb and disperse collision energy. Every Elantra came with SmartSense, Hyundai’s collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades included cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist, Hyundai’s Level 2 ADAS.