2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Kia K5

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 plenty of sharp angles and details, but these elements made it feel smaller, almost compact, compared to its rivals. The front end, in particular, looked and felt diminutive, often leading to confusion with the Subaru Impreza. Despite its pragmatic design, the Legacy hinted at Subaru's attempt to go mainstream, but it fell short of making a bold statement.

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 came well-equipped with features like remote keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, and Subaru EyeSight driver assistance. Higher trims added more luxury and convenience, with the Premium trim offering a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and a power moonroof. The Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT trims added various enhancements, including a more powerful turbocharged engine in the XT versions.

The 2021 Kia K5, on the other hand, marked a fresh identity for Kia, moving away from its past of drab sedans. The K5's styling was striking, especially in the GT-Line trim with its flat Wolf Gray paint and red seats, resembling an Audi A5 Sportback. The K5's design was full of details, from the long rear window blending into the short tail to the unique taillights emphasizing its width. The front end featured Z-shaped amber LED running lights and a honeycomb grille, making the K5 a head-turner from every angle.

Inside, the K5's interior was equally impressive. The dash was split between driver and passenger, with the center stack angled toward the driver. The GT-Line trim featured red seats with black accents, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and quality materials throughout. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an optional 10-inch display. Trunk space was generous at 16 cubic feet, and the overall interior design exuded sportiness and quality.

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's powertrain was responsive, making it suitable for city driving, but it struggled to deliver strong performance at highway speeds. The turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine, available in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims, provided 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, offering a more powerful option.

The Legacy's chassis was impressive, with precise cornering and refined ride quality. However, the auto stop-start system, designed to conserve fuel, was jarring and required multiple steps to disable. Fuel economy for the base engine was commendable at 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the turbocharged engine achieved 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2021 Kia K5's performance varied by trim. The GT-Line trim, despite its aggressive styling, lacked the handling prowess of a true sports sedan. It featured a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The K5's ride was balanced and isolated, but the suspension was softer, and the tires protested during tight turns. The GT trim promised better performance with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, but it was only available with front-wheel drive (FWD).

Fuel economy for the K5 was impressive, with the base engine achieving 27 mpg city, 37 highway, and 31 combined for FWD models. The AWD version had slightly lower figures at 26/34/29. The GT trim's fuel economy had not yet been rated.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for a sedan 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 conveniences like in-door cupholders and rear USB ports. The front seats were supportive, and the cabin featured deep door pockets for storage. However, the center stack's tray was small, making it difficult to access the USB port.

The 2021 Kia K5 excelled in interior space, comfortably accommodating two adults in the back despite its raked profile. The front seats were supportive and firm, ideal for long drives. The K5's interior design included hard buttons for climate controls and stereo, making them easy to use. The wireless charging pad was conveniently located, and the infotainment system was user-friendly. Trunk space was generous at 16 cubic feet, and the rear seats could fold down for additional cargo space.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured the Starlink infotainment system with an 11.6-inch touchscreen. While the screen was large and responsive, many functions were buried within menus, complicating simple tasks. The system's portrait orientation also limited the display area for Apple CarPlay. Despite these drawbacks, the system had large icons and real dials for volume and tuning. However, the tech was present in all trims except the base, making it unavoidable.

The 2021 Kia K5 offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making it easy to set up. The LX trim included LED headlights, auto high beams, dual-zone climate control, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added features like proximity entry, remote start, and Smart Trunk. The GT-Line trim included 18-inch wheels, fog lights, rear USB ports, and a power driver's seat. The EX trim offered heated and ventilated seats, rear air vents, and a Bose stereo system. The GT trim added paddle shifters and performance enhancements.

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 front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The 2021 Kia K5 had not yet been rated by safety organizations, but it was expected to receive top scores due to its stronger chassis and body shell. Standard safety features included rear side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear emergency braking, and parking sensors.