2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a challenge in its design, balancing pragmatic sensibility with an attempt to stand out. While it was a handsome vehicle, it often struggled to make a bold impression compared to competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Legacy's styling included sharp angles and details, but it felt smaller, almost compact, which sometimes led to confusion with the Subaru Impreza. 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 Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim being particularly recommended for its features, including a power moonroof and heated elements in the All-Weather Package.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Maxima set a bold tone with its styling, featuring a steeply-angled front end and a massive grille that gave it a distinctive presence on the road. The Maxima's design was characterized by a "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille, elements that influenced other Nissan models. The 40th Anniversary Edition added unique touches like a two-tone exterior and red semi-aniline leather upholstery, enhancing its interior appeal. The Maxima's interior was designed with the driver in mind, offering a comfortable and stylish experience, although rear-seat passengers might have found it cramped.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine across its base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims, delivering 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). While the Legacy was responsive off the line, it required effort to reach highway speeds, accompanied by noticeable engine noise. For those seeking more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine producing 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis provided precise cornering and refined ride quality, although the auto stop-start system was somewhat jarring. Fuel economy for the base engine was impressive, with 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the turbocharged engine offered slightly lower figures.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive (FWD). While not a "four-door sports car," the Maxima delivered a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine providing a satisfying sound. The CVT was responsive, enhancing the driving dynamics. However, the Maxima's steering lacked precision, and the front end experienced some torque steer under heavy throttle. Despite these limitations, the Maxima offered a comfortable and quiet ride, with a cabin designed for highway cruising. The Maxima's suspension was tuned for handling, providing a comfortable ride even on larger 19-inch wheels.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for its class, with 15.1 cubic feet, although it couldn't compete with crossovers in terms of cargo capacity. The Legacy surprised with its generous backseat head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, and the interior featured practical storage solutions, although some areas, like the center stack tray, could have been more spacious.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort, offering generous headroom and legroom for the driver and front passenger. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat space, with rear headroom and legroom being among the lowest in its class. The Maxima's interior design focused on the driver, providing an expansive view of the road and excellent side visibility. The "Zero Gravity" front seats, designed for optimal support, were comfortable but could have benefited from more thigh bolstering. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the least among its competitors, but still functional for everyday use.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured a large 11.6-inch touchscreen with the Starlink infotainment system, but its functionality was hindered by a complex interface. Basic tasks like adjusting heated seats or climate controls required multiple steps, detracting from the user experience. While the system had large icons and no lag, its portrait orientation limited the display of Apple CarPlay. The Legacy's tech was present across all trims except the base, leaving little room for avoiding the system's drawbacks.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's technology showed signs of aging, with an 8-inch touchscreen that covered basic features like Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. A built-in WiFi hotspot and USB ports were standard, but the system's graphics and icons felt dated. Despite this, Nissan provided analog controls for climate and audio, offering an alternative to the touchscreen. The Maxima's notification sounds were jarring, but the availability of an 11-speaker Bose audio system added a premium touch.

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, providing intuitive feedback to the driver. Additional safety features included airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received top safety ratings, earning an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield 360 banner included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Optional features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system enhanced safety, although the Maxima lacked the ProPilot Assist system found in other Nissan models.