2020 Volkswagen Passat vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat bore a striking resemblance to its predecessors from 2012 to 2019, as well as the recently redesigned VW Jetta. It adopted Jetta's styling cues, giving it a familiar yet refreshed look. Inside, the Passat's dashboard retained the architectural T-square design of the previous model, featuring a modest 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. The interior was dominated by cheap, glossy plastic, which, while easy to clean, lacked the premium feel of some competitors. The Passat was designed to be user-friendly, with easy access, straightforward controls, and a comfortable driving experience. It was available in four trims: S, SE, R-Line, and SEL, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $31,095.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Legacy was a more understated member of the midsize-sedan segment, competing with the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Available in six trims—Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT—the Legacy carried over much of the Subaru Outback's body and mechanics into a sedan form. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. The Legacy's design was not particularly stylish but stayed true to Subaru's branding, emphasizing safety and reliability. It featured high-gloss stainless steel moldings and a range of wheel options, from 17-inch steel to 18-inch machine-finished wheels. The Legacy also offered practical features like power-folding mirrors, a power moonroof, and an All-Weather Package.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. It used regular gas and was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The Passat's powertrain was simple, with a Sport transmission setting and paddle shifters but no multiple driving modes. The car's torque allowed it to accelerate smoothly, though the transmission occasionally upshifted too eagerly. The Passat averaged 26 mpg in combined driving, just shy of the EPA's 27-mpg rating. Its steering was light and precise, and the brakes were effective, though the suspension tuning was less than ideal, resulting in a busy ride over sharp bumps and a floaty feel over undulations.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Legacy's standard all-wheel drive provided excellent traction and stability, especially on rough terrain. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, while the turbocharged engine managed 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The Legacy's steering was well-balanced at low speeds but required lane-centering technology for better highway stability.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was designed with American consumers in mind, offering a spacious interior with wide, comfortable seats and ample room for five passengers. The car featured large door openings, numerous storage bins, and excellent outward visibility. Cloth upholstery was standard on the base S trim, while the SE and R-Line trims had V-Tex leatherette seats, and the SEL trim offered genuine leather. The Passat's trunk provided 15.9 cubic feet of space, with a flat load floor and easy access via the key fob. The car's size and utility made it a practical choice, except for those needing all-wheel drive or a third-row seat.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy improved its comfort with a sound-insulation windshield and better seat positioning. The base model had manually adjustable front seats, while higher trims offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and either a four-way or eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. The Legacy's back seat provided ample legroom, making it comfortable for adults on long trips. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. The Legacy's trunk, however, was smaller than the Passat's, offering 15.1 cubic feet of space. The car's spacious cabin and good forward visibility were highlights, but the limited cargo space was a drawback.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat lacked Volkswagen's latest infotainment and Digital Cockpit technologies, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen display instead. Despite its simplicity, the system included App Connect, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD and SiriusXM satellite radio, a CD player, and Bluetooth. The SEL trim added navigation and a Fender premium sound system. The Passat's infotainment system was straightforward, with physical buttons and knobs. The car also offered an optional remote engine start system and, on the SEL trim, a parking steering-assist system.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy came with dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays on the base model, while higher trims featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack, automatic climate control, and a 4.2-inch meter display. Higher trims added more USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a 180-degree front-view monitor, Sirius XM Traffic, keyless entry, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The 11.6-inch screen's design was somewhat unsophisticated, but the menus were easy to navigate, and the system included useful features like a prominent automatic start/stop button.

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat came standard with a range of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. An automatic post-collision braking system was also standard. The SE trim added adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, while the SEL trim included parking assist sensors and adaptive headlights. The Passat earned the top rating of Good in crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was highly rated for safety, earning top scores in every category from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, which included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, throttle management, and vehicle lane departure and sway warning. Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. The Legacy's seat-belt monitoring system was very sensitive, and the EyeSight system's alerts could be toned down via the infotainment system. The car came with a three-year/36,000-mile new car limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.