2021 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan segment with a design that was unmistakably unique. As the latest beneficiary of Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design language, the Elantra featured sharp creases and dramatic angles that created a distinctive and appealing look. The controversial Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, designed by senior designer Davis Lee, broke conventional automotive design rules, giving the Elantra a unique character. Despite some divisive opinions on this detail, many believed it worked to the car’s benefit.

The Elantra was available in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trim levels, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited trims. Prices ranged from $19,650 to $25,450, excluding destination charges. Hyundai anticipated that only about 10% of Elantra buyers would choose the hybrid powertrain.

The interior of the new Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with an angled passenger cornering grip to clearly delineate between the driver and passenger areas. As one moved up the trim level ladder, the Elantra’s cabin became increasingly upscale and tech-savvy. The Limited or Hybrid Limited trims in Gray were particularly favored for their light gray seats, dashboard, and door panel trim, which offered a modern and upscale look that masked cheaper plastic panels and gave an almost Scandinavian feel to the interior.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Legacy, a member of the often-overlooked midsize-sedan club, held its own with a design that favored practicality over flash. Available in six trim levels—Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT—the Legacy carried over much from the Subaru Outback wagon. From the B-pillar forward, the Legacy and Outback were essentially the same vehicle, sharing fascia, headlight design, windscreen angle, and dashboard setup.

For 2021, Subaru upgraded the Legacy with standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. The Legacy’s design included high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings, adding a touch of elegance. Though its looks were not particularly stylish or eye-catching, they were true to Subaru branding, emphasizing safety and assurance.

The Legacy came with 17-inch steel wheels as standard, with options to upgrade to 17-inch alloy or 18-inch black- (exclusive to the Legacy Sport) or machine-finished wheels. Power-folding outside mirrors, a power moonroof, and an All-Weather Package featuring heated seats, heated mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer, were available, further enhancing its practical appeal.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a variety of powertrain combinations, each contributing to a diverse driving experience. The standard Elantra SEL test car was priced at $25,015, including a $995 destination charge, and came with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), this engine provided fine power around town but felt lacking during highway merging or passing.

Fuel efficiency for the Elantra with 17-inch aluminum wheels was rated at 35 mpg in combined driving by the EPA, though our test vehicle achieved 31.4 mpg in Normal driving mode. The Elantra Hybrid, priced at $29,095, paired a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 139 horsepower. It managed 42.2 mpg, falling short of its EPA rating of 50 mpg due to mountainous driving conditions.

The sporty Elantra N Line, priced at $26,245, featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine generating 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It was fun to drive with its slick-shifting manual transmission but averaged only 23.1 mpg during rigorous mountain driving. The high-performance Elantra N, estimated at around $34,000, delivered a memorable driving experience with its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. It showcased truly astounding capability on challenging roads.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy, differentiated by its base and XT trim levels, offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided adequate power for everyday driving but lacked the punch needed for towing or spirited highway driving. The upgraded 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims delivered 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, with some turbo lag but sufficient power for demanding driving scenarios.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) paired with both engines, and standard all-wheel drive set the Legacy apart in its class. The AWD system provided excellent stability over rough terrain and absorbed bumps effectively. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter engine was rated at 27/35/30 mpg (city/highway/combined), while the turbo engine achieved 24/32/27 mpg. The Legacy’s well-balanced steering made it easy to navigate in parking lots, though precision diminished at higher speeds without lane-centering technology active.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a surprisingly roomy interior. The height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescopic steering wheel made it easy to find a comfortable driving position. Heated front seats were standard across trims, and the Limited Hybrid included ventilated front seats.

However, the absence of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and the use of hard plastic for the upper door panels were notable drawbacks. Rear-seat legroom was commendable, nearly matching that of the larger Sonata sedan, but the backrest lacked upper back support. Storage solutions were practical, with dual-stage adjustable cupholders and a 14.2 cubic-foot trunk complemented by a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Some trims included a hands-free trunk lid release, but the lack of a grab handle within the trunk was a minor inconvenience.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy, redesigned for the previous model year, elevated comfort significantly. Improved seat positioning provided a more natural and comfortable sitting posture, even for extended trips. All trims except the Base model featured power-adjustable front seats, with the highest trims offering heated and ventilated seats.

The Legacy excelled in passenger space, offering ample legroom and comfort, especially in the back seat. Forward visibility for the driver was excellent, but cargo space suffered, with a trunk capacity of 15.1 cubic feet. Despite the trade-off, the Legacy’s spacious interior and practical layout made it a solid choice for those prioritizing comfort.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured traditional instrumentation with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in SE, SEL, and N Line trims. This setup included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. The N Line also offered wireless smartphone charging.

In the Limited trim, Hyundai upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, both housed under a single piece of glass. This setup, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz, included navigation, dynamic natural voice recognition, and a 64-color ambient lighting system. The Limited Hybrid experienced some inconsistencies with voice recognition, though these may have stemmed from subscription issues. A Bose premium sound system was available, delivering impressive audio quality.

On the technological front, Hyundai Digital Key turned Android smartphones into digital keys, allowing for remote locking, unlocking, and starting of the car. This feature also enabled temporary access sharing and function restrictions, making it convenient for family and friends.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy’s base model featured dual 7-inch displays for infotainment and vehicle controls. Premium and higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch touchscreen with on-screen buttons for various functions. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, automatic climate control, and a 4.2-inch meter display.

Higher trims added more power outlets, additional USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a 180-degree front-view monitor, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The 11.6-inch screen, while functional, had a juvenile aesthetic and attracted fingerprints. However, it was easy to navigate, and the prominent automatic start/stop button location was a plus.

Hyundai equipped the 2021 Elantra with SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning were also standard. Upgrades offered cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, rear automatic braking, and Level 2 ADAS called Highway Drive Assist.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy excelled in safety, earning top scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). Standard EyeSight technology included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warnings. The EyeSight Assist Monitor HUD provided on-windshield alerts, while optional features such as reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring added further safety measures. Subaru’s sensitive and loud seat-belt monitoring system ensured passengers were always buckled in, though it could become annoying over time.