2021 Nissan Altima vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was a member of the midsize-sedan club that often went unnoticed. Competing with favorites like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, it was available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The Legacy carried over much of the body and mechanics of the Subaru Outback wagon into sedan form, sharing the same fascia, headlight design, windscreen angle, and dashboard setup. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights and high-beam assist. The Legacy's looks were not particularly stylish but stayed true to Subaru's branding, offering a safe and assuring vehicle. It featured high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings, and buyers could choose from various wheel options and exterior trim elements.

Inside, the Legacy had a subdued interior with high-quality materials and piano black plastic. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather available at extra cost. The cabin style was functional and appropriate for its price point, though it lacked the flashy extras found in more premium vehicles. Options included Nappa leather upholstery, contrasting stitching, perforated leather upholstery, and chrome interior door handles. The tester, a Legacy Limited XT, had some fit-and-finish issues, particularly with the tightness of leather in the corners of the doors. The Legacy also featured roof mounting points for Subaru genuine-accessory crossbars, allowing for easy cargo basket, cargo box, or athletic equipment mounting.

The 2021 Nissan Altima showcased Nissan's strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, and an attractive overall shape with a sloping "coupe-like" roofline. The Altima's body had a taut, trim essence with more folds than curves, though its stance was mildly ungainly due to a lot of overhang ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels. Modern features like standard LED lighting and wheel options ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels kept the look contemporary. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details. It was available in nine exterior colors, some with premium names and additional costs.

Inside, the Altima's dashboard was uncluttered and intelligently laid out, with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display mounted at the top of the center stack. The instrument panel was shrouded by a cowl, making it easy to read in sunlight and reducing glare at night. The base Altima felt a bit stripped-down, but higher trim levels improved interior materials, adding stitching to the dash and seats and enhancing the overall hand feel. The Altima's interior storage and convenience features were plentiful, with a big glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy for two adults and could accommodate three for short rides, with a 60/40 split-folding seatback for trunk access.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy offered two engine options. The Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims were powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. For those needing more power, the Limited XT and Touring XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Legacy's standard all-wheel drive (AWD) set it apart from competitors, providing stability over rough terrain and absorbing bumps. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2021 Nissan Altima offered two distinct powertrains. Most trims featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available on all but the base S trim. The 2.5-liter engine achieved 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined with FWD, and 25 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined with AWD. The Altima SR VC-Turbo trim featured a unique 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with variable compression, producing 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine, available only with FWD, achieved 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. The Altima's suspension and steering provided a decent driving experience, with the VC-Turbo offering a more engaging performance.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy improved comfort with a sound-insulation windshield and better seat positioning. The Base model had manually adjustable front seats, while other trims featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and either a four-way or eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. The five-seater offered ample back seat room for adults, with additional legroom from the 2020 redesign. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. However, the Legacy's cargo space was limited to 15.1 cubic feet, with a wide trunk opening.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Upper trims offered power adjustment, position memory, leather appointments, and electric heating. The front cabin had ample storage, including a big glovebox, center console storage bin, cupholders, and door pockets. The second row was roomy for two adults and could accommodate three for short rides, with a 60/40 split-folding seatback for trunk access. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space.

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, and a 4.2-inch meter display. Higher trims added more power outlets, USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and more. The 11.6-inch screen had an unsophisticated appearance, but menus were easy to navigate.

The 2021 Nissan Altima included standard tech features like Nissan Intelligent Key with pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and more. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all but the S model. The base touchscreen was 7 inches, with an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen on higher trims. The S model had one USB port, while others had multiple USB and USB-C ports. SiriusXM satellite radio was standard on all but the S model, with a Bose audio system on SL and Platinum trims. Nissan Door to Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and more. Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. The Legacy also had a sensitive seat-belt monitoring system and a three-year/36,000-mile new car limited warranty.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard on SV and above trims, including automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, and more. ProPilot Assist was available for highway driving assistance, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor was offered on upper trims. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.