2021 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was a member of the midsize-sedan club that often went unnoticed. Competing with popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Legacy was available in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. It shared much of its body and mechanics with the Subaru Outback wagon, featuring a matching fascia, headlight design, and dashboard setup. 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, offering a safe and assuring look with high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings. The wheels ranged from 17-inch steel to 18-inch black- or machine-finished alloys, with various exterior trim elements depending on the grade.

The interior of the Legacy was subdued, blending high-quality materials with piano black plastic. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather available at an extra cost. The cabin's 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, 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. Overall, the Legacy's interior was a blend of form and function, meeting the expectations of Subaru buyers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat's exterior styling remained unchanged from its 2020 facelift, which was the first major update in almost a decade. The Passat shared a strong familial resemblance with the smaller Volkswagen Jetta sedan, giving it a more understated look compared to rivals like the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. The Passat's aerodynamic shape, with a drag coefficient of 0.28, contributed to better fuel economy. Standard features included LED headlights and taillights, with 17-inch alloy wheels on the base model, 18-inch wheels on SE models, and 19-inch wheels with an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) on R-Line models. The R-Line trim also added sportier exterior styling elements.

Inside, the Passat had a clean and functional design, with analog controls well-placed for easy use. The dashboard was short and low, enhancing forward visibility, while the low beltline provided good side visibility. However, the flat-bottomed steering wheel seemed out of place in such an un-sporty car. The interior materials were mostly plastic, with cloth upholstery on S models and V-Tex leatherette on SE and R-Line trims. Despite the plain design, the fit and finish were excellent, and the material choices were appropriate for the Passat's pricing and market positioning as a value option.

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 horsepower and 277 pound-feet 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. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbocharged engine earned 24 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD). This engine produced 174 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. While the horsepower was below average compared to rivals, the torque output was impressive. The Passat's power delivery felt uneven at higher speeds, but switching to Sport mode or manually selecting gears improved the response. The Passat's driving experience was unremarkable, lacking the sportiness found in competitors like the Honda Accord and Mazda 6. However, ride quality and cabin noise levels were good on the highway.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy's new generation improved comfort significantly. The sound-insulation windshield reduced wind and engine noise, though it wasn't the quietest in its class. The seats provided a more natural sitting position, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat standard on all trims except the Base model. The rear seats offered ample legroom, making the Legacy feel more spacious than a typical midsize sedan. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available. However, the Legacy's 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space was limited due to the extra legroom in the second row.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat boasted 39.1 inches of rear legroom, slightly less than the Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. However, the front legroom was below average, and the driving position was uncomfortable for medium-sized drivers. The front seats lacked thigh support, and the rear seats felt flat and hard. The Passat offered 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Toyota Camry and Subaru Legacy but less than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. The layout of controls was a strong point, with big buttons and knobs within easy reach. The instrument cluster was easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy featured dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays on the base model, with an 11.6-inch infotainment screen standard on higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 12-volt power outlet, two USB ports, 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 touchscreen had an unsophisticated appearance, but menus were easy to navigate.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat came with the MIB2 infotainment system, featuring a 6.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The R-Line trim added HD Radio, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Fender premium audio system. Keyless entry was standard on SE and R-Line trims. The touchscreen was small but included pinch-to-zoom capability. The Passat lacked flashy features like the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster and the newer MIB3 infotainment system available in other VW models. However, the layout of controls was user-friendly, with dashboard knobs and steering-wheel controls for basic functions.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores in every category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and was named a Top Safety Pick. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) gave the Legacy a five-star overall rating. The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a head-up display. Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring. The seat-belt monitoring system was very sensitive, and the EyeSight system could be annoying with its beeps and flashing alerts.

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat received top "good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, but the standard headlights earned a "marginal" rating. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 Passat. Volkswagen made adaptive cruise control standard on all trim levels, along with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. The Passat also featured VW's Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System, which automatically applied the brakes, shut off the fuel pump, unlocked the doors, and switched on the hazard lights after a collision.