2021 Toyota Prius vs 2021 Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design that has been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to embrace its unique styling, which many found unappealing. The interior was equally unconventional, featuring a strip of displays mounted in the center of the dashboard, a toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. Gloss-black trim, while trendy, attracted dust and fingerprints. The Prius was available in several trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with an optional AWD-e system for the LE and XLE trims. Prices ranged from $24,525 to $32,650, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Legacy, a member of the midsize-sedan club, offered a more traditional and subdued design. Available in six trims—Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT—the Legacy shared much of its body and mechanics with the Subaru Outback wagon. For 2021, Subaru added standard low-beam and high-beam steering-responsive LED headlights. The Legacy's design was not particularly stylish but aligned with Subaru's branding and consumer expectations for safety and reliability. The car featured high-gloss stainless steel moldings and various wheel options, including 17-inch steel and alloy wheels, and 18-inch black or machine-finished wheels. The Legacy also offered power-folding mirrors, a power moonroof, and an All-Weather Package.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, while AWD-e models managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition averaged 47.5 mpg during testing. The car paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. The Prius offered various driving modes, including EV Mode for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph, and Eco, Normal, and Power modes to balance efficiency and responsiveness. The TNGA platform provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing the car's handling on curvy roads. However, hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

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 CVT. AWD was standard, providing stability over rough terrain. The Legacy's steering was well-balanced at low speeds but required lane-centering technology for highway driving. 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 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather could be sticky. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

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 offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and either a four-way or eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. The Legacy provided ample back seat room for adults, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel available. The car had two sets of LATCH connections. However, the Legacy's 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space was limited compared to its passenger space.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. The digital instrumentation was dated and lacked sophistication.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy's base model had dual 7-inch infotainment and climate control displays. Higher trims featured an 11.6-inch infotainment screen with on-screen buttons for various controls. 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. Upmarket trims added more power outlets, USB ports, Subaru Starlink Connected Services, navigation, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and other features. The 11.6-inch screen had an unsophisticated appearance but was easy to navigate.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard. The IIHS gave the Prius favorable marks, but it did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation due to headlight and front-passenger protection issues. The NHTSA did not rate the 2021 Prius.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy earned top scores from the IIHS in all categories and was named a Top Safety Pick. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating. The Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, which included 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 Legacy's seat-belt monitoring system was sensitive and loud, and the EyeSight system could be annoying with its beeps and flashing alerts.