Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2021 Subaru Legacy was often overlooked in the midsize-sedan market, competing with popular models like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Available in six trim levels—Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT—the Legacy carried over much of the body and mechanics from the Subaru Outback wagon. From the B-pillar forward, the Legacy and Outback were essentially the same, sharing 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 design was sleek but not particularly eye-catching, featuring high-gloss stainless steel side-window and shoulder-line moldings. Wheel options ranged from 17-inch steel to 18-inch black- or machine-finished alloys, with exterior trim elements varying by grade. The Legacy also offered power-folding outside mirrors, a power moonroof, and an All-Weather Package.

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 on-trend, though not flashy. Options included Nappa leather upholstery, contrasting stitching, perforated leather, a gloss black center dashboard panel, a leather-wrapped shifter, steering wheel, 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 door corners. Roof mounting points for Subaru genuine-accessory crossbars were a notable feature for brand enthusiasts.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid, a continuation of Toyota's long history in the U.S., was a significant model alongside the Corolla and Prius. The Camry Hybrid, introduced in 2007, was part of the eighth generation that debuted in 2018 and received a mild makeover in 2021. The 2022 model featured minimal changes but retained its futuristic and expressive design. The front end was muscular with a sneering face, and wheel options ranged from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloys. The interior was equally expressive, with a sweeping dashboard curve and a control center with a large infotainment touchscreen. The second row was roomy and comfortable, even for the middle seat, and Toyota's fit and finish were high-quality.

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 grades, producing 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) was a unique feature in its class, providing stability over rough terrain. The 2.5-liter engine achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while the turbo engine earned 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined. Steering was well-balanced at low speeds but challenging on the highway without lane-centering technology.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with variable valve timing, direct injection, and port injection, combined with two electric motors for a total system output of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters on SE and XSE models. The Camry Hybrid offered drive modes including EV, Eco, Normal, and Sport, though EV mode was difficult to maintain. Handling was improved by the low-mounted lithium-ion battery pack, giving the hybrid a lower center of gravity. Fuel economy was impressive, with the LE model achieving 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway, and 52 mpg combined, while other trims got 44 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 46 mpg combined.

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 five-seater provided ample back seat room, though cargo space was limited to 15.1 cubic feet. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel were available, along with two sets of LATCH connections.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and ease of use. The driver and front passenger had multiple storage options, and the second row was spacious and comfortable. The Camry Hybrid also had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down second-row seats for larger cargo. Toyota’s warranty covered the Camry Hybrid for three years/36,000 miles, with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty, and an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for specific hybrid components.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy featured dual 7-inch infotainment and climate/vehicle system control displays on the base model, with an 11.6-inch infotainment screen on higher trims. 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 power outlets, 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 compass mirror with Homelink. The 11.6-inch touchscreen had an unsophisticated appearance but was easy to navigate.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota’s latest technology features, including a premium audio system tuned by Harman International’s JBL division. The system, available on XLE and XSE models, included nine speakers and sophisticated algorithms for high-quality audio. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard on all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE had a 9-inch touchscreen. Other features included Toyota’s smart key system, push-button start, a projected-path rearview camera, automatic LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an optional 10-inch color head-up display on XSE models.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy came standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, including adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision automatic emergency braking, throttle management, and vehicle lane departure and sway warning. The Legacy earned top scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). Additional safety features included reverse automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and a sensitive seat-belt monitoring system. The Legacy came with a three-year/36,000-mile new car limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also had Toyota’s Star safety system, 10 airbags, three-point seatbelts for every seating position, LATCH lower anchors for child safety seats, child protector locks, window lockout controls, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The 2021 Camry Hybrid received the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.