Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Subaru Legacy

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Legacy
2021 Subaru Legacy
$22,895MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Legacy
$22,895MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

1985-1992

Years produced

1990-Present

MSRP

$32,445

MSRP

$22,895

Listings

3821

Listings

6821

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Expert reviews

8.3 out of 10
Pros
  • Fun to drive
  • Improved technology
  • Impressive fuel economy
Cons
  • Price increase reduces overall value
  • Frustrated haptic slider controls remain
Pros
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Comfortable
  • Standard advanced safety features
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Sluggish performance
  • Interior materials feel cheap

Reviews Summary

Rent a car while abroad, and there’s a decent chance the agent at the counter will ask if you’d like to upgrade to one equipped with an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions are just more common overseas, particularly in Europe. So, it’s interesting to learn that VW’s decision to drop the manual transmission from the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI was driven by a lack of demand in Germany, and despite increased demand in the United States. The loss of the stick shift is a big deal–this is one of the first ever hot hatchbacks, after all–but it’s only the headline among a short list of notable changes the car receives for this model year.

Verdict: The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still one of the best hatchbacks you can buy today. With a terrific powertrain and everyday practicality, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a useful car that’s also extremely fun to drive.

Reviews Summary

The Subaru Legacy delivers a lot of what the typical Subaru customer is looking for, including standard all-wheel drive (AWD)—it's the only vehicle in its class to offer that. It is also fuel-efficient, has comfortable seats, and ranks as one of the safest vehicles on the market today. But, fit-and-finish questions linger, and the EyeSight safety technology can prove annoying, with frequent beeps and chimes.
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 241 hp I4

Engine

2.5L 182 hp H4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

AWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

241 hp @ 5000 rpm

Horsepower

182 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG City

24

MPG City

27

MPG Highway

32

MPG Highway

35
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Legacy
2021 Subaru Legacy
$22,895MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Legacy
$22,895MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
1985-1992
1990-Present
MSRP
$32,445
$22,895
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.6
4.5
Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Read full review

8.3 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Fun to drive
  • Improved technology
  • Impressive fuel economy
Cons
  • Price increase reduces overall value
  • Frustrated haptic slider controls remain
Pros
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Comfortable
  • Standard advanced safety features
Cons
  • Uninspired styling
  • Sluggish performance
  • Interior materials feel cheap
Summary

Rent a car while abroad, and there’s a decent chance the agent at the counter will ask if you’d like to upgrade to one equipped with an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions are just more common overseas, particularly in Europe. So, it’s interesting to learn that VW’s decision to drop the manual transmission from the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI was driven by a lack of demand in Germany, and despite increased demand in the United States. The loss of the stick shift is a big deal–this is one of the first ever hot hatchbacks, after all–but it’s only the headline among a short list of notable changes the car receives for this model year.

Verdict: The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still one of the best hatchbacks you can buy today. With a terrific powertrain and everyday practicality, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a useful car that’s also extremely fun to drive.

The Subaru Legacy delivers a lot of what the typical Subaru customer is looking for, including standard all-wheel drive (AWD)—it's the only vehicle in its class to offer that. It is also fuel-efficient, has comfortable seats, and ranks as one of the safest vehicles on the market today. But, fit-and-finish questions linger, and the EyeSight safety technology can prove annoying, with frequent beeps and chimes.
Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.0L 241 hp I4
2.5L 182 hp H4
Drive Train
FWD
AWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
241 hp @ 5000 rpm
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
MPG City
24
27
MPG Highway
32
35
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