2021 Subaru Legacy Review – Nick Nelson’s Website

by Nick Nelson May 23, 2022

The 2021 Subaru Legacy has a sharp and spacious interior, but its mediocre predicted reliability score holds it back.

Pros & Cons

Standard all-wheel drive
Comfortable, spacious interior
Easy-to-use tech features
Base engine lacks oomph
Low predicted reliability score for the class

New for 2021

Adaptive headlights and a rear-seat reminder now standard

Is the Subaru Legacy a Good Car?

Yes, the Subaru Legacy is a good car. Its roomy cabin features high-end materials, comfortable seats, and a straightforward infotainment system. This Subaru also boasts a pampering ride and a capable turbocharged engine option.

The Legacy isn’t without its faults, however. The base engine can be underwhelming, and handling is only so-so.

Should I Buy the Subaru Legacy?

The Legacy is a decent choice in the midsize car class , especially considering it comes standard with all-wheel drive and sports one of the lowest starting prices in the segment. That said, there are other vehicles worth considering. For a more engaging drive, check out the Toyota Camry or Mazda6 . For a well-rounded vehicle with a higher predicted reliability score, take a look at the Hyundai Sonata .

2020 vs. 2021 Subaru Legacy: What’s the Difference?

For 2021, Subaru adds adaptive headlights and a rear seat reminder to the Legacy’s standard features list. Otherwise, there are no major differences between the 2020 and 2021 models.

Compare the 2020 and 2021 Legacy »

Here are the key changes for the Subaru Legacy over the last few years:

2017: Sport trim debuted
2018: updated styling; added a larger standard touch screen
2019: several safety features became standard
2020: fully redesigned with improved horsepower, an optional turbocharged engine, and better fuel economy; gained a standard 7-inch touch screen and an available 11.3-inch touch screen
2021: gains adaptive headlights and a rear-seat reminder as standard equipment

If you’re considering an older model, be sure to read our 2018 Legacy , 2019 Legacy , and 2020 Legacy reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.

How Much Does the Subaru Legacy Cost?

The 2021 Subaru Legacy starts at $22,895, which is less than the base prices of most midsize cars. However, the top Touring XT trim starts at $36,145, which is above average for a top trim in this class.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Subaru dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Subaru deals page .

Want to trade-in or sell your current car? Get an instant cash offer that can be used toward the purchase of your next car.

How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Subaru Legacy?

The cost of insuring a Subaru Legacy will depend on a variety of factors, including your deductible, the level of coverage that you want, and the type of insurance that you choose. Your age, gender, location, credit score, and driving record can also have an impact on your insurance rates. Check out our car insurance guide to find the best policy for you.

Legacy Versus the Competition

Subaru Legacy vs. Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is one of the highest-ranking midsize cars and a more well-rounded vehicle than the Legacy. Like the Subaru, this Toyota has plenty of passenger room and comes with lots of standard tech and safety features. However, the Camry sports beefier engine choices, better fuel economy, and a higher predicted reliability score. Both sedans are worth considering, but the Toyota is the better buy.

Compare the Legacy and Camry »

Subaru Legacy vs. Mazda6

Both the Mazda6 and the Legacy have upscale cabins along with similar cargo capacities and horsepower ratings. But the Mazda6 offers spirited handling and a higher predicted reliability score than the Legacy. Conversely, the Subaru delivers slightly better gas mileage and comes standard with all-wheel drive, which the Mazda doesn’t offer. Test-drive both to see which you prefer.

Compare the Legacy and Mazda6 »

Compare the Legacy, Camry, and Mazda6 »

Legacy Interior: Spacious and Upscale

Legacy Cargo Space

With 15.1 cubic feet of space, the Subaru Legacy has one of the smallest trunks in the midsize car class . Still, that’s more than enough room for several grocery bags or luggage for a weekend getaway. And though the trunk may be small, its large opening makes it easy to load cargo.

How Many People Does the Legacy Seat?

The Subaru Legacy seats five people. The spacious cabin has enough head- and legroom in both rows for adults to sit comfortably, even tall passengers in the back.

Legacy and Child Car Seats

There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats. The rear middle seat has a tether anchor and one lower anchor, and it can borrow a lower anchor from the passenger’s side. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this setup the highest rating of Good+, which indicates that it’s among the most versatile and easiest to use.

Subaru Legacy Interior Quality

This Subaru rivals some luxury vehicles with its well-appointed and upscale cabin. A number of soft-touch materials create a comfortable and modern environment.

Legacy Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

All Legacy models come with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system. The base model has a user-friendly 7-inch touch screen as well as physical buttons for basic audio and climate controls.

All other trims feature a brilliant 11.6-inch touch screen, oriented vertically like a tablet. This setup is similar to the displays found in vehicles from more upscale automakers like Volvo and Tesla . The graphics look great, and the screen has quick response times, but some common temperature and audio adjustments are relegated to touch controls. It may take some practice to operate while driving.

Standard infotainment features: a 7-inch touch screen, four speakers, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Available infotainment features: an 11.6-inch touch screen, two rear USB ports, wireless device charging, a six-speaker audio system, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a navigation system
Other available features: dual-zone automatic climate control and a moonroof

For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?

Legacy Performance: Not Too Fast and Not Too Slow

Legacy Engine

The 2021 Subaru Legacy has two engine options. Most trims come with a 182-horsepower four-cylinder, while the top two trims feature a 260-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder.

With the base engine, acceleration is fine but unimpressive. If you’re looking for more oomph, you’ll want to upgrade to the turbo. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that shifts smoothly and feels refined.

Legacy Gas Mileage

The Legacy’s fuel economy isn’t too shabby for a midsize car , especially considering that this Subaru comes standard with all-wheel drive. With the base engine, the Legacy gets 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Opting for the turbocharged engine drops those figures to 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Legacy Ride and Handling

The Subaru Legacy provides a comfortable ride, and its suspension masks most bumps in the road. Handling feels secure and composed. Still, competitors like the Mazda6 and Honda Accord drive with more agility.

Subaru Legacy Reliability

Is the Subaru Legacy Reliable?

The 2021 Subaru Legacy has a predicted reliability score of 73 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

Subaru Legacy Warranty

Subaru covers the Legacy with a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Subaru Legacy an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. The Legacy earned five stars in the frontal crash, side crash, and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2021 Legacy the highest rating of Good in all six crash test categories. The Legacy also received a Good rating for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead. The IIHS uses a different scale for grading collision avoidance features. The Legacy earned the highest rating of Superior for its standard vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention systems.

Safety Features

Standard advanced safety features:

Adaptive cruise control
Adaptive headlights
Automatic high-beam headlights
Forward automatic emergency braking
Forward collision warning
Lane keep assist
Lane departure warning
Rearview camera
Rear seat reminder

Available advanced safety features:

Blind spot monitoring
Lane change assist
Rear cross traffic alert
Driver drowsiness monitoring
Reverse automatic emergency braking
Front-view camera

Legacy Dimensions and Weight

The Legacy is 15.9 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,500 to 3,790 pounds.

Where Is the 2021 Subaru Legacy Built?

Subaru builds the 2021 Legacy in Indiana.

Which Subaru Legacy Model Is Right for Me?

The 2021 Subaru Legacy comes in six trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. All but the top XT trims come with a 182-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The XT models feature a 260-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. All models come with a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The base trim is fairly well-equipped, but if you’re interested in the larger touch screen or common comfort features like heated seats, you’ll need to step up to at least the Premium trim. If you have room in your budget, you may want to consider the two XT trims. In addition to the more powerful engine, they come with upscale features like leather seats.

Subaru Legacy

The 2021 Subaru Legacy starts at $22,895. Standard features include cloth upholstery and the Starlink infotainment system with a 7-inch touch screen, a four-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Standard driver assistance features include adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, a rear seat reminder, and a rearview camera.

Subaru Legacy Premium

The Legacy Premium retails for $25,145 and adds a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 11.6-inch touch screen, two rear USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system.

Subaru Legacy Sport

The Legacy Sport starts at $27,095. It gains proximity keyless entry, push-button start, 18-inch alloy wheels, two-tone upholstery, and other unique styling elements.

Subaru Legacy Limited

The Legacy Limited has a starting price of $29,895. It features leather upholstery, a power-adjustable passenger seat, heated rear seats, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

There’s also a Legacy Limited XT trim, which starts at $34,445. The Limited XT features the turbocharged four-cylinder engine and gains a moonroof, a heated steering wheel, driver drowsiness monitoring, and navigation.

Subaru Legacy Touring XT

The range-topping Legacy Touring XT has a starting price of $36,145. This is the only other trim that has the turbo-four engine. The Touring XT comes with Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a 180-degree front-view camera.