Compare the2024 Subaru LegacyVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

The Legacy has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Legacy’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Legacy and the Avalon have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Legacy is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	158	162
Neck Injury Risk	26%	35%
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	241	302
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	147 lbs.	180 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	64 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	161/137 lbs.	447/453 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Legacy is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	50	163
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	220	266
Hip Force	581 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	267
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	681 lbs.	719 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Legacy the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 55 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Legacy has a standard 620-amp battery. The Avalon’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Legacy Sport/XT’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Legacy lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Avalon doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Legacy gets better mileage than the Avalon:

			MPG
Legacy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/35 hwy
		2.4 turbo flat-4	23 city/31 hwy
Avalon
	FWD	XLE 3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/32 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	22 city/31 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Legacy’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Avalon doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Legacy has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Legacy has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons).

The Legacy has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Avalon doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Legacy’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

	Legacy	Avalon
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches

The Legacy’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Legacy has larger tires than the Avalon (225/55R17 vs. 215/55R17).

The Legacy Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Legacy’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (36.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Legacy’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Legacy is 4.8 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Legacy easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Legacy 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Avalon doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Legacy a Large car, while the Avalon is rated a Mid-size.

The Legacy has 2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Avalon.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Legacy. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Legacy is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Legacy Premium/Sport/Limited/Touring offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Legacy’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Legacy Base). The Avalon doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Legacy’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Legacy’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Legacy with a number “1” insurance rate while the Avalon is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Legacy is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the Legacy than the Avalon, including $36 less for a water pump, $128 less for a muffler, $34 less for front brake pads, $96 less for a starter, $217 less for fuel injection, $44 less for a fuel pump, $29 less for front struts, $935 less for a timing belt/chain and $115 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Legacy and the Toyota Avalon, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Legacy outsold the Toyota Avalon by 85% during 2022.