Subaru Impreza vs. Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Impreza vs Subaru Legacy debate has been long-going. With both vehicles being well-priced, designed, and rated, it can't hurt to compare them before making a final decision. Both cars offer smooth handling and sleek design, but which is better for you?
Luckily, in this post, we will compare the Subaru Impreza and Subaru Legacy and cover their similarities, differences, and must-know interior and exterior specs. Without further ado, let's begin!
Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is a five-door hatchback priced under $25,000, offering drivers a quiet cabin, smooth handling, and sleek interiors, and is powered via a 2.0-liter flat-four engine, boasting 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This sedan has been around for many years, with its all-new sixth-generation design dropping in 2024.
The Impreza also boasts an optional upgrade in its sportier 'RS' model, offering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque via its 2.5-liter flat-four engine.
The currently offered trims for Impreza:
- Base
- Sport
- RS
Subaru Legacy
As one of the market's better-rated midsize sedans, the Subaru Legacy is an excellent option as well. In terms of overview, this sedan also starts under $25,000, boasts a spacious interior, has a plethora of included safety and driver assistance technology, and is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.
The base engine provides drivers 182 horsepower, while the optional 2.4-liter turbocharged engine will up the ante to 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Of the Impreza and Legacy, you can go faster in this model.
For the currently available trims:
- Base
- Premium
- Limited
- Sport
- Touring XT
Subaru Impreza vs Subaru Legacy: At A Glance
Between the Subaru Impreza and Legacy, drivers get either a sporty hatchback (Impreza) or a more spacious and traditional-feeling sedan (Legacy). Of the two, the Legacy is larger, boasting more significant cargo and passenger space, a quieter cabin, and better overall handling.
That said, the Subaru Impreza has been long-loved because of its versatility and sporty design, as well as its fast response and safety features. Both models start in the mid-20 range, making them incredibly popular among first-time car owners and those wanting a deal.
The engine inside an Impreza is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Legacy offers a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or the available and more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged engine.
- Subaru Impreza: Sporty, versatile design plus fun handling.
- Subaru Legacy: Larger size sedan with a faster engine and smoother handling.
Subaru Legacy Interior Specs
When shopping for the Legacy, its interior truly shines with standard features, including cloth upholstery, heated front seats, ventilated seating, a SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia system with dual 7-inch touchscreens, and so on.
The cargo space inside a Subaru Legacy is where this model shines bright, boasting 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space and the standard 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks for even greater storage space.
This is better on average for a sedan, giving drivers and passengers more room to spread out and enjoy the ride.
- Headroom (front/rear): 39.4 inches/37.2 inches
- Legroom (front/rear): 42.8 inches/39.5 inches
- Shoulder room (front/rear): 58.1 inches/57.4 inches
Subaru Impreza Interior Specs
Moving inside the Subaru Impreza, you have comfortable seating for five, with comparable head- and legroom to the Legacy. Moreover, this hatchback provides 56 cubic feet of cargo space.
Each standard Impreza boasts cloth upholstery seats, 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks, USB charging ports, and an available high-resolution 11.6-inch touchscreen display. There are also endless safety specs for the Impreza and the Legacy, making both cars safe for families.
- Headroom (front/rear): 39.8 inches/38.0 inches
- Legroom (front/rear): 42.9 inches/36.5 inches
- Shoulder room (front/rear): 56.8 inches/55.3 inches
Subaru Legacy Exterior Specs
Outside the Subaru Legacy, you have a more traditional sedan aesthetic and five available trims to choose from—additionally, the Legacy sports 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, upgradeable to 18-inch, and all-season tires.
LED steering responsive headlights and fog lights on higher trims are available for the lighting, making the Legacy navigate even better at night or during inclement weather. You can also opt for a power-tilt moonroof in higher Legacy trims (Premium+), ideal for additional cabin lighting.
- Length/Width/Height: 191.1 inches/72.4 inches/59.1 inches
- Wheelbase: 108.3 inches
Subaru Impreza Exterior Specs
Moving onto the Impreza, this vehicle's exterior design is sportier and hatchback-style versus the Legacy's sedan aesthetic. The Impreza hatchback boasts three trim levels, including the rally-inspired RS model.
With this vehicle, you can expect standard features like LED headlights and fog lighting, 16-inch steel wheels, all-season tires, windshield wiper de-icers, heated side mirrors, and roof crossbar mounting points exclusive to the Impreza.
Again, the Impreza is a sportier, smaller vehicle than the Legacy, often being better suited for those with smaller families/households.
- Length/Width/Height: 176.2 inches/70.1 inches/58.3 inches
- Wheelbase: 105.1 inches
Subaru Impreza vs. Legacy Engine & Performance
Diving into the engine and performance specs of the Subaru Impreza and Legacy, these models each have pretty impressive configurations.
Starting with the Impreza, you get a standard 2.0-liter, 152 horsepower BOXER®, with the RS model offering a 2.5-liter BOXER® engine.
With the Subaru Legacy, drivers see a standard 2.5-liter BOXER® engine that generates 182 horsepower, while higher trims offer a 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER® engine with 250+ horsepower.
Therefore, you get a faster, more robust engine between these models via the Subaru Legacy.
Note: Both models feature a Lineartronic® CVT with Incline Start Assist, and an 8-speed manual mode is available on the Impreza. Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard, with SI-Drive® exclusive to the Impreza.
Subaru Impreza vs. Legacy Safety & Technology
Regarding their safety and tech features, the Subaru Impreza vs Subaru Legacy is in a close race. While the 2024 models are not *yet* rated, the 2023 Legacy was given the IIHS Top Safety Pick, and the 2023 Impreza achieved Top Safety Pick+. Previous generations are also ranked highly for safety and overall driveability.
Both models will include the EyeSight® suite, featuring things like Pre-Collision Braking and Lane Departure Warning. Exclusive to the Impreza is Pre-Collision Throttle Management, while the Legacy offers standard Lane Keep Assist and Automatic Emergency Steering.
It's also worth noting that both models offer drivers High Beam Assist, with available Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert safety specs.
Get The Subaru Impreza Or Legacy At Tim's Truck Capital Today!
Now that you know what the Subaru Impreza vs Legacy entails, there's no better time to shop for pre-owned models at our dealership, Tim's Truck Capital, today! Both vehicles offer five seats, safety and technology specs galore, and competitive pricing: what more could you ask for?
Happy driving, and we'll see you soon!
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