2020 Subaru Legacy vs 2021 Hyundai Sonata

The 2020 Subaru Legacy presented a challenge in terms of styling, as it aimed for pragmatic sensibility rather than flashiness. While it was a handsome car with sharp angles and details, it struggled to stand out among competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which boasted more rakish and bold designs. The Legacy's front end appeared smaller, often leading to confusion with the compact Subaru Impreza. Inside, the Legacy featured a massive 11.6-inch touchscreen, but many functions were buried within the digital interface, complicating simple tasks like adjusting climate controls. The Legacy offered six trims, with the Premium trim being recommended for its features like the All-Weather Package and 10-way power front seats.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata was redesigned for the 2020 model year, resulting in a distinctive and bold appearance. The Sonata N Line, in particular, featured functional and stylistic changes that enhanced its appeal, such as larger air intakes and gloss black accents. The interior of the Sonata N Line was equally impressive, with sport front seats, premium materials, and a panoramic sunroof. The Sonata's design was both stealthy and sporty, offering a balance between performance and comfort. The car's exterior and interior design elements contributed to a more appealing and modern look compared to the Legacy.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy was equipped with a 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive, providing a responsive driving experience. However, the Legacy's powertrain showed some weaknesses when accelerating to highway speeds, requiring a push and generating noise. For those seeking more power, a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine was available in the Limited XT and Touring XT trims, delivering 260 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The Legacy's chassis offered precise cornering and refined ride quality, but the auto stop-start system was jarring and required multiple steps to disable. Fuel economy for the base engine was impressive, with 27 mpg city, 35 highway, and 30 combined, while the turbocharged engine achieved 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This power was delivered to the front wheels through an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a launch control system. The Sonata N Line offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, along with an Active Sound Design system for an enhanced engine note. The car's performance was further improved with stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Sonata N Line excelled in handling, with minimal understeer and body roll, providing a thrilling driving experience. Despite its performance focus, the Sonata N Line maintained a comfortable ride quality and achieved an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 23.7 mpg.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy offered solid trunk space for a sedan, with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. While it couldn't compete with crossovers in terms of cargo space, the Legacy surprised with its backseat head- and legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats were supportive, and the interior featured practical storage solutions, though the center stack tray was somewhat cramped.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line provided a spacious interior with heated front sport seats that balanced comfort and lateral support. The rear seat offered less legroom and thigh support compared to the front, but rear air conditioning vents and a USB port added convenience. The Sonata's trunk volume was generous at 16 cubic feet, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat expanded utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was a practical addition, though the lack of an interior handle for closing the trunk was a minor inconvenience.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy featured an 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system, but its interface was criticized for burying simple functions within menus. While the system had large icons and no lag, its portrait orientation limited the display of Apple CarPlay. The Legacy's tech was present in all trims except the base, making it difficult to avoid the system's drawbacks.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a Bose premium sound system. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but lacked a WiFi hotspot. The absence of a tuning knob and the placement of the volume control knob were minor annoyances. The Sonata N Line also offered Hyundai Digital Key for Android devices and a Sounds of Nature feature for relaxation.

The 2020 Subaru Legacy was equipped with Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The system used a head-up light system for alerts and included a helpful feature for when the car in front starts moving. Standard safety features also included airbags, traction control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured Hyundai's SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems, offering a comprehensive suite of features such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Additional safety features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. While the N Line had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review, the standard Sonata received high ratings for occupant protection.