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Midsize cars are great. They offer the family-friendly space not available in more compact cars, but are still small enough to be easier to maneuver and more fuel efficient than larger vehicles like minivans, crossovers, or SUVs. If you're in the market for a midsize car, you might be pelted with a number of brand names and models that make you wonder what the best choice is. The Toyota Camry has a reputation that precedes it, but does that make it better than a car like the Subaru Legacy? Let's take a look.
In terms of power, the two cars are pretty comparable. Both come with 2.5-liter engines, though the Subaru has a cutting-edge BOXER engine with a dual-valve control system. The Camry gets 178 HP in comparison to the Legacy's 175, but on the flip side, the Legacy gets 174 lb-ft of torque when compared to the Camry's 170. The boost in horsepower puts the Camry at an ever-so-slight disadvantage in fuel economy; the Subaru Legacy is capable of up to 36 mpg, while the Camry can get 35. Overall, the differences in numbers are fairly inconsequential, but if you want to be finicky, the Legacy has a tiny advantage in performance.
In terms of standard features, the Subaru Legacy comes standard with all-wheel drive, in comparison to the Camry's front-wheel drive. This is interesting, considering the Legacy's slight boost in fuel efficiency-usually AWD causes vehicles to lag behind in terms of EPA estimates. The Legacy also features 65/35-split fold-down seats, which makes it easier for families to optimize storage and passenger space.
Lastly, the Subaru Legacy wins in terms of price. Despite being front-wheel drive and not having the sort of customization options the Subaru has, the Toyota Camry has a sticker price of $23,070, while the Legacy is only $21,745. While both midsize cars are fairly comparable in many areas, the near-$2,000 difference enough makes the Subaru Legacy the obvious choice.
