If you’re looking for a midsize Subaru car, the Subaru Legacy is technically your sole option—but with seating for up to five passengers and a surprising amount of cargo space, the compact Subaru Impreza is a slightly smaller alternative.
While compact and midsize SUVs have become the new family-favorite alternative to the classic minivan, there’s no beating the midsize sedan for a fuel-efficient everyday commuter—and Subaru’s midsize car, the Legacy, hits that sweet spot between size, comfort, and practicality.
If you’re looking for something a little smaller, the Impreza is also a sound choice—and here to walk you through the basics of each model is Jerry
, the trusted broker app
. We’ll compare the options, cover the competition, and help you keep your Subaru car insurance costs
low. Let’s get started. 2022 Subaru Legacy
Subaru’s most spacious sedan comes in the form of the Legacy, a family-sized five-seater car that caters to the everyday commuter. The Legacy offers drivers top-class perks like standard all-wheel drive and one of the largest touchscreen infotainment systems—all at a below-average price point. For those in search of a safe, comfortable, and well-rounded (if basic) sedan, the Subaru Legacy is the way to go.
Pricing
The 2022 Subaru Legacy starts at $24,490 MSRP—on the low end of the average for its class. As you climb up the tier of Legacy trim levels, however, that price steadily climbs. The Legacy’s highest available trim level, the Touring XT, has a starting MSRP of $37,155—around $13,000 more than the base model.
Performance
A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine capable of up to 182 hp comes standard in the latest Legacy—but its top two trim levels, the Limited XT and Touring XT, get an optional turbocharged 2.4-liter engine capable of up to 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. In any case, the Legacy powertrain is hooked up to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Still, when stacked up against other engines in its class, its performance may leave something to be desired. The standard engine will take you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about eight seconds—a dismal time compared to competitors like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. The turbocharged 2.4-liter available in upper trims does slightly better, hitting 60 in just 6.1 seconds.
But what the Legacy lacks in acceleration, it makes up for with smooth handling and a comfortable ride. Standard all-wheel drive allows the Legacy’s wheels to grip the road surface with greater confidence than competitors.
Fuel economy
The Legacy’s standard engine tends to see better gas mileage than the turbo—an estimated 27 city/35 hwy miles per gallon. In a turbocharged model, you’ll have to make more frequent stops—since its average mileage is just 23 city/30 hwy miles per gallon.
Interior and tech
The Legacy may not have world-shattering speed or top-class fuel economy—but riding inside its cushy cabin can make long drives feel like less of a burden. The interior is modest, but well-made, with cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate controls, and nearly 40 inches of rear legroom—some of the most space in its class. In the Limited and Touring models, cloth upholstery is swapped out for plush leather.
You’ll find seating for up to five passengers, and a cavernous trunk capable of holding up to eight carry-on suitcases at one time.
The base model comes with a standard 7-inch infotainment touch display—but upgrade to any available trim level, and you’ll benefit from the much larger 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. A bigger display is well worth the investment, since the majority of the Legacy’s vehicle controls are accessible only through the infotainment display, tucked away behind touch screen menus.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come standard, along with a four-speaker stereo system, built-in Bluetooth, and two USB ports. In the Premium and Sports trims, you’ll find a six-speaker setup with extra USB ports—and the Limited and Touring XT trims enjoy a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system.
No matter the tech specs you’re looking for, all Legacy models come standard with Subaru EyeSight, the brand’s comprehensive suite of driver assistance technologies. Some of the basics include:
Forward collision warning
Forward automatic emergency braking
Safety and reliability
In addition to the standard suite of safety features and driver’s assistance tech, the Legacy also offers drivers a number of optional features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, and a front-view camera.
If there’s one thing you can count on in a Subaru, it’s top-class safety. The Subaru brand regularly pulls top safety awards from recognized vehicle safety agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
And the 2022 Legacy is no exception—not only did it get a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA, but it also earned a Top Safety Pick+, the highest safety award from the IIHS, and US News gave the Legacy a perfect 10/10 safety score.
Trim levels
The 2022 Subaru Legacy comes in six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. If safety is your priority, you’ll be set in the base model and a few optional upgrades.
But if you’re looking for a more well-rounded package, the Premium and Sport trim levels offer a wider variety of features, including heated seats and the larger 11.6-inch display, along with optional packages that include upgrades like keyless entry and push button start, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, a sunroof, built-in navigation, and reverse automatic braking assist.
The Limited XT and Touring XT pack a more powerful punch with a standard turbocharged engine and the complete suite of Legacy upgrades.
Competitors
| | | | | |
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| | 182-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 260-hp 2.4-liter w/continuously variable transmission and standard AWD | 24-27 mpg city/32-35 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 78/100 (J.D. Power), 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal |
| | 192 to 252-hp, 1.5-liter or 2.0-liter four-cylinder w/10-speed automatic or continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard FWD | | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 82/100 (J.D. Power), 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal) |
| | 180-hp 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder w/eight-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD | 24-29 mpg city/32-38 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 3/5 (Consumer Reports), 84/100 (J.D. Power) |
| | 202-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder or 301-hp, 3.5-liter six-cylinder w/eight-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD | | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 84/100 (J.D Power), 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 4.5/5 (Consumer Reports) |
MORE: Every Subaru sports car you should know
2022 Subaru Impreza
For drivers looking to access a sizable Subaru at a slightly more manageable price point, there’s the Subaru Impreza
. While the Impreza technically slots under the compact car segment, the smallest of Subarus still seats the same amount of passengers as the midsize Legacy—and with its optional hatchback frame, you could find significantly more cargo space. Pricing
The 2022 Subaru Impreza has a stunningly accessible price point—starting at just $19,795 MSRP for its classic four-door base model, or $20,295 MSRP for the base five-door hatchback.
Even the Premium and Sports models (available for both the sedan and hatchback versions) have a starting MSRP of around $23,000, making high-performance trim levels and modern luxuries within the reach of many. For drivers invested in maximum comfort and capability, the Limited 5-Door Impreza—the model’s highest available trim level—starts at $27,395 MSRP.
Performance
Depending on the Impreza you choose, there can be significant variation in the model’s performance. While the same 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine comes standard in every trim without the option to upgrade, drivers have the choice between either a five-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable one (CVT).
The transmission you choose can have a serious impact on the way your Impreza drivers. For fans of manual transmission models, you’ll find the Impreza’s stick shift somewhat lacking in precision—but with the slightest of edges over the CVT when it comes to acceleration.
On the other hand, Imprezas equipped with a continuously variable transmission also benefit from an additional number of standard driver assist features, including automatic pre-collision braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and more.
Your transmission won’t have much effect on the Impreza’s less-than-impressive engine performance, however. With a top speed of 120 mph and a whopping 8.5 to 9.4 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph, it's no speed racer—and you’ll have to apply consistent pressure to the gas to keep a steady pace.
That being said, handling is the Impreza’s strong suit. Cornering the Impreza is a breeze, and drivers will enjoy a smooth ride with relatively little road noise (and only a touch of whining from the CVT). This trusty Subaru is also safe to take on the trails—just bear in mind its limitations. After all, it’s no Forester!
Fuel economy
Like the Legacy, you won’t find exceptional fuel economy in an Impreza. It’s mid, at best—with the base sedan and hatchback alike each getting 24 city/31 highway miles to the gallon. But depending on your transmission and trim level, you may get greater efficiency out of certain models.
According to the EPA
and US Department of Energy, the most fuel-efficient version is the Impreza four-door sedan CVT, which can earn up to 28 city/36 highway miles per gallon. In fact, across the board, CVT models appear to one-up manuals on the front of fuel economy—as showcased by the Impreza’s least fuel-efficient model, a five-door manual. Interior and tech
Inside the Impreza, you’ll find a suitable interior—but it’s far from pulling out all the stops. Cloth upholstery is standard, although the Limited 5-door Impreza sports a more luxurious leather interior.
What it lacks in pizazz, the Impreza makes up for in user-friendliness. The instrument cluster is large and easy to read, the controls are simple, and the infotainment system is laid out intuitively—much like a smartphone home screen. In the Premium trim, the 6.5-inch infotainment system is enhanced with added features like SiriusXM radio, an additional USB port, and smartphone app integration—and in the Sport and Limited trims you’ll get an upgraded 8-inch display.
But the hands-down best part of the Impreza’s interior is its size. With 43 inches of front legroom and 36 inches of rear legroom, there’s plenty of space for drivers and passengers alike to get comfortable on long road trips—and up to 100 cubic feet of cargo space to fit the family’s suitcases—significantly more than its compact competitors.
Safety and reliability
You won’t find a Subaru that skimps on safety—and like the Legacy, the 2022 Impreza comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology. However, in the Impreza, there’s a catch—you only get standard EyeSight with the CVT. Drivers of the manual transmission, unfortunately, miss out on the deal.
Some highlights of the Subaru EyeSight suite include:
Forward collision warning
Pre-collision throttle management
Automated forward emergency braking
STARLINK safety and security system
It should come as no surprise that the Impreza earned a full five-star rating from the NHTSA—although it wasn’t designated a Top Safety Pick or Pick+ by the IIHS. Nonetheless, it received a majority of “Good” ratings from the IIHS, with the exception of its headlights, which were given a “Marginal” score in the category of crash avoidance and mitigation.
Trim levels
The Impreza is offered in either a base sedan or hatchback model, and considerably well-equipped for the lowest trim level. Outside of Subaru EyeSight, you can expect to find standard all-wheel drive and 60/40 rear-split seats among the Impreza’s standard features for either the sedan or hatchback versions.
The Premium trim offers more bang for your buck—with upgrades like heated front seats, fog lights, roof rails, and an upgraded suspension. In the Sport trim, buyers will benefit from bigger wheels, a keyless entry and touch-start ignition, a larger infotainment screen, and an upgraded interior.
The Limited—the Impreza’s highest trim level—is available only as a five-door hatchback, and boasts comfort-geared extras like leather upholstery, automatic climate control, six-way power driver’s seat, LED steering-responsive headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Overall, you likely won’t see a major difference in performance beyond the Premium—but if you’re looking for upgraded interior comforts and added safety features, it may be worth it to splurge on the Premium or Sport models.
Competitors
| | | | | |
|---|
| | | | | |
| | 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder w/five-speed automatic transmission or CVT and standard AWD | 24-29 mpg city/24-29 mpg city/31-36 mpg hwy | | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 4/5 (Consumer Reports), 80/100 (J.D. Power) |
| | 155-227 hp, 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter four-cylinder w/six-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual transmission and standard FWD | 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 74/100 (J.D. Power), 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 8.6/10 (US News) |
| | 149-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder w/Xtronic CVT and standard FWD | | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick (IIHS | 85/100 (J.D. Power), 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal) |
| | 139 to 169-hp, 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter four-cylinder w/six-speed manual transmission or CVT and standard FWD | | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 85/100 (J.D. Power), 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 73/100 (MotorBiscuit) |
How to save on Subaru insurance
Whether you opt for the surprisingly spacious compact Impreza or the classic midsize Legacy, these two Subaru cars share one commonality: they’re both fairly affordable to insure. On average, drivers pay just $1,200 to insure the Impreza, or a little over $1,300 for annual insurance on a Legacy. But if you choose a higher trim level, your premium can grow pricier fast.
Luckily, Jerry
can help you find the best rates on Subaru Impreza or Legacy insurance—in as little as 45 seconds! Simply download the app, enter your basic information, and instantly get access to personalized quotes from over 55+ name-brand insurance providers. Once you’ve made your selection, Jerry’s team of agents handle all the paperwork and phone calls on your behalf, and will even generate new quotes each time your policy comes up for renewal—so you can keep the coverage you want at the right price. Because Jerry is a licensed insurance broker and the #1-rated insurance app on the App Store, you can trust the quotes you find with Jerry. Best of all, Jerry users save an average of $800+ on car insurance
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