For many decades, Honda and Subaru have dominated the midsize car segment. With the likes of the Honda Accord and the Subaru Legacy, these automakers are poised to rule this segment for many more years. When it comes to road-tripping, commuting, and running errands, only a handful of midsize cars can beat the Accord and the Legacy. These midsize sedans flaunt an unmatched balance of performance, fuel economy comfort, and space.

Despite both sedans’ much-coveted balance, the Accord beats the Legacy in one key sector.

The 2021 Subaru Legacy is a good midsize car

The 2021 Subaru Legacy is a full redesign of the previous midsize sedan models. Subaru released the seventh generation in 2021 Legacy last year with several improvements. Thus, it beats the compact Impreza and rivals the Subaru Outback, with which it shares a powertrain. Despite the updates, the 2021 Legacy still borrows heavily from its predecessor to the Subaru fans’ delight.

Subaru offers the 2021 Legacy in six trim levels. The Base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trims’ 2.5-liter flat-four engine yields 182 hp and 176 lb-ft. The Limited XT, and Touring XT trims’ turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine yields 260 hp and 277 lb-ft.

Each 2021 Legacy flaunts a sharp, cozy interior eliciting a premium feel. For instance, the Touring XT trim features ventilated Nappa seats, the most deluxe in the entire midsize sedan segment. Better still, the 2021 Legacy incorporates a host of the industry’s most coveted features.

Despite facing stiff competition from the Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima, the 2021 Legacy is among the most sought-after midsize sedans. According to Consumer Reports, “the Legacy is sensible, comfortable, quiet, and easy to live with in almost every way, plus it comes with all-wheel drive, a unique standard feature in the class.”

With this unparalleled balance, the 2021 Legacy is getting more and more celebrated among convenience-centric drivers.

The 2021 Honda Accord is a perfect midsize car

Since its 1976 arrival in the U.S., the Honda Accord is arguably the longest-running and best-performing nameplate in the U.S. The sedan’s impeccable driving dynamics, clever packaging, and unmatched value are among the reasons why it is famous among commuters and small families. Remarkably, the 2021 Honda Accord beats its competition in a landslide.

The 2021 Honda Accord is available in six trims; LX Hybrid, Sport, Sport Special Edition, Hybrid EX, and EX-L. Each trim comes standard with Honda Sensing® Safety & Driver-Assistive Technologies. The LX, Sport, Sport Special Edition, and EX-L are fitted with a four-cylinder 1.5-liter engine delivering 192 hp.

The Sport trim can be fitted with a four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine delivering 252 hp. On the other hand, the Hybrid, Hybrid EX, and EX-L trims are fitted with a four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine delivering 212 hp.

The 2021 Honda Accord flaunts a roomy and cozy interior. Each trim features a wide range of the latest technological features including an 8-inch display with a high-resolution electrostatic touch screen, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, Bluetooth Streaming Audio, Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC), HondaLink, just to mention a few. 

U.S. News ranked the Accord No. 1 in the ‘2021 Best Midsize Car for Families’ segment owing to its excellent blend of “safety, reliability, space, convenience, and connectivity.” The 2021 Accord was also among the finalists in the ‘2021 Best Midsize Car for the Money’ ranking.

The Accord beats the Legacy in fuel efficiency

Given the competitive nature of the midsize sedan segment, buyers might find it taxing to choose between the Honda Accord and the Subaru Legacy. Both sedans tick many boxes, but the Accord is more environment-conscious. It is greener! A big advantage over the Legacy.

The Legacy’s AWD powertrain boasts of 30 mpg combined efficiency. Yet, the Accord flaunts a fuel economy of between 32-33 mpg, depending on the trim level. Nevertheless, the 2.0-liter turbo engine makes 26 mpg. Unbelievably, the Accord Hybrid delivers up to 48 mpg.

Consumer Reports gives both the Legacy and the Accord an 84 out of 100 overall score but rewarded only the Accord the Green Choice designation. For the uninitiated, the Consumer Reports Green Choice designation “highlights the top 20 percent of vehicles on the market with the cleanest emissions.”

Both the Accord and the Legacy are highly accomplished midsize sedans. But if you are after fuel efficiency and cleaner air, and willing to sacrifice the Legacy’s all-wheel-drive, then the Accord is your best bet!