When looking for a midsize sedan that’s affordable, you might’ve come across two competing vehicles. One is the Subaru legacy, and the other is the Mazda6. 

U.S. News compares the two vehicles and shows just what you can get as a standard or optional feature on both. Read on to find out which one might appeal to you.

Is the 2021 Mazda6 a good car?

On U.S. News midsize cars list, the Mazda6 lands in the third spot, three places lower than the 2021 Subaru Legacy. It also received an overall score of 8.2 out of 10, which is a little higher than what Subaru got. There are a few different reasons why the Mazda6 scored better. 

One reason is because it has better performance. With a score of 8.4, the Mazda6 had more power under the hood to offer. The Legacy’s base engine, which is a 2.5-liter H-4 motor producing 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque.

Mazda’s base engine is a 2.5-liter Inline-four motor that generates 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. There’s even a turbocharged motor available if you want to upgrade.

Mazda’s sedan also has better predicted reliability ratings. The Mazda6 received a three out of five, while the Legacy got a score of two. It’s not too surprising, since Mazda is known for making some pretty reliable vehicles, anyway. 

The Mazda6 also has top-notch handling and high-quality cabin materials to boast about. When it comes to fuel economy, the Subaru comes pretty close to the Legacy. It gets an estimated 26 mpg on city roads, but Subaru’s sedan gets an estimated 27. Both ultimately achieve 35 mpg on the highway, though. 

What the 2021 Subaru Legacy Offers

Coming in at the sixth spot on U.S. News midsize cars list, the Legacy received an overall score of 7.6 out of 10. While it doesn’t offer as many awe-inspiring features as the Mazda6 has, the Legacy still has some high points to take note of. 

It runs neck and neck with Mazda when it comes to safety. Both getting a 9.8 rating. The Legacy as well as the Mazda6 received a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS for the 2021 model year. 

The Subaru Legacy is also quite a bit cheaper than the Mazda6 when you look at starting prices for the base models. You’ll find the MSRP of the Mazda6 at $24,475, but the Legacy is a little cheaper at $22,895. 

Why the 2021 Subaru Legacy might be the better choice

The Mazda6 has many great features that make it seem like the better choice between the two. However, the Subaru Legacy offers a few items of its own that could set it apart from its rival. The key feature that many people might like is that the Legacy offers AWD as standard.

 If having the all-wheel drive feature is important to you, the Legacy would be your best bet. As of right now, the Mazda6 doesn’t even have the option to upgrade to all-wheel drive. 

Another area where we see the Legacy pulls ahead of its competitor is its interior. US News gave it a score of 7.6 out of 10, which is just a bit better than the Mazda’s 7.0. The primary reason for this is that the Mazda6 has cramped rear seats, whereas Subaru offers a spacious cabin all around. 

The last feature that you’ll find with the Legacy is its infotainment system. Subaru installed one that’s easy to use in their midsize sedan. Mazda’s pretty average, but can apparently get a little frustrating to control. 

Both midsize sedans are great, but if you want to choose between the two, the Legacy is cheaper and offers AWD standard. If these aren’t important to you, the Mazda6 offers more power and agile handling.