2023 Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Camry

The Subaru Legacy is highly rated among midsized sedans because of its dependability, safety, and affordability. It has many competitors, such as the Toyota Camry, that offer good long-term value and fuel efficiency. Huffines Subaru Corinth is here to help you understand how these two vehicles differ and determine the right choice for your needs. Our team has written this guide so you can compare the key characteristics and differences between the 2023 Subaru Legacy and the 2023 Toyota Camry.

Exterior

The 2023 Subaru Legacy has six trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The Legacy Base comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, while Sport-level models and higher have 18-inch wheels. A sunroof and heated, power-adjustable mirrors are optional. The vehicle’s single exhaust outlet, body-colored back bumper, rear lip spoiler, and LED taillights all add to the appearance, and curved lines that match a sloping roof characterize the sides.

The 2023 Toyota Camry has eight trims: LE, SE, SE Nightshade, XLE, XSE, TRD, XLE V6, and XSE V6. The style is basic, but a few special editions transform the car’s identity. For instance, the SE Nightshade Edition comes with a black grille and rear spoiler, bringing it a little closer to the appeal of the Legacy. The TRD trim comes with a huge rear wing, a reduced ride height, matte-black 19-inch wheels, and an available two-tone paint treatment.

The Subaru Legacy has a total height of 59.1 inches and a ground clearance of 5.9 inches. Meanwhile, the 2023 Camry has a height of 56.3 or 57.1 inches and a ground clearance of 5.7 inches, making the Legacy a little bigger and more seated. This encourages a more comfortable driving position and increases passenger headroom. Overall, we think the Legacy is more appealing on the outside, but it largely depends on what trim level fits your style.

Interior

Adorned with carefully selected, premium materials, the 2023 Legacy’s cabin feels bigger than ever, especially in the back row. The rear cargo area is the same size as the Camry’s, holding up to 15.1 cubic feet of luggage, groceries, and more. However, the driver’s seat in the Legacy has a manual thigh extension function on the higher trims, which is fantastic for getting a relaxed, empowering seat position.

The Camry works as a budget-friendly car, but leather seating and other features on the XLE or higher can make it impressively opulent. Like the Subaru Legacy, it also benefits from steering-wheel-mounted controls for audio, transmission, cruise control, and more. The dashboard’s uninspired middle section, however, is a little underwhelming. There’s also a significant difference in cabin material quality between the cheaper versions and the XLE or higher.

Engines and Performance

The 2023 Legacy got slight enhancements to improve handling. The same engines return, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower on the Base, Premium, Limited, and Limited XT. A 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower is standard on the Sport and Touring XT variants. A continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard on all Legacy models.

The Camry offers a standard four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission, though the XLE and XSE get a V-6 with 301 horsepower. The four-cylinder powerplant’s acceleration could be better, but the general ride and idle are smooth.

The Camry offers up to 39 highway mpg compared to the Legacy’s 35. However, the Legacy has a higher towing capacity of 3,491 lbs than the Camry’s 3,310 lbs.

Technology Features

Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, standard on the 2023 Legacy, includes dual seven-inch monitors, an upper screen for general infotainment and automobile control, and a lower screen to handle some functions, such as climate control. The new 11.6-inch vertically oriented infotainment display is found in the Premium model. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and models other than the Base can include navigation. Standard audio equipment includes a four-speaker stereo, six speakers on the Premium and Sport, and a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon system on the top trims.

The 2023 Camry has a respectable selection of in-cabin technology, though not necessarily class-leading. A seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system is included on the lower trims, which have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s unclear why higher models that swap in a nine-inch touchscreen downgrade to wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Still, a 10-inch color head-up display and an 800-watt, nine-speaker JBL sound system are also available.

In a side-by-side comparison, the Subaru offers more advanced technology features, though many are available on the Camry. Contact Huffines Subaru Corinth to get more guidance on buying your next car.

Safety Features

The Legacy offers many safety benefits Camry doesn’t match, such as symmetrical all-wheel drive for superior road traction. Although the Toyota Camry has Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, it lacks some technologies, such as reverse automatic braking and DriverFocus distraction mitigation system, both available on Legacy models. Between a 2023 Subaru Legacy versus a Toyota Camry of the same price, you may find more standard safety features on the Subaru.

2023 Subaru Legacy vs. Toyota Camry: Verdict