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Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Corolla

2025 Subaru Legacy vs 2025 Toyota Corolla — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Subaru Legacy

2025 Subaru Legacy

Midsize CarsAWD/4WD
VS5 – 2Subaru Legacy wins 5 of 7 categories
Toyota Corolla

2025 Toyota Corolla

Compact CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota Corolla is more fuel-efficient: 50 vs 30 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $900 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Corolla (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Subaru Legacy is the bigger car, about 19 inches longer.

Both earned 5 stars overall in NHTSA crash tests.

Across all model years since 2005, the Subaru Legacy has had fewer recall campaigns (12 vs 43).

The two cars

The 2025 Subaru Legacy is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive. It measures about 191 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,541 lb (4dr Sedan).

The 2025 Toyota Corolla is a compact car offered with 3 engines (1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 3-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 183 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,053 lb (4dr Sedan Hybrid).

Buying used? The 2024 Legacy and the 2022 Corolla have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2020 Legacy and the 2020 Corolla.

Basics

Midsize Cars
Class
Compact Cars
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 3-cyl turbo
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

30 MPG
Best combined MPG
50 MPG
27 city
City / highway MPG (best)
53 city
$2,250
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,350

Performance & space

260 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
169 hp
5
Seats (most)
5
191.3 in
Length
172.4 in
72.4 in
Width
69.3 in
59.1 in
Height
55.9 in
3,541 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,954 lb

Safety & reliability

★★★★★
NHTSA overall rating
★★★★★
11
Driver-assist features standard
9
0
Recalls (2025)
1
12
Recalls, all years since 2005
43
6
Owner complaints (latest year)
33

Interest

11,414
Wikipedia views, 30 days
52,279

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2022
2020
Year to avoid
2020

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Subaru Legacy if…

  • You want more power (up to 260 vs 169 hp)
  • You want more room (19 in longer)
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (12 vs 43 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota Corolla if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (50 vs 30 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (19 in shorter)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2025 Subaru Legacy

  • Strong performanceUp to 260 hp, versus about 200 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • No recalls so far

2025 Toyota Corolla

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 50 MPG combined — 75% better than the average 2025 compact car (28.6 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • Modest powerUp to 169 hp, versus about 228 hp for similar 2025 models.

Full 2025 Subaru Legacy specs →Full 2025 Toyota Corolla specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →