Honda Accord vs Subaru Legacy

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

Honda Accord

2025 Honda Accord

Large CarsHybrid/EV
VS3 – 4Subaru Legacy wins 4 of 7 categories
Subaru Legacy

2025 Subaru Legacy

Midsize CarsAWD/4WD

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Honda Accord is more fuel-efficient: 48 vs 30 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $850 a year less in fuel for the Honda Accord (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Honda Accord is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Subaru Legacy has had fewer recall campaigns (12 vs 49).

The two cars

The 2025 Honda Accord is a large car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive. It measures about 196 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,292 lb (Base 4dr Sedan).

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).

Buying used? The 2024 Accord and the 2024 Legacy have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 Accord and the 2020 Legacy.

Basics

Large Cars
Class
Midsize Cars
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

48 MPG
Best combined MPG
30 MPG
51 city
City / highway MPG (best)
27 city
$1,400
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,250

Performance & space

192 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
260 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
195.7 in
Length
191.3 in
73.2 in
Width
72.4 in
57.1 in
Height
59.1 in
3,292 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,541 lb

Safety & reliability

–
NHTSA overall rating
★★★★★
12
Driver-assist features standard
11
3
Recalls (2025)
0
49
Recalls, all years since 2005
12
120
Owner complaints (latest year)
6

Interest

44,520
Wikipedia views, 30 days
11,414

Buying used

Best used year
Year to avoid

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

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Honda Accord if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (48 vs 30 MPG)
  • You want more room (4 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Choose the Subaru Legacy if…

  • You want more power (up to 260 vs 192 hp)
  • You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)
  • You need AWD or 4WD
  • You put reliability history first (12 vs 49 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2025 Honda Accord

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 48 MPG combined — 91% better than the average 2025 large car (25.1 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Modest powerUp to 192 hp, versus about 260 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • Many owner complaints120 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 28 for similar models — most often about the steering.

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

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