Subaru Legacy vs Toyota Crown

2025 Subaru Legacy vs 2025 Toyota Crown — two midsize cars compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Subaru Legacy

2025 Subaru Legacy

Midsize CarsAWD/4WD
VS1 – 5Toyota Crown wins 5 of 6 categories
Toyota Crown

2025 Toyota Crown

Midsize CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Toyota Crown is more fuel-efficient: 41 vs 30 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $600 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Crown (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Toyota Crown is the bigger car, about 5 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota Crown has had fewer recall campaigns (4 vs 12).

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 Crown is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 196 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,343 lb (4dr Sedan Platinum).

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

Basics

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

Efficiency

30 MPG
Best combined MPG
41 MPG
27 city
City / highway MPG (best)
42 city
$2,250
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,650

Performance & space

260 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
264 hp
5
Seats (most)
5
191.3 in
Length
196.1 in
72.4 in
Width
72.4 in
59.1 in
Height
60.6 in
3,541 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,979 lb

Safety & reliability

★★★★★
NHTSA overall rating
–
11
Driver-assist features standard
11
0
Recalls (2025)
3
12
Recalls, all years since 2005
4
6
Owner complaints (latest year)
5

Interest

11,414
Wikipedia views, 30 days
39,234

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 Subaru Legacy if…

  • You want something easier to park (5 in shorter)

Choose the Toyota Crown if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (41 vs 30 MPG)
  • You want more room (5 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option
  • You put reliability history first (4 vs 12 recalls since 2005)

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 Crown

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 41 MPG combined — 37% better than the average 2025 midsize car (30 MPG).
  • Strong performanceUp to 264 hp, versus about 192 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

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