Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Jetta
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 Volkswagen Jetta
Overview
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | Legacy Sedan | S |
| Body style | Sedan | Sedan |
| Drivetrain | all wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | continuously variable-speed automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2025 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $26,810 | $23,995 (best) |
| Lowest listing price | $11,659 | $7,493 (best) |
| Median listing price | $21,695 (best) | $23,484 |
| Highest listing price | $26,888 (best) | $30,554 |
| For sale now | 9 | 80 (best) |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 30 MPG | 34 MPG (best) |
| City MPG | 27 MPG | 29 MPG (best) |
| Highway MPG | 35 MPG | 40 MPG (best) |
| Fuel tank | 18.5 gal (best) | 13.2 gal |
Performance
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 182 hp (best) | 158 hp |
| Torque | 176 lb-ft | 184 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2.5 L (best) | 1.5 L |
| Cylinders | flat 4 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | 15.1 cu ft (best) | 14.1 cu ft |
| Payload | — | 915 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 3,492 lbs | 2,998 lbs (best) |
| Ground clearance | — | 5.5 in (best) |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in (best) | 105.7 in |
| Length | 191.1 in (best) | 186.5 in |
| Width | 72.4 in (best) | 70.8 in |
| Height | 59.1 in (best) | 57.7 in |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Subaru LegacyLegacy Sedan | Volkswagen JettaS |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | None reported (best) | 1 |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Subaru Legacy | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legacy Sedan $26,810 MSRP(Currently comparing) | S $23,995 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Premium $29,110 MSRP | Sport $25,305 MSRP |
| 3 | Limited $35,920 MSRP | SE $26,985 MSRP |
| 4 | Sport $36,410 MSRP | SEL $29,995 MSRP |
| 5 | Touring XT $40,110 MSRP | Autobahn $33,745 MSRP |
| 6 | — | Autobahn $33,745 MSRP |
Live inventory
Subaru Legacy9 for sale
See all
Used2023 Subaru Legacy
Limited
Crystal White Pearl•Black22,933 mi$25,689Jim Coleman Nissan Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
Used2020 Subaru Legacy
Sport
Magnetite Gray Metallic•Two-Tone Gray63,820 mi$19,813Bridgewater Kia
Finderne, NJ
Used2022 Subaru Legacy
Limited
Crystal White Pearl•Ivory49,315 mi$21,695Matt Bowers Ford
Metairie, LA
Certified2022 Subaru Legacy
Limited
Crystal White Pearl•Ivory21,800 mi$26,888Subaru of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
Used2024 Subaru Legacy
Limited
Crystal White Pearl•Slate Black30,115 mi$25,792LeithCars.com
Raleigh, NC
Certified2022 Subaru Legacy
Limited
Magnetite Gray Metallic•Slate Black49,224 mi$23,900Suttle Buick GMC of Newport News
Newport News, VA
Volkswagen Jetta80 for sale
See all
Used2024 Volkswagen Jetta
SE
Rising Blue Metallic58,656 mi$20,475Tadd Jenkins Auto Sales Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, ID
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T S
Platinum Gray Metallic•Black15 mi$24,363Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T S
Platinum Gray Metallic•Black15 mi$24,549Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Deep Black Pearl•Black12 mi$26,094Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Pure White•Black15 mi$26,094Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
New2026 Volkswagen Jetta
1.5T Sport
Platinum Gray Metallic•Titan Black13 mi$26,061Lou Sobh Volkswagen of Athens
Bogart, GA
Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
- Which is better: 2025 Subaru Legacy or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2025 Subaru Legacy vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2025 Subaru Legacy or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2026 Volkswagen Jetta starts lower at $23,995. Live Subaru Legacy listings start at $11,659. Live Volkswagen Jetta listings start at $7,493.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2025 Subaru Legacy or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (23,995).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2025 Subaru Legacy or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Jetta leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (34).
- Which has better horsepower: 2025 Subaru Legacy or 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- The 2025 Subaru Legacy leads on horsepower in this comparison (260).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2025 Subaru Legacy vs 2026 Volkswagen Jetta?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Subaru Legacy (5/5 NHTSA overall); Volkswagen Jetta (5/5 NHTSA overall).