Subaru Legacy vs. BMW 3 Series
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Subaru Legacy and BMW 3 Series contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Subaru Legacy and the BMW 3 Series.
When we compare the Subaru Legacy's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the Subaru Legacy has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, resale value and interior volume. The BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of reliability, overall quality score and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Subaru Legacy's and the BMW 3 Series's specifications and ratings, the Subaru Legacy is a better car than the BMW 3 Series.
Pricing: A used 2024 Subaru Legacy ranges from $25,884 to $35,342 while a used 2024 BMW 3 Series is priced between $42,839 to $64,993. For a new model, the Subaru Legacy's price is between $27,715 and $38,048, with the BMW 3 Series priced between $47,938 and $68,399.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Subaru Legacy loses 37.2 percent of its value and the BMW 3 Series loses 50.1 percent of its value. This means the Subaru Legacy retains 12.9 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW 3 Series.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Subaru Legacy is 8.4 out of 10 while the BMW 3 Series' quality rating is 8.6 out of 10. This results in the Subaru Legacy being ranked 9 out of 13 Best Midsize Cars and the BMW 3 Series being ranked 3 out of 36 Best Luxury Small Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Subaru Legacy is 8.1 out of 10. For the BMW 3 Series the reliability rating is 8.4 out of 10. This gives the BMW 3 Series a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Subaru Legacy.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Subaru Legacy’s base engine makes 182 horsepower, and the BMW 3 Series base engine makes 255 horsepower. The Legacy is rated to deliver an average of 30 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 648 miles. The 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 530 miles. This gives the Subaru Legacy the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the BMW 3 Series. The Legacy uses regular unleaded, and the 3 Series uses premium unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Subaru Legacy, a midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The BMW 3 Series, a compact car, has the advantage in the area of rear head room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Subaru Legacy and the BMW 3 Series have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, the Subaru Legacy has the advantage with a Top Safety Pick award.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$27,715 - $38,048
Starting MSRP:
$24,895
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Midsize Cars)
$26,143
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Midsize Cars)
$24,700 - $27,895
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$47,938 - $68,399
Starting MSRP:
$44,500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$48,375
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$31,800 - $79,900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$29,670
Price Range:
$25,884 - $35,342
Category Avg Price:
(Midsize Cars)
$29,305
Category Avg Price Range:
(Midsize Cars)
$25,951 - $31,688
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
266
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
7,007
# Good or Great Deals:
64
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$50,648
Price Range:
$42,839 - $64,993
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$52,490
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
$35,163 - $100,522
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
554
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
10,385
# Good or Great Deals:
157
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
Depreciation %:
Resale Value $:
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Midsize Cars)
37.2%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Midsize Cars)
32.1% - 45.7%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$22,483
Depreciation %:
50.5%
Resale Value $:
$22,017
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
48.9%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
33.5% - 53.5%
Subaru Legacy Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.4 / 10
Reliability:
8.1 / 10
Retained Value:
8.2 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.6 / 10
Reliability:
8.4 / 10
Retained Value:
7.4 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru Legacy
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.2
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Midsize Cars)
10.1
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Midsize Cars)
9.5 - 13
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
5.3%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.4
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
8.1 - 14.3
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
12.5%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
6.3
Typical Category Recalls:
(Midsize Cars)
3.3
Category Range for Recalls:
(Midsize Cars)
1.7 - 15.5
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
10.3
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.2 - 14.6
Subaru Legacy Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 9Ranking
3 out of / 13Ranking
3 out of / 13Ranking
3 out of / 3Ranking
4 out of / 5Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 6Ranking
7 out of / 13Ranking
9 out of / 13Ranking
11 out of / 13BMW 3 Series Rankings
Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
3 out of / 36Ranking
6 out of / 36Ranking
6 out of / 12Ranking
10 out of / 36Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
14 out of / 31Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
30 out of / 36Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid
Subaru Legacy Trim Levels
Base, Limited, Premium, Sport, Touring XT
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
178 foot-lbs @ 3700 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.052 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 1550 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.072 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Flat/Horizontally Opposed
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
27 / 35 / 30
Range (city/hwy):
500 / 648 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 34 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
390 / 530 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
39.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.2 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
57.4 inches
Cargo Space:
15.1 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
120.6 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.6 inches
Cargo Space:
13 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
94.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3491 lbs
Width:
81.1 inches
Height:
59.1 inches
Length:
191.1 inches
Wheelbase:
108.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.9 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3536 lbs
Width:
81.4 inches
Height:
56.8 inches
Length:
185.9 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.6 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/55R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Silica
Blue
Cosmic Blue Pearl
Gray
Magnetite Gray Metallic
Silver
Ice Silver Metallic
White
Crystal White Pearl
Red
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Phytonic Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Silver
Not available
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Slate Black
Beige
Not available
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching
Beige
Canberra Beige
Brown
Cognac / Mocha
Gray
Oyster
Red
Tacora Red
