Auto: The all-new Nissan Altima takes on the Subaru Legacy

Japanese cars have a reputation: reliability and value for your dollar. The remarkable thing is how different each brand and vehicle can be even when in a similar price point. Take for example the all-new 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL and the 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.

Both of these cars represent the top of the range in their model family. They are also both in the low $30K price range with the all-new Altima coming in at $32,135 as tested and the Legacy requiring a little more dough at $33,677 as tested. Ironically, both cars have six cylinder engines of a similar size — 3.5 and 3.6 liters respectively — and put out over 250 hp. The Altima has the edge with the 270 hp V6, but the Subaru pulls ahead slightly with a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, which is one-tenth faster than the Altima according to independent tests. A circumstance that is actually pretty remarkable considering the Subaru comes with the famed Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and the Altima is only front-wheel drive.

Both cars also have leather, heated seats, navigation, high-powered stereo systems (the well known Bose in the Nissan) and safety systems like lane departure detection, blind spot monitoring and rear view camera. It really does beg the question: how do you pick?

From my perspective the devil is in the details because both cars will perform and be reliable. However, in this case it is a hard choice to say I would buy one over the other. The Subaru has a sportier feel and holds the road like it is on rails. As you would expect it is also sure footed in the snow. It also has some class leading safety features like EyeSight to help prevent collisions (if you can stand the bulky stereo cameras around the rear view mirror). The downfall of the Subaru for me is the aesthetic appeal. It looks like it was designed in a vacuum — it just lacks passion or fluidity.

The interior is okay, but doesn’t give you the same feeling as the inside of the Altima. Again, the design style is similar; the Legacy is harsher with hard lines and edges where as the Altima is a more fluid design inside and out. It just seems more refined. This might be why the Legacy has a real key and the Altima has the Intelligent Key with keyless entry and push button ignition. Oh, and a heated steering wheel. But then you don’t have the functionality of all-wheel drive.

On paper, both are great cars and drive well with good road manners, but there is something we can’t account for—how the car makes you feel. I would go for the Altima because I think the new exterior body is beautiful and the interior well designed and finished. It also has better fuel economy, which all together gives me a sense of value for the dollar. Of course, I don’t have a fear of front-wheel drive in the snow either.