Comparing and contrasting the Subaru Legacy B4 and Mazda Atenza Sport is like a battle of the sexes. One is bulky, domineering, masculine and has an incredible sporty history while the other one is nimble, stylish and lighter. What are the better features between the Subaru Legacy B4 vs. Mazda Atenza Sport? Being cars from different brands, engine sizes and prices, at the end of the day, it is all about what you love.
Subaru Legacy B4: History
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The Subaru Legacy B4 is a compact sedan or touring wagon. When it comes to family cars that simply refuse to fit into the description of bland, boring and slow, this one takes all the accolades. Subaru Legacy produced the fourth generation between 2003 and 2009 in various phases and models. Initially, it came in different models like the B4, B4 TS-R, B4 RS25 and the B4 RS30, the latter was introduced to the market in 2002.
Mazda Atenza Sport: History
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The Mazda Atenza Sport is also referred to as Mazda 6 in some regions, a very beautiful and stylish compact sedan. Mazda has always been known for going against the norms and creating incredibly beautiful cars but with this one, Mazda truly outdid itself. The first generation of the Atenza Sport was produced from 2002 to 2008, second generation from 2007 to 2012 and the third generation from 2012 to 2016 for the GJ1 and from 2016 to present for the GL model. The second generation Mazda (2002 to 2008) has incredible design and style, but how does it stand up to the Legacy side by side?
Used Pricing Comparison
A used Subaru Legacy B4 on BE FORWARD will cost from $1000 to $3000 depending on how recent the year of manufacture is, excluding shipping and port clearing charges. A used Mazda Atenza Sport price ranges between $900 and $2000, making it slightly cheaper on the high end.
Make/Model: Subaru Legacy B4
Average Used BF Price: $1,000 to $3,000*
Make/Model: Mazda Atenza Sport
Average Used BF Price: $900 to $2,000*
*Based on average 2018 BE FORWARD pricing
Interior & Exterior Comparison
Subaru Legacy B4
You will love the interior of the Subaru Legacy B4 thanks to its quiet cabin. In addition, there is an array of advanced features in this car. Steering wheel comes with cruise control and audio buttons mounted, the parking brake is electronic, dual zone climate control (automatic), enchanting leather upholstery, Bluetooth, and a nine-speaker audio system. There is also a voice activated navigation system, moon roof and much more.
Note that some of these features are limited to certain trims only or may increase the price. Some, like leather upholstery, are fairly common for all trims. The Legacy B4 is a 5-seater sedan, spacious both in the front and in the back, and can seat 5 adults comfortably.
Inside the Legacy, there is a lot of cabin storage and a beautiful dashboard. You will notice that it has great visibility all the way from the electric mirrors to large windows and a big windscreen. Although the car sits low, you can see a lot of the outside.
Outside, the Legacy B4 is hard to miss because it looks as heavyset as well. This Subaru has small, predatory headlights, alloy wheels and a boxy yet curvaceous body. It is a four-door sedan, looks bulky but handles very well even around the corners, thanks to the all-wheel drive system.
18-inch alloy wheels look outstanding. the powered moon roof makes this car look incredibly good. If you are the kind of person that loves to turn heads when you pass by, the B4 is the car for you.
The trunk volume of the Subaru is 323 liters/kg, which is big enough for you to use this as a regular family car. Furthermore, the rear seat splits 65:35 to increase the cargo volume. The all wheel drive ensures that you can drive on almost all road conditions without fear, but do note that the ground clearance is quite low. Drivability is great with so many driver assist features, yet at the same time you feel in total control.
Mazda Atenza Sport
The Mazda Atenza Sport is also lacks nothing when it comes to interior features. Cruise control is available on a leather wrapped, tilt-able steering wheel with audio controls, a red display of instruments/gauges, front and side airbags, air conditioning, climate control and leather upholstery may not be standard features, but they are available on certain trims.
This is a 5-seater sedan, very comfortable seats, a lot of cabin storage spaces and an auxiliary jack for music. Mazda makes great interiors with mostly dark shades and this one is no different. For such an affordable car, the first impression you get is luxury. Although there is a lot of plastic look around, it is not that noticeable because the nice design captures all of your attention. There is a lot of leg space and headroom to seat 5 adults comfortably.
The exterior of the Mazda Atenza Sport is quite an eyeful to look at. As we said before, this company is known for going against the norm by making visually appealing vehicles and the Atenza looks incredible, beating even the Legacy B4.
The grill is quite impressive, too. The Mazda badge is bigger on the Sport than on other models, perhaps to draw the attention to the grill. From the grill, there are fine lines that extend to form the wing-shaped moldings that make Mazda look more handcrafted in a personal workshop than machine-made in an assembly line.
Halogen headlights, LED rear lights and a well-shaped trunk complete the incredible looks of this vehicle. For performance, the 17 inch and 18 inch alloy wheels are indeed outstanding, making this car look ready to rev and go all the time.
You also get eight colors to choose from for your Mazda Atenza Sport. With a cargo volume of 423 liters, this is big for your family and can fit two large suitcases and other smaller items.
Make/Model: Subaru Legacy B4
Seating: 5 /Doors: 4
Weight (kg): ~1,360
Make/Model: Mazda Atenza Sport
Seating: 5 /Doors: 5
Weight (kg): ~1,4300
Engine & Fuel Efficiency Comparison
Subaru Legacy B4
Subaru Legacy B4 comes in different engines depending on the trim. There are 2.0-liter engines, 4 cylinders, 2.5 liter, 3.0-liter engines mated to 4-speed automatic or 5/6 speed manual transmission. The fuel type is petrol and the tank capacity is 64 liters. Considering the features, the size and the performance aspect of this car, the consumption is a bit high, but again it depends on the driver. Some drivers have claimed to milk 13km/l on a light foot, but you should not bank on that. 9.8km/l is more standard for this vehicle.
Mazda Atenza Sport
In the Mazda Atenza Sport, you will be looking at a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder, 16 valve naturally aspirated engine that has been mated with 5-speed automatic transmission. The fuel type is petrol although some Atenzas come with a diesel engine. The fuel tank capacity is 64 liters and the fuel system is EFI. The fuel consumption is 13.2km/l.
Make/Model: Subaru Legacy B4
Engine: ~4 cylinder
Fuel Consumption (km/l): ~9.8
Fuel Tank Capacity (l): 64
Fuel Type: Petrol
Make/Model: Mazda Atenza Sport
Engine: ~4 cylinder
Fuel Consumption (km/l): ~13.2
Fuel Tank Capacity (l): 64
Fuel Type: Petrol/Diesel
Subaru Legacy B4 vs. Mazda Atenza Sport: Verdict
Cargo Volume vs. Fuel Efficiency
Consider your needs when buying and if any of these two cars fulfills them, go for it. If you are looking for big trunk volume, fuel efficiency and incredibly good looks, go for the front-wheel-drive Atenza Sport with a top speed of 211km/h.
Looks vs. Pricing
If you are looking for masculinity, aggression, steady handling and speed, go for the AWD Subaru Legacy B4 which has a top speed of 220km/h. Prices are just about the same, so make sure you find the car that perfectly fits your sense of style.
Are you decided on a used Subaru Legacy B4 or Mazda Atenza Sport? Click the buttons below to view BE FORWARD’s quality and best-priced stock of each.
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