2021 Subaru Outback vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat unremarkable from the side, with a few updates from the previous model year, such as a more slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Higher trims like the Limited and Platinum featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, as well as new 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash with an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim boasted a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior was fresher than the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, especially if you skipped the base trim. The Premium and above trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright and sharp, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. Quality was evident in the materials used, with Limited and Touring trims offering two-tone leather upholstery and contrast stitching. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green contrast stitching, adding a touch of flair. The exterior of the Outback was practical, with gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, and a new brown paint option for 2021. The Outback's styling remained smooth and plain, with a few chrome flourishes and bracket-shaped LED running lights.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a floaty ride. However, the vehicle's size and weight were always apparent, which could be a drawback when carrying multiple passengers. The Highlander offered selectable driving modes and torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models, enhancing its handling. Fuel economy was commendable, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model achieved 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine in its base trim, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled to move the vehicle, especially when fully loaded, resulting in slow and noisy performance. The XT trims offered a significant improvement with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a quieter, smoother, and more powerful driving experience. The Outback's handling was squishy, but its ride comfort and ground clearance of 8.7 inches made it a capable long-distance cruiser. Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system was proactive and effective, with X-Mode optimizing performance for tougher road conditions. The XT trims achieved an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, while the base engine achieved 26/33 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight passengers or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, which were standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander offered three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet for the rear, side window shades, and a heated second row on upper trims. Cargo space was ample, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The vehicle featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage. The controls were simple and legible, with an easy-to-use infotainment interface.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered impressive ground clearance, allowing it to go anywhere larger vehicles could. It provided 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with no intrusive cutouts. The Outback's interior offered ample headroom and legroom, comfortable seats, and excellent outward visibility. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, push-button start and rear climate vents were standard only on Limited and above trims, and the moonroof was bundled with other expensive options. The Outback's best feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be easily swiveled and locked in place. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls but was generally responsive and useful.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system felt outdated, with low-resolution maps and screens, and a convoluted process for using onboard apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The Highlander featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, both crisp and informative. The semi-automated driving system was effective, with adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams. The optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers and was decent, but not exceptional. Standard features included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports, along with a one-year trial for Safety Connect.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system also appeared outdated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. Despite this, the Outback's adaptive cruise control had four settings for traffic speed changes, though they were difficult to find and adjust. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions, reducing its effectiveness compared to systems that also use radar.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander also had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick for top ratings in all six crash tests, optional headlights, and emergency braking performance.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with a driver's knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag as standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. A driver-attention monitor was standard on the Limited XT and Touring trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with top ratings in all six crash tests and for headlights, as well as a top rating for forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.