2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which launched in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced a dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian premium sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added more luxurious features, such as quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a familiar styling that appealed to SUV shoppers. Its boxy, upright shape and distinctive cross-shaped taillights gave it a rugged look. The Forester Sport model featured orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which added a sporty touch. The Forester's interior was practical, with a mix of materials designed to withstand wear and tear. The Sport trim added orange accents to the interior, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and additional features like heated front seats and a power liftgate.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition boasted a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds (except the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds).

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. The Forester had a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and featured Trailer Stability Assist. While the engine offered adequate power for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners and bounce on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different surfaces. The Forester also had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling mud and dirt better than many compact crossovers.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, but with the third row in use, cargo space was limited to 10.8 cubic feet. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 76.1 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear bench down. While it offered more cargo space than some competitors with the rear seats folded, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was optional on the Sport trim and standard on the Limited and Touring trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate settings and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, but it featured dials that could switch between multiple functions. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus, and the system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite some usability issues, the system had a real volume button, though it was tucked away at the base of the lower screen.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and dual USB ports in the rear center console. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls. However, the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight used a pair of cameras mounted near the rearview mirror, making it cheaper and easier to package than rival systems. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.