2021 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2021 Subaru Outback retained a familiar and comfortable design, reminiscent of older models, yet offered a fresher interior compared to its smaller sibling, the Crosstrek. The Outback's interior, especially in the Premium trim and above, featured a bright and sharp 11.6-inch portrait display, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The Onyx Edition XT introduced a unique touch with gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green contrast stitching, adding a playful twist to the otherwise practical design. Externally, the Outback maintained its smooth and plain styling, with high gray cladding on its wheel arches and bumpers, and a few chrome accents. The 2021 model introduced adaptive LED headlights as standard and a new brown paint option, while still embodying the essence of a lifted wagon.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that announced wealth and taste. The Velar's exterior was a sporty yet sophisticated package, with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and the trademark Land Rover grille. Its design was both blocky and streamlined, with subtle adjustments like a sloping roof and flush door handles. The R-Dynamic trim added bronze accents and a more aggressive front bumper, while the base Velar S trim, with the optional Black Exterior Pack and 20-inch black wheels, offered a sharp look. Inside, the Velar's all-black cabin was slick, with high-quality materials and exemplary fit and finish. The interior featured three screens with sophisticated graphics, and upper trims offered extra leather and richer colors.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's performance was hindered by its base 2.5-liter flat-four engine, which produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled to move the vehicle, especially when loaded, resulting in a slow and noisy driving experience. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing a significant improvement in performance. The Outback's handling was more about comfort than speed, with a focus on long-distance cruising. Its electronically-variable AWD system was proactive and effective, making the Outback capable off-road, especially with the X-Mode feature.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved handling and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The Velar's optional air suspension provided a plush ride and up to 10 inches of clearance. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, available in two states of tune, offered up to 395 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque, delivering high performance with a mild-hybrid system. While the Velar's off-road capabilities were limited compared to larger Range Rover models, it excelled as a street-focused luxury SUV.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered impressive ground clearance, surpassing even some trucks, and provided ample interior space with 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded. The cabin was spacious, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. Storage options were plentiful, and the Outback featured innovative roof rails with integrated crossbars. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims, and the oversized touchscreen complicated climate controls.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, sacrificed interior space for its design. It offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's interior was tight, with limited headroom and visibility. The lack of a discrete parking brake control was a design flaw, and the new shifter design was cumbersome. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment system improved usability, and the Velar featured advanced technology like a voice assistant and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system felt outdated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. Despite this, it offered modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Subaru EyeSight was standard, providing adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was a pleasant surprise, offering a simplified layout and logical arrangements. It featured a voice assistant, advanced navigation, and a 4x4 app for off-road information. The Velar also included standard features like LED headlights, a 12-speaker Meridian stereo, and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted a strong and stiff chassis, with standard airbags and driver assists available on higher trims. It earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating. The Outback's safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear emergency braking, and a driver-attention monitor.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in European NCAP tests, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.