2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out in a crowd with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights added to its distinctive look. The Highlander XSE trim, with its aggressive front end and 20-inch wheels, aimed to blend sportiness with practicality. Inside, the Limited trim showcased near-flawless fit and finish, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim, making it feel luxurious and comfortable.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback retained a familiar and comfortable feel, reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior, especially in trims above the base, featured a modern 11.6-inch portrait display, chrome trim, and contrasting leatherette. The Onyx Edition XT added a touch of wildness with its gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green stitching. The exterior maintained a smooth and plain styling with high gray cladding for protection. The Outback's design emphasized practicality and durability, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers and SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. While it wasn't designed for drag races, it provided smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar for a slightly sportier feel. However, it still couldn't compete with performance-oriented models like the Ford Explorer ST.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, on the other hand, offered two engine options. The base 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination struggled with the Outback's weight, making it slow and noisy. The XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing a significant performance boost. The Outback's handling was designed for comfort and long-distance cruising, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru's legendary all-wheel drive system, making it capable off-road.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and practicality. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats for storage, a wireless charging pad, and plenty of legroom for second-row passengers. The third row was a bit cramped but manageable. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were awkwardly placed on the ceiling.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered 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 ample headroom and legroom in all seating positions. 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 only available on higher trims. The Outback's best feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, making it easy to carry extra cargo.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim, standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 12.3-inch screen was bright and crisp, but its navigation system struggled with points of interest. The JBL audio system was decent but not exceptional.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. However, it featured modern tech like adaptive cruise control and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional navigation system 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 cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. It received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Subaru Outback had a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear emergency braking were available on higher trims. The Outback was a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and received a five-star rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.