2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring, with prices starting at $25,195 and topping out at $35,295 for the Touring model. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured a white exterior, dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the total cost reached $36,014. The Wilderness trim added rugged features like a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, though its appearance was divisive.

Inside, the Forester emphasized functionality over aesthetics, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces. The interior featured copper-colored stitching and accents, maintaining a utilitarian feel. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical knobs and buttons for easy navigation. Despite its somewhat dated look, the Forester's interior was well-constructed and practical, though the Wilderness trim's cladding and matte-black hood decal were not universally appealing.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was described by Land Rover as "modernist" and "reductive," emphasizing clean and simple design. However, for those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, options were limited to a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle featured Eiger Gray paint, silver 23-inch wheels, and a Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim added to the luxurious feel.

Land Rover offered the Range Rover Sport in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications. The SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle included heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a Cold Climate Pack, a Technology Pack, and a full-size spare tire, bringing the MSRP to $98,420. The Range Rover Sport's design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology taillights. The interior featured sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, creating a high-tech and luxurious atmosphere.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. All Foresters had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Wilderness model's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling the towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Forester Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing averaging 25.9 mpg.

The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive for a more lively response. Subaru's dual-function X-Mode system, standard on most Foresters, offered improved off-road capabilities. The Wilderness trim's longer springs and shocks increased ground clearance to 9.2 inches, enhancing off-road performance. The Forester excelled in various environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise above 65 mph.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the SE and SE Dynamic models, with the SE Dynamic producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The SE P360 model had 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, providing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine was available for selected early-build 2023 models.

The test vehicle's 395-hp inline-six engine provided ample power, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. The Range Rover Sport's EPA-estimated fuel economy was 21 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing averaging 22.3 mpg. The SUV's new vehicle architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35%, and the adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for improved ride comfort and handling. However, the Range Rover Sport's steering lacked involvement, and the SUV felt tall and heavy in tight curves.

Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled with 11.1 inches of ground clearance and impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles. The SUV's advanced suspension and off-road technologies made it capable of tackling challenging terrain. However, the steering assist technology was unsatisfactory, and the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The Wilderness trim featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat, making it suitable for outdoor activities. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, allowing for a three-person roof tent.

The Forester's interior offered high comfort levels, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Storage space was decent, though a dashboard shelf or shallow tray would have been useful. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the rear seat down increased cargo capacity to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof), making the Forester one of the roomiest compact SUVs.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, providing a tall, airy feel. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit. The test vehicle featured Windsor leather upholstery, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and a massage feature. The rear seat offered more legroom than before but remained tight for taller passengers. The seatback angle was too reclined, and narrow door openings impeded entry and exit.

Storage space was decent, with a deep bin under the center armrest and a second bin under the sliding cupholder tray. The cargo area measured 31.9 cubic feet, with controls to lower the air suspension and power the rear seat down for added space. Maximum cargo capacity was 53 cubic feet. The test vehicle's full-size spare lived under the cargo floor, and Land Rover provided a handy contraption to prevent smaller items from rolling around.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation system, and Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also included a 180-degree forward-view camera. The PIN Code Access feature allowed for keyless entry after outdoor activities.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services. Wi-Fi access required an extra-cost data plan. The Pivi Pro infotainment platform was intuitive but occasionally frustrating to use. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the next-generation EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with improved camera-based technology and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. EyeSight 4.0 included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim added DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist technology were less satisfactory, with slow responses and poor performance on freeway curves.