2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was characterized by its modernist and reductive design, which translated to a clean and simple aesthetic. This approach might not have appealed to those seeking a flashy luxury SUV, as Land Rover offered limited options for making the Range Rover Sport stand out, such as a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuded understated luxury. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, complemented by aluminum and shiny black trim, created a sophisticated atmosphere. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle featuring numerous upgrades that brought its MSRP to $98,420. Notable design elements included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights, contributing to its excellent aerodynamics.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar design, with the Wilderness trim receiving a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The Autumn Green Metallic color of the Outback Touring XT tester, described as a "green-tinged dark khaki," was surprisingly appealing. The Outback's trims featured varying levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim showcasing tasteful chrome accents. Wheel sizes and designs differed by trim, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the top-trim test car impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru. The Outback Limited featured standard leather seating, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims used Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats, providing a range of interior options to suit different preferences.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement, though it only partially succeeded. The SUV was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, offering 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque in the SE Dynamic model, while the SE P360 provided 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six engine allowed it to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, and it could tow up to 7,716 pounds. The SUV's fuel efficiency was notable, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 22.3 mpg on an evaluation route. The Range Rover Sport featured a new vehicle architecture with a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness, adaptive damping air suspension, and various driving modes for improved handling and comfort. However, it struggled to match the performance of sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, true to Subaru's tradition, was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. The Touring XT test car's turbo powertrain managed the vehicle's weight effectively, and the CVT imitated the sound and feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback's steering and braking were adequate, providing a comfortable ride. The base Outback offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, while the Wilderness trim increased it to 9.2 inches, along with all-terrain tires and an advanced X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained its Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom and hard front seatback panels. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport featured various storage solutions, including a deep bin under the center armrest and a power liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleeker proportions, provided ample interior space. It offered more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback's feature availability was impressive, with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. The Touring trim added ventilation for the front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Outback also featured a hands-free power liftgate and raised roof rails with retractable cross bars for added convenience.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with 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, and SiriusXM satellite radio. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use, with difficulties in accessing features and understanding its functionality. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems and a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system. A wireless smartphone charging pad was also included, though it could be challenging to access.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a larger 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen on all but the base trim, which retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims came with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Outback also included Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM connectivity.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, and a surround-view camera system. Remote Park Assist was available, allowing the SUV to park itself while the driver directed it using a smartphone app. However, the adaptive cruise control and steering assist were not as smooth or reliable as expected, particularly on freeway curves.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, a digital rearview mirror, and a driver-attention monitor. Reverse automatic braking was standard starting with the Onyx trim level.