2023 Subaru Forester vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Subaru Forester, despite its unassuming exterior, offered a practical and functional design that had remained consistent over the years. Its Cascade Green Silica paint was a familiar sight, reminiscent of many Foresters before it. The SUV's design was characterized by its boxy shape, flared fenders, and distinctive lighting, which, while not particularly attractive, served its purpose well. The Touring trim, with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim, was the most visually appealing of the lineup. Inside, the Forester Touring featured Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, creating a traditional Subaru interior with analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. The cabin's hard plastic surfaces made it easy to clean, and the control layout, with its reliance on buttons and knobs, was user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features, such as angular headlights, linking it to other Land Rover models. The interior, however, was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, adding a nostalgic touch. The S trim came with 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of luxury and functionality, with grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments, making it suitable for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2023 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that mimicked a traditional automatic. The Forester's SI-Drive system offered a Sport mode for enhanced responsiveness, while the X-Mode off-road traction management system, available on all but the Base trim, provided various driving modes for different terrains. The Forester Wilderness trim offered additional off-roading capabilities. During testing, the Forester Touring handled flooded roads, rain-soaked freeways, and muddy trails with ease, showcasing its confidence-inspiring performance. On dry roads, the Forester's driving dynamics were impressive, with light and accurate steering, responsive brakes, and excellent suspension tuning. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester's fuel economy fell short of its EPA rating, returning 25.9 mpg on the testing route.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, with the P500 making 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway driving, though there was a slight lurch when starting and stopping, likely due to the off-road-optimized gearing.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, offering a practical and straightforward design. The Premium trim included features like a panoramic glass sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or genuine leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and heated rear seats. The Forester's high seating position and large windows provided excellent visibility, making it easy to drive and park. However, the panoramic sunroof's lack of tinting led to solar heating, and the rear seats lacked comfort for taller adults. The Forester's doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful, with various pockets and compartments. The cargo area offered 26.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 69.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and practicality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 offering 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Defender 110's two-row version provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The two-door Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2023 Subaru Forester's technology appeared outdated at first glance, but its simplicity was appealing. The Base trim featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium trim added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system was available. The Forester's user interface was straightforward, with separate climate controls and easy-to-use volume and tuning knobs. However, the voice-recognition system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto a better choice for navigation.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited the Defender's utilitarian nature. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup and home buttons made the system user-friendly, providing a balance of refinement and utility.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight system, with updated software and cameras for improved performance. Models with blind-spot monitoring included Automatic Emergency Steering, which assisted with avoiding obstacles. The Wilderness and Touring trims added Rear Automatic Braking, though it could be overly sensitive. The Touring trim also had a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with an Acceptable rating in side-impact protection and a Marginal rating in small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings and a four-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.