2023 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback an aggressive appearance, further enhanced by a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a more appealing choice for those who preferred a darker paint color to tone down the design's excesses. The Outback's interior, especially in the Touring trim, was praised for its upscale feel, with Java Brown leather and contrasting stitching adding a touch of luxury. Despite some hard plastic elements, the interior maintained a quality look and feel, though the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim were prone to collecting dust and smudges.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. Inside, the Defender felt more rugged and adventure-ready, with soft-touch materials adding a touch of luxury. Offered in three body styles—two-door 90, four-door 110, and extended-wheelbase 130—the Defender catered to various needs. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, adding a nostalgic touch. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was both functional and comfortable, though the multifunctional climate control dials required an extra button press to switch between temperature and fan speed adjustments.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, but the 3,781-pound vehicle felt underpowered, especially when passing or climbing. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in the XT models offered 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing better acceleration and responsiveness. The Outback's CVT mimicked an eight-speed automatic, and all models came with standard AWD. The X-Mode traction system and hill descent control enhanced off-road capabilities, while the Outback's suspension provided a firm yet comfortable ride. However, the standard engine's fuel economy was disappointing, with a combined 25.6 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 28 mpg estimate.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, delivered 493 hp and 518 hp, respectively. All engines paired with an eight-speed automatic and full-time active 4WD. The Defender's towing capacity reached 7,716 pounds with the six- and eight-cylinder engines. The Defender excelled off-road, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system enhancing its capabilities. The P400 model provided ample power for highway speeds and passing, though there was a slight lurch at low speeds.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack, flat door sills, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Touring trim offered a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback's interior was spacious, accommodating two adults and two teens comfortably on long trips. Cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 75.6 cubic feet with them folded. The Outback's high ground clearance made entry and exit easy, while the roof rack was ready for accessories. However, more practical storage space would have been beneficial.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender blended luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity ranged from 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row in the Defender 130 to 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row Defender 110. The 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 practical and easy to clean.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured an 11.6-inch Starlink touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and optional navigation and Harman Kardon audio. The voice recognition system was subpar, struggling with basic commands. Additional tech included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was unavailable.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The straightforward setup included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The touchscreen's simplicity complemented the Defender's utilitarian design, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster, earning top safety marks from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and a new Automatic Emergency Steering system. The Outback's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist were less impressive, with artificial steering feel. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, requiring manual deactivation.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive, but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.