2023 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

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, giving it an aggressive look. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model further enhanced its bold appearance. While these changes might not appeal to everyone, opting for a dark paint color could help tone down the design's excesses. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding, making it a more accessible choice with a starting price of $33,495 for the non-turbo powertrain.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform, was a true crossover, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry. It was not a body-on-frame vehicle, capping its towing capacity at 5,000 pounds. The Grand Highlander stretched 201.4 inches in length, with a 116.1-inch wheelbase, making it larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride. Its design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights resembled Toyota's off-roading SUV, the 4Runner, giving it a distinctive look.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design, which helped reduce the vehicle's center of gravity. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, but it struggled with passing and climbing power. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the XT models delivered 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing more satisfying acceleration. The Outback's fuel efficiency was disappointing, with a combined rating of 25.6 mpg, falling short of the expected 28 mpg. The CVT transmission mimicked an eight-speed automatic, and the Active Torque Split AWD system varied power distribution for better handling. The Outback excelled off-road, thanks to its X-Mode traction system and generous ground clearance.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower, a 2.5-liter hybrid with 245 combined horsepower, and the Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined horsepower. The Hybrid Max provided impressive acceleration, with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable, but its brakes felt solid, and acceleration was adequate. Toyota offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models. The Grand Highlander's steering felt numb, but its road manners were generally well-sorted.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack and flat door sill trim. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback's cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 75.6 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The vehicle's design made it easy to get in and out, and the robust roof rack was ready for accessories.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers. Its spacious interior and good outward visibility made it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical controls for climate and defroster functions, while other features were embedded in the touchscreen. The voice recognition system was subpar, and the infotainment graphics were not user-friendly. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant was available through a connected-services subscription, along with cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top safety marks from the IIHS, thanks to its EyeSight cameras and electronic brake booster. The EyeSight system included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Outback Limited and Touring offered a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems felt artificial, and the rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control offered four following-distance settings, enhancing its functionality.