2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a rugged and adventure-ready cabin reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with more refined materials. The Defender was available in three body styles—90, 110, and 130—and various trims, each catering to different preferences. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, though it also offered modern styling options for those inclined.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S. market, embracing crossover trends with its robust wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design clearly communicated its off-road capabilities, enhanced by a chunky roof rack. The Crimson Red Pearl paint of our test car complemented its black leather interior, though the Outback shone in earthy tones. Subaru's focus on off-road enthusiasts paid off, as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became top sellers. The 2025 model retained its practicality, with trims like the Wilderness offering increased ground clearance and off-road features, while the Touring XT trim provided luxury with Nappa leather and ventilated seats.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, delivering 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 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 excelled in towing, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. Off-road prowess was a highlight, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system enhancing its capabilities.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's signature Boxer engine, available in two forms. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the XT trims benefited from a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided a noticeable performance boost, making it a recommended choice for those who could afford the upgrade. The Outback's off-road capabilities were supported by 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru's X-Mode, with the Wilderness trim offering even more with 9.5 inches of clearance and additional off-road features. On-road, the Outback delivered a smooth and comfortable ride, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and practicality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside functional elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. It offered seating for five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration, with the Defender 110 and 130 providing optional third-row seating. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering the most space at 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 and 90 provided different configurations, with the 110 offering up to 78.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the two-row version.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality with easy entry and exit, a low center of gravity, and a flat-four engine design for quick direction changes. It offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with the bench folded, slightly smaller than some crossovers but with a flat floor and square shape for maximum utility. The Outback's total passenger volume of 109 cubic feet surpassed its crossover competition, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were encouraged to test different trims, as the Limited, Touring, and Wilderness models offered distinct driving experiences. Towing capacity ranged from 2,700 pounds to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited its utilitarian nature. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons made it user-friendly, appealing to those who preferred simplicity over overwhelming technology.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity on most models. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system performed well, though Starlink disturbances occasionally limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, which might appeal to less tech-savvy buyers, while the inclusion of a CD player and USB-A port catered to those with older devices.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with 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 safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive, which could be disconcerting.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, which included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. While the system kept the Outback in its lane, it exhibited more side-to-side movement than desired. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert, which functioned effectively. The DriverFocus system occasionally issued false notifications but was generally reliable. The 2025 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.