2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged yet refined appearance, with the Wilderness trim receiving a slight update featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, which was described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." The Outback's exterior varied across trims, with tasteful chrome accents on the Touring trim and different wheel designs, including black 17-inch alloy wheels standard and matte black for the Wilderness trim. Inside, the top-trim model impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru, while other trims featured a mix of leather, synthetic leather, and cloth seating options.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern touches like angular headlights, aligning it visually with other Land Rover models. However, its interior leaned more towards durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with added 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 offering various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, emphasizing a nostalgic appeal. The interior boasted a blend of luxury and practicality, with features like power-adjustable heated front seats and a panoramic glass roof.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, increasing the towing capacity to 3,500 lbs. The Touring XT test car showcased the turbo powertrain's ability to handle the vehicle's weight effectively, with a CVT that mimicked the feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, aided by its suspension and reasonably sized wheels, with ground clearance ranging from 8.7 inches to 9.2 inches on the Wilderness trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, generating 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, with the P500 producing 493 hp and the P525 delivering 518 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active 4WD. The Defender's towing capacity reached up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway driving, with impressive off-road capabilities, including adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more front-row headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, with ample legroom in both front and rear seats. 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 featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. Higher trims offered additional features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The raised roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced 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 more space with three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity differed across models, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a mix of old-school and modern technology. The Touring trim was the only one with a CD player, while most trims included both USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim model boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity becoming wireless from the Premium trim. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, though dated in appearance, offered standard connectivity features like Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM. Most trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, with the base model having a four-speaker system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped 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, and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation of features.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Reverse automatic braking became standard from the Onyx trim, while the Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted to be overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.