2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar aesthetic, with the Wilderness trim receiving a refreshed 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 various trims offered different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring the most chrome, which was tastefully applied. Wheel designs varied by trim, with standard black 17-inch alloy wheels and a matte black version for the Wilderness trim, while the Onyx Edition and higher trims sported 18-inch wheels.

Inside, the top-trim Outback impressed with its luxurious Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, a step above the standard leather in the Limited trim and the StarTex synthetic leather in the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims. Base and Premium trims came with cloth seats. The interior quality was unexpectedly high for a brand known more for capability than luxury, offering a comfortable and refined cabin experience.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner, in contrast, retained its classic, albeit outdated, design, having last been redesigned in 2010. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a rugged and stable appearance, suitable for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model featured underbody skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a beefy tubular roof rack, enhancing its off-road readiness. However, the interior showed its age with old-school styling and outdated technology, including an analog instrument panel and a small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The 4Runner's interior was filled with hard plastics, though commonly touched surfaces were cushioned. The seat upholstery mimicked leather but appeared more like vinyl. Despite its dated design, the 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility, with front roof pillars pushed forward for a better view. The interior space was ample, with plenty of legroom in the second row, though headroom was limited for taller passengers. The 4Runner also provided numerous storage options for road trips, including cupholders, door pockets, and a large armrest bin.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with a standard 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured 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 model we tested had the turbo engine, which provided a better fit for the vehicle's weight. The CVT mimicked eight distinct gears, and the brake pedal felt responsive. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, increased to 9.2 inches in the Wilderness trim, which also included all-terrain tires and an advanced X-Mode for off-road conditions.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine, producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. However, its five-speed automatic transmission lagged behind competitors like the Bronco and Wrangler, which offered more responsive acceleration and better fuel economy. The TRD Pro model came standard with 4WD and a two-speed transfer case, while other trims offered RWD with optional 4WD. On-road, the 4Runner felt slow, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration and a loud engine and exhaust. The soft suspension resulted in body roll when cornering and a floaty ride over highway undulations. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner excelled off-road, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select for various surfaces.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space, with more front-row headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and competitive rear-seat legroom. 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 with the Premium trim. Higher trims added features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars were a practical touch.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior, though dated, was functional, with easy-to-use climate-control dials and driveline levers. The front seats offered ample space, but the steering wheel's limited telescoping range could be an issue for taller drivers. The second row provided good legroom, though headroom was limited. The 4Runner offered numerous storage options, including cupholders, door pockets, and a large armrest bin. The cargo area held 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 89.7 cubic feet with the seats stowed. However, the lack of remote seat releases and a powered liftgate were drawbacks. The 4Runner featured a sliding glass rear window and a hitch receiver with a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology, with a CD player in the Touring trim and both USB-C and USB-A ports on all but the base trim. The top-trim model featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the base trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting with the Premium trim. The Outback also offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system on most trims, with Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM connectivity.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL audio system, though road noise often obscured the sound quality. The 4Runner included additional terrain controls in the headliner console, with Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select for off-road adventures. However, the system lacked some of the off-road-specific apps and gauges found in competitors like the Bronco and Wrangler.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Outback featured the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition, and the Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection, and five stars for side impacts. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests, but "Marginal" and "Poor" results in the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor. The TRD Pro and Limited trims offered a surround-view camera system, with parking sensors exclusive to the Limited trim.