2025 Subaru Forester vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Subaru Forester underwent a noticeable visual transformation, focusing on a more streamlined and generic appearance. It featured standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with higher trims offering larger wheels and distinctive accents. The Forester Sport, for instance, showcased bronze trim accents, while the Touring trim boasted chrome badging and a low-profile roof rack. The interior was upgraded with a more intentional design, offering materials like StarTex in the Sport trim and genuine leather in the Limited and Touring trims. The cabin's structural dash elements added to its appeal, providing a more refined look.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender maintained its rugged charm, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. The Defender offered a wide range of customization options, with base prices starting at $58,525 and reaching up to $153,625 for the new Defender OCTA. The test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials. Despite its robust appearance, the Defender's design had some quirks, such as the awkward combination of Gondwana Stone paint and orange brake calipers. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, maintaining an industrial theme with quality materials.

The 2025 Subaru Forester retained its 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a Lineartonic CVT and Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system. The Forester's performance was not particularly peppy, but it offered a smooth and stable ride, especially with the X-Mode system enhancing traction on challenging terrains. The Forester's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with slight variations for Sport and Touring trims.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard AWD system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities, while the Defender's fuel economy was observed at 16.2 mpg, below the expected 19 mpg combined.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, increasing cargo space to 29.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet when folded. The Forester's interior featured a dark headliner and power-adjustable seats, with higher trims offering additional comfort features like seat ventilation and memory settings. Despite its roomy second row, the Forester's cargo space was slightly less than some competitors.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy feel. The Defender's cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The side-hinged cargo door and high load floor posed challenges for loading.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available on all but the base trim. The system included dual USB ports, a wireless charging pad, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Touring trim added a navigation system and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Subaru's Starlink connected services suite offered additional capabilities like Valet Mode and Remote Vehicle Configuration.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system's response and accuracy had improved, providing a more intuitive user experience. The Defender also included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The Meridian premium sound system and optional Towing Pack with a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system enhanced the Defender's technology offerings.

The 2025 Subaru Forester offered advanced safety features, including Emergency Stop Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Subaru's EyeSight suite with enhancements for 2025. The Forester had not yet been crash-tested, but the 2024 model received high safety ratings, suggesting confidence in the new iteration's safety performance.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came with a range of driver aids, such as automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. The Defender's safety technology operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally exhibited quirks. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the Defender's safety features were comprehensive.