Subaru Outback vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., adopting crossover trends with its rugged design, including chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack. It was designed for off-road adventures, appealing to a niche market of crossover buyers. The Outback's exterior design was complemented by a well-executed interior, with chrome and glossy black plastic kept to a minimum. The Limited trim gained features like a power moonroof, DriverFocus anti-distraction tech, and a 360-degree heated steering wheel. The Touring XT trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. The Outback's interior was practical, with a flat cargo floor and a spacious passenger area, making it a versatile choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was known for its solid brakes and adequate acceleration, though its steering feel was somewhat numb. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine in two forms. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft 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 CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those seeking more power. The Outback's ground clearance of 8.7 inches, along with Subaru's X-Mode, optimized traction on slippery surfaces. The Wilderness model offered even more ground clearance and additional off-road features. The Outback's smooth and comfortable ride, light steering, and powerful brakes made it a pleasant companion on rough roads, though its stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. Behind the second-row seats, it offered 57.9 cubic feet, and with all three rows up, there were 20.6 cubic feet available. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, ensuring comfort for passengers, even in the third row.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and exit, thanks to its lower-slung chassis. It provided 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with the bench folded. The flat cargo floor and square shape maximized the available space. The Outback's total passenger volume of 109 cubic feet was larger than its crossover competition, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were encouraged to test drive different versions of the Outback, as the differences between trims were significant. The standard towing capacity was 2,700 pounds, increasing to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for tasks like adjusting the temperature. The system included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. 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 available, with additional subscription options for enhanced features.

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. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity on most models. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system provided good sound quality, though Starlink disturbances affected audio output. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, appealing to buyers who preferred physical controls. The 2025 Outback Touring included a CD player and a USB-A port alongside a USB-C port for older devices.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it included an impressive list of standard ADAS features. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 offered automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control with lane centering, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Onyx and higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false notifications. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with the 2025 model expected to perform similarly.