2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Land Rover Defender showcased a blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights connected it visually to other Land Rover models, while the interior emphasized durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. 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. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured a range of standard amenities, including 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof. Higher trims added features like larger wheels, premium upholstery, and even a centre console refrigerator.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out with its rugged design, featuring chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack, appealing to those seeking off-road adventures. Despite the dwindling wagon options, the Outback remained popular in Canada, adopting crossover trends while maintaining a practical wagon shape. The Outback's exterior design was complemented by a well-executed interior, offering a mix of practicality and comfort. Standard features included heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, with higher trims adding leather upholstery and advanced infotainment systems. The Outback Premier XT trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower. Our test model, the P400, featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 options, with the P525 variant producing 518 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active 4WD. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. The P400 model provided ample power for highway driving, though it exhibited slight lurching at low speeds.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower, while the turbocharged 2.4-litre engine in the Wilderness and XT trims offered 260 hp. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The Outback's turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, though it wasn't a performance vehicle. The Outback excelled in comfort, with a smooth ride and light steering. Its X-Mode system optimized traction on slippery surfaces, and the Wilderness trim offered increased ground clearance and additional off-road features. The CVT was generally unobtrusive, though it occasionally lagged during throttle transitions.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided more cargo space. The Defender 130 offered 433 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,155 litres with seats folded. The Defender 110 provided up to 2,231 litres in its two-row configuration. The Defender 90 offered 441 litres behind the second row, expanding to 1,650 litres with seats folded.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality, with easy entry and a low roof height for loading. It provided 923 litres of cargo space with the rear seat up, expanding to 2,141 litres with the bench folded. The Outback's total passenger volume was larger than its crossover competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers could choose between different trims, each offering unique driving experiences. The Outback's towing capacity increased to 1,588 kilograms with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup blended refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. The Harman Kardon audio system performed well, though frequent alerts limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, with a CD player included in the Premier XT trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The lane-departure system was touchy but could be deactivated. The Defender had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA.