2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar aesthetic, with the Wilderness trim receiving a subtle update featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Premier XT model, which was described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." This colour choice was surprisingly appealing, offering a fresh take on the typical champagne-beige hues. The Outback's various trims showcased different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT trim featuring the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx trim upgraded to 18-inch wheels in basic black. The interior of the top-trim test car was notably upscale, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both attractive and comfortable. The Outback Limited trims offered standard leather seating, while the Onyx and Wilderness trims featured Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather, and the Convenience and Touring trims came with cloth seats.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner retained its classic, albeit outdated, design, having last been redesigned for the 2010 model year. Its boxy shape and flared fenders gave it a robust and stable appearance, ideal for off-road adventures. The TRD Pro model, with its underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires, exuded a rugged personality, further enhanced by the beefy tubular roof rack. However, the interior showed its age with old-school styling and outdated technology features. The analog instrument panel and small eight-inch infotainment touchscreen were reminiscent of a bygone era, and the interior was dominated by hard plastics. Despite this, the 4Runner offered cushioned panels on commonly touched surfaces, and the seat upholstery, though thin, was designed to resemble leather. While the 4Runner's nostalgic design might appeal to some, it lacked the modern touches found in competitors like the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness trim, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 1,225 to 1,587 kilograms. The Premier XT test car featured the turbo engine, which provided a better fit for the vehicle's weight compared to the base engine. The Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears, enhancing the driving experience. The Outback's suspension and reasonably sized wheels contributed to a comfortable ride, with the Wilderness trim offering 24.1 centimetres of ground clearance and all-terrain tires for off-road adventures.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While these powertrain specs were comparable to the Bronco and Wrangler, the 4Runner was hindered by its five-speed automatic transmission, which affected acceleration and fuel economy. The TRD Pro model featured standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, making it suitable for off-roading. However, on pavement, the 4Runner felt sluggish, with noticeable rear-end squat during acceleration. The engine sounded strained, and the TRD Pro's exhaust was excessively loud. The soft suspension resulted in significant nosedive during hard braking and body roll when cornering. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner's tall tire sidewalls and soft suspension helped absorb larger road imperfections, though passengers prone to motion sickness might need to take precautions on winding or bumpy roads.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek proportions. It provided more headroom up front compared to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it excelled in front-row legroom. The cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat as standard in Canada. The Premier XT trim offered ventilated front seats, and the hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim. The Outback's raised roof rails with retractable cross bars were a practical addition.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior design appeared dated, but its layout was user-friendly, with large climate-control dials and driveline levers. The 4Runner provided excellent outward visibility, and the front roof pillars were positioned to offer an expansive view. The second-row accommodations offered ample legroom, though headroom was limited for taller passengers. The 4Runner featured numerous storage options, including cupholders, a large armrest bin, and deep door pockets. The cargo area could hold up to 1,337 litres, expanding to 2,540 litres with the rear seats stowed. However, the lack of remote seat releases in the cargo area was a drawback. The 4Runner's sliding glass rear window and hitch receiver with a seven-pin harness were practical features, and it had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a range of technology options, with the Premier XT trim offering a CD player and both USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim test car had an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, while the Convenience trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless connectivity starting from the Touring trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

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 came with a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, though road noise often obscured the sound quality. The 4Runner featured additional terrain controls in the headliner console, with dials for Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select. The system also included a braking differential and a locking rear differential for improved traction on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Outback featured the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking was standard from the Touring trim, and the Premier XT trim included a digital rearview mirror and a 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. 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 with automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The TRD Pro and Limited trims featured a surround-view camera system, though the alerts were often oversensitive.