2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged yet refined appearance, 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 unique alternative to more traditional shades. The Outback's various trims showcased different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT trim featuring tasteful chrome accents. 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. Inside, the Premier XT impressed with its luxurious Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, a step above the standard leather found in the Limited trims and the StarTex synthetic leather in the Onyx and Wilderness trims.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was less visually appealing, especially in a tropical climate. However, once behind the wheel with the windows down and roof panels removed, the colour became less of a concern. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, with the Rubicon 392 discontinued in Canada after 2024. The Wrangler's design, rooted in its military heritage, remained fundamentally appealing, offering a rugged and capable appearance. Despite its high sticker price, the Wrangler's interior focused on functionality, with a grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Wrangler's design prioritized off-road capability, making it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication compared to more modern vehicles.

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, 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 Outback's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Lineartronic continuously variable transmission provided a smooth driving experience, with the CVT mimicking the feel of eight distinct gears. The Premier XT's turbo powertrain was well-suited to the vehicle's weight, offering a comfortable ride with adequate steering feel and a responsive brake pedal. The Outback's ground clearance was impressive, with the Wilderness trim offering 24.1 centimetres and all-terrain tires for off-road adventures.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering a more lively performance at higher elevations and slightly better fuel efficiency. During testing, the four-cylinder Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 12.3 L/100 km. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it a capable off-road vehicle. However, its slow steering and rough ride were less suited to on-road driving. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern, but its off-road prowess remained a key selling point.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered impressive interior space despite its sleek proportions. It provided more headroom up front than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it excelled in front-row legroom. The Outback's cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and expanded to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. Feature availability was a highlight, with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel standard on most trims. The Premier XT trim added ventilated front seats, while the Touring trim introduced a hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof. The Outback's heated steering wheel was particularly effective, offering 360-degree warmth.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be cumbersome in tight spaces. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a mix of old-school and modern technology. The Premier XT trim included a CD player, while all trims offered USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim model boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity becoming wireless from the Touring trim. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, though dated in appearance, provided essential connectivity features. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Most trims came with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, enhancing the overall audio experience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a standout feature, equipping the Sport S with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The standard eight-speaker stereo could be upgraded to a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. Jeep Connect offered adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display between the analog gauges, providing access to various information. Rear parking sensors were available in the Safety Group option pack, aiding in reversing.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, though it fell short of the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ designation. The NHTSA awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The Outback's safety features included reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with lane-centring, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. The Touring trim added automatic emergency steering, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. A wide-angle camera improved detection of cyclists and pedestrians, while the Premier XT featured a digital rearview mirror and driver-attention monitor.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, a significant safety upgrade. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Wrangler Sahara. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were also available. The NHTSA's crash tests were incomplete, but the Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS awarded the Wrangler Good ratings for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests, though the small overlap frontal-impact test resulted in a Marginal rating.