Land Rover Defender vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

As the rest of the lineup has trended toward luxury, the Land Rover Defender has stayed true to the brand’s roots of tough off-roaders ideal for the military and farmers alike. That’s mainly because Land Rover put off updates for decades. But a redesigned Defender that’s more passenger car than farm implement arrived for 2020, bringing the nameplate back to North America. Changes for 2026 include subtle styling updates, a larger touchscreen, and new colour and accessory options.

Verdict: The Defender offers an unmatched combination of off-road capability and everyday civility.

Subaru’s rugged reputation makes it a popular choice among Canadians who regularly conquer challenging conditions. The redesigned 2025 Subaru Forester reinforces those advantages. This time around, a new Forester Hybrid model adds efficiency as another plus, along with more power and a few extra features. It’s due to be followed by the smaller Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid in fall 2025.

Verdict: The new Forester Hybrid is a more efficient version of Subaru's rugged and evergreen compact SUV.