2022 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely due to its continuation of the previous generation's styling. The most notable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to adhere to the philosophy of not fixing what wasn't broken, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim appeared plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, but the overall look was clean and unpretentious. The Forester Sport models added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester shared its platform with other Subaru models, emphasizing its rugged SUV marketing, although it shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks.

Inside, the Forester's interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand wear and tear. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats and other features. The Forester's interior was functional, with a mix of cloth and leather upholstery options, and a focus on durability over aesthetics.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover underwent an evolutionary redesign, maintaining its broad, rounded face and large sheet metal expanses. The most noticeable change was the rear, with thin LED strips replacing the old square taillights. The Range Rover emphasized its size, especially in the long-wheelbase version, which added eight inches in length. Inside, the Range Rover's cabin was simplified with fewer buttons and a larger tablet-like touchscreen, giving it a modern look. The materials were of excellent quality, with premium leather and rich wood trim elements. The Range Rover's interior exuded luxury, with a solid feel and no detectable creaks, even on rough roads. It offered a more refined interior than competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, or Cadillac Escalade, rivaling even more expensive Maybach or Bentley alternatives.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was equipped with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, contributing to the Forester's stability. With a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and standard Trailer Stability Assist, the Forester was practical for light towing. However, the absence of a turbocharged engine option left the power feeling adequate but lacking in highway merging and overtaking situations. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners and bounce on uneven pavement. The Forester's standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with Dual X-Mode available on Sport models. Hill-descent control and 8.7 inches of ground clearance further improved its off-road performance, although it wasn't as capable as the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover offered two powertrains: the base P400 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, and the P530 with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine delivering 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive (4WD). The P400 powertrain provided effortless acceleration, with Land Rover estimating a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. The Range Rover's handling was surprisingly agile for its size, with well-managed body roll and a calm, composed driving experience. Rear-wheel steering improved maneuverability, and the Terrain Response system optimized off-road performance. The Range Rover's ride quality was smooth, with minimal wind and road noise, making it one of the most comfortable luxury SUVs available.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling, although it allowed sunlight to raise the cabin temperature. The Forester's cargo space was impressive, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. It surpassed competitors like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson in cargo space with the seats down but fell short with the seats up. The Forester lacked a sliding second-row bench but offered a power liftgate on higher trims. The interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, although the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone. The Forester's controls were user-friendly, with large knobs for audio and climate control, but the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover provided ample space in the first two rows, enhanced by large windows and a panoramic sunroof. The front seats were cushioned for long-distance comfort, with available massage functions offering a shiatsu-like treatment. Storage options included two glove boxes, a wireless charging pad, and well-sized cupholders. The second row offered power recline and sliding adjustments, with climate controls, sunshades, and USB-C ports for rear passengers. The optional third row was accessible with a button, though headroom was limited for adults. Cargo space was 17.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 93 cubic feet with the second row down. The split tailgate and adjustable air suspension height made loading cargo easier.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured the Subaru Starlink infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays showed secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover boasted a 13-inch touchscreen with the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, offering sharper graphics and quicker responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless charging pad. The screen's placement could have been higher for reduced distraction, but some climate controls were smartly designed. The Meridian audio system delivered impressive sound quality, with an optional 35-speaker upgrade. Other tech features included Amazon Alexa integration, remote automated parking, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote control via a smartphone app.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with EyeSight, a camera-based driver-assist system, and DriverFocus, a driver-monitoring system. The EyeSight suite included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, which is common for luxury SUVs. It came standard with frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The surround-view cameras were particularly useful for off-roading. While adequately equipped, some rivals offered additional safety features.