Land Rover Defender 110 vs Subaru Forester

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP lists the Land Rover Defender 110 at 5 stars (2020) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2020 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 85% for the Land Rover Defender 110 and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Subaru Forester, against 6 on the Land Rover Defender 110.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Land Rover Defender 110 and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

Recalls on our record

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

Feature Showdown

The Land Rover Defender 110 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 110 stands out with ventilated seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender 110 gets leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 110 and 2-zone in the Subaru Forester.

Drivetrain

The Land Rover Defender 110 uses a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid producing 183kW and 570Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.3 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.

The Land Rover Defender 110 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Land Rover Defender 110 measures 4,758mm long on a 3,022mm wheelbase, 103mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 110 generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 110 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 1,700kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 2.0 m tighter, 10.8 m against 12.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.

Cost to own

At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Land Rover Defender 110 costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $57 a year less for the Subaru Forester.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender 110) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Land Rover Defender 110), 5 years (Subaru Forester).

Where each one leads

The Land Rover Defender 110: more power (183kW against 136kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).

The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $100,900) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($2,252 a year against $2,309).

The Verdict

Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70

The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Land Rover Defender 110's 70 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: value (Subaru Forester ahead by 20 points), performance (Land Rover Defender 110 ahead by 16 points), reliability (Subaru Forester ahead by 13 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Subaru Forester costs about $57 less (7.9 L/100km against 8.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre).

Common questions