Land Rover Defender OCTA vs Subaru Forester

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender OCTA a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

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 OCTA 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 OCTA stands out with panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Meridian audio and ambient lighting — 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 OCTA gets leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 2-zone in the Subaru Forester.

Drivetrain

The Land Rover Defender OCTA uses a 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid producing 467kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4 seconds.

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

The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Land Rover Defender OCTA measures 4,813mm long on a 3,023mm wheelbase, 158mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender OCTA generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA 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 OCTA costs about $3,734 a year (13.1 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 $1,482 a year less for the Subaru Forester.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender OCTA) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Land Rover Defender OCTA), 5 years (Subaru Forester).

Where each one leads

The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 136kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).

The Subaru Forester: the lower starting price ($45,990 against $304,500) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($2,252 a year against $3,734).

The Verdict

Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 55

The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Land Rover Defender OCTA's 55 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (Land Rover Defender OCTA ahead by 52 points), fuel economy (Subaru Forester ahead by 48 points), value (Subaru Forester ahead by 46 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Subaru Forester costs about $1,482 less (7.9 L/100km against 13.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre).

Common questions