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Subaru Forester vs Land Rover Defender comparison

Compare performance (136 HP vs 635 HP), boot space and price (34,700 £ vs 57,900 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Subaru Forester or Land Rover Defender?

Subaru Forester vs Land Rover Defender: Key differences

Subaru Forester

4.4 (4 Reviews)
rate
  • considerably cheaper
  • markedly lighter
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Land Rover Defender

4 (1 Reviews)
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  • considerably more power
  • markedly more efficient
  • substantially quicker 0–100 km/h
  • noticeably more trunk space
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All details on performance, efficiency, range and trunk space can be found in the technical comparison below – including user reviews for both models.

By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Forester

Costs and Efficiency:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Subaru Forester is considerably cheaper – starting at 34,700 £ , while the Land Rover Defender costs 57,900 £ . That’s a price difference of around 23,152 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the Land Rover Defender uses 6 L/100km and is markedly more efficient than the Subaru Forester with 8.1 L/100km. The difference is about 2.1 L/100km.

Defender

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the Land Rover Defender offers considerably more power – delivering 635 HP compared to 136 HP. That’s roughly 499 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the Land Rover Defender is substantially quicker – completing the sprint in 4 s, while the Subaru Forester takes 12.2 s. That’s about 8.2 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the Land Rover Defender delivers substantially more torque with 750 Nm compared to 182 Nm. That’s about 568 Nm more.

Forester

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: Land Rover Defender offers more seats – 8 vs 5.

In terms of curb weight, Subaru Forester is markedly lighter – 1,693 kg compared to 2,300 kg. The difference is around 607 kg.

Looking at boot space, the Land Rover Defender offers noticeably more boot space – 786 L compared to 508 L. That’s a difference of about 278 L.

When it comes to payload, the Land Rover Defender carries markedly more – 819 kg compared to 492 kg. That’s a difference of about 327 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Land Rover Defender is clearly superior overall in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £57,900
Defender

Land Rover Defender

  • Engine Type : Petrol, Diesel MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 200 - 635 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 6 - 14.4 L/100km
  • Electric Range : 48 km
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Subaru Forester
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Land Rover Defender

Costs and Consumption
View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance
View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body
View detailed analysis

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a practical all-rounder that quietly does everything right, with roomy comfort, excellent visibility and a real fondness for weekend adventures off the beaten path. It won't set your pulse racing like a sports car, but for buyers who prize reliability, safety and sensible charm, it's a brilliantly steady companion with a cheeky streak.

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Reviews Subaru Forester

4.4 (4 Reviews)
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Dirk
8 Dec 2025, 17:00:06

It's indeed much more expensive, but it drives brilliantly. I have the automatic — fantastic. It's a bit noisy for such an expensive car, and servicing at a Subaru dealer isn't cheap. It's certainly not economical.

On the other hand, very little breaks and it will never leave you stranded. And that space... 500 litres more is really about a 40% increase.

Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender looks like it could shrug off a weekend of serious off-road abuse while still turning heads on the high street. Inside it balances practical, no-nonsense utility with enough creature comforts to make daily driving feel less like an expedition and more like a stylish commute—rugged charm with civilized manners.

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Reviews Land Rover Defender

4 (1 Reviews)
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No reviews yet. Share your experience and help others decide.

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Subaru Forester
Land Rover Defender

Costs and Consumption
Price
34,700 - 42,200 £
Price
57,900 - 172,000 £
Consumption L/100km
8.1 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
6 - 14.4 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
48 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
183 g/km
co2
135 - 324 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body
Body Type
SUV
Body Type
Off-Roader
Seats
5
Seats
2 - 8
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,693 - 1,739 kg
Curb weight
2,300 - 2,745 kg
Trunk capacity
508 L
Trunk capacity
293 - 786 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,830 mm
Width
2,008 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
446 - 492 kg
Payload
494 - 819 kg

Engine and Performance
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol, Diesel MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
CVT
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
136 HP
Power HP
200 - 635 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
12.2 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4 - 10.2 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
182 Nm
Torque
500 - 750 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
4 - 8
Power kW
100 kW
Power kW
147 - 467 kW
Engine capacity
1,995 cm3
Engine capacity
1,997 - 5,000 cm3

General
Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025
CO2 Efficiency Class
G
CO2 Efficiency Class
G, D
Brand
Subaru
Brand
Land Rover
What drivetrain options does the Subaru Forester have?

The Subaru Forester is offered with All-Wheel Drive.

DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.