Subaru Crosstrek vs Land Rover Defender: Who Wins? [video]

Why would anyone waste their time comparing the purpose-built Land Rover Defender and the city-dwelling Subaru Crosstrek? Most would say the comparison between the Crosstrek and Defender is unfair and they would be right. The Defender is a purpose-built vehicle for extreme agricultural use. The Subaru Crosstrek is a family vehicle used by urban-dwellers. The comparison is intended to show how a city-dwelling car like the Subaru Crosstrek can handle some extreme terrain. Subaru’s Crosstrek might surprise people how it handled the purposeful test course in the UK.

Can Crosstrek keep up with Defender?

Enthusiasts know the Defender will handle the most extreme terrain on the planet and they get used for this purpose. 99 percent of all SUVs stay in an urban environment and never get taken off-road by their owners. Subaru touts their all-wheel drive vehicles they say will handle just about anything. This course is a good way to see if their “claim to performance” is true or exaggerated. Are their claims accurate?

The iconic Land Rover Defender is the ultimate off-road vehicle and comes with a fully independent suspension, low-range gearbox and tough styling. It’s sad, but the last Defender rolled off the assembly line at Land Rover's Solihull plant last week after a 68 year run. The Subaru XV Crosstrek is Subaru’s go-anywhere crossover and it’s Subaru’s third best-selling vehicle in the lineup. Subaru can’t build them fast enough.

Both take on the test course

While the Defender didn’t have a problem getting up the steep stairs, the wheels slipped at the top and the iconic model lost traction. The Crosstrek takes on the same incline and diverts power away from the wheels with the least grip to those with the most and it pulls right up without losing its grip.

How does it work?

Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD comes on all Subaru models except for the rear drive BRZ. All Crosstrek models equipped with the Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) use an electronically managed continuously variable transfer clutch. It actively manages torque distribution in response to driving conditions, acceleration, deceleration and cornering. Slippage at the front or rear wheels causes torque to transfer (up to 100 percent) to the opposite set of wheels.

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek also comes with 8.7 inches of ground clearance that gives it the ability to go over rough terrain without scraping bottom. The boxer engine sits low in the chassis and gives Crosstrek a lower center of gravity giving it the ability to handle the steep 1:3 ratio “axle twisting” gully without tipping over. The Crosstrek cocks its wheels, transfers power to the opposite wheel and tackles the terrain.

The current Defender is going away and the next-generation Defender won’t make its debut until 2018. You can get an early model Defender and still get parts through Land Rover’s Heritage Restoration program. Most consumers wanting a tough off-roader won’t think of the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek as being an alternative vehicle. The crossover will go just about anywhere its owner wants to go. Subaru’s AWD claims are not exaggerated. For now, Subaru wins because you can still get one.

Watch the Subaru XV take on Land Rover Defender video.

Source: Subaru UK