2023 BMW X7 vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 BMW X7 underwent a significant mid-cycle refresh, adopting a bold new front-end design reminiscent of the BMW 7 Series sedan. The LED accent lights were repositioned, and the actual headlights were tucked underneath, creating a polarizing look with its oversized kidney grille. While BMW aimed for a bolder design, the new styling was divisive, with some finding it lacking in grace and cohesiveness. The sides and rear remained largely unchanged, offering a sense of familiarity. Inside, the X7's interior received a modern update with a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials were of premium quality, with options for leather upholstery and a new Sensafin synthetic substitute. The interior revisions provided a more elegant appearance, despite the controversial exterior changes.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar look, with minor tweaks to the Wilderness trim, including a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The Outback's design was characterized by dark gray cladding that contrasted with the appealing Autumn Green Metallic color. Different trims featured varying levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with tasteful chrome accents on the Touring trim. Wheel sizes and designs varied across trims, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black wheels. Inside, the Outback's interior was surprisingly upscale, especially in the top-trim Touring XT, which featured Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback offered a range of seating materials across trims, from cloth to synthetic leather, catering to different preferences.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered a range of powerful engine options. The base X7 xDrive40i model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain allowed the X7 to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, achieving 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its nearly 6,000-pound weight, the X7 handled well on the road, with potent acceleration from the V8 and adequate performance from the base engine. The ride was slightly firmer compared to other luxury SUVs, but it offered a good balance of performance and comfort.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The standard engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, generating 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard. The turbo powertrain provided better performance, managing the vehicle's weight effectively. The CVT simulated eight distinct gears, enhancing the driving experience. The Outback offered a comfortable ride, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, increasing to 9.2 inches in the Wilderness trim, which also included all-terrain tires and advanced X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2023 BMW X7 excelled in providing ample interior space. The second-row seats accommodated taller passengers comfortably, and the large sunroof and windows enhanced the airy feel. Accessing the third row required some time as the power-operated middle row moved, but it offered a generous opening. The third row could accommodate average-sized adults, though thigh support was limited. Behind the third row, there was 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 48.6 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 90.4 cubic feet with the middle seats folded. The X7 featured a split tailgate and a button to lower the suspension for easier loading. Front-seat passengers had ample storage options, including a large center console bin and well-sized cupholders.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered impressive interior space despite its sleeker proportions. It provided more headroom up front compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Outback also offered more front-row legroom and competitive rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the RAV4 and CR-V offered more cargo space with all seats occupied, the Outback excelled with the rear seats down. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. Higher trims offered additional features like heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Outback's roof rails with retractable cross bars added versatility for carrying extra gear.

The 2023 BMW X7 featured the latest iDrive infotainment system, but it had its drawbacks. While basic functions like temperature adjustments and audio controls were easy to use, many physical buttons were replaced by touchscreen controls. This made accessing features like heated seats and adaptive cruise control settings more complicated. BMW attempted to address this with voice commands, but they took time to process and interrupted audio playback. The lack of physical buttons for frequently used features was a downside, and the menu structure could be more intuitive.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology. The top-trim Touring model included a CD player, and USB-C and USB-A ports were available on most trims. The larger 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen was standard on higher trims, while the base trim retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Premium trim. Climate controls were managed through the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2023 BMW X7 did not have crash test results from the NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive list of safety features. Standard features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and parking sensors. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, and options included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a highway driving assist feature. The safety features performed well, with no false alarms or unpredictable responses.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor. Reverse automatic braking was standard from the Onyx trim level.