Horses for courses, as a friend, who has lived in Australia, btw, says.
I have been driving the best 4x4s available in the US trying to see what I want going forward.
You cannot seriously compare the best of each kind. Here nobody considers Subaru an offroad brand, but we all know where it excels and how awesome it is most places. But you cannot argue with a Wrangler, nothing can, not in our terrain. And the brand new JLU Wrangler drives so well, it is totally livable in town despite the solid axles.
I actually happen to have the third kind of thing, the best expedition vehicle offered here at present, in my garage. I rented a 2wd base trim because that is all the Toyota dealer has for rent. But it still has most characteristic of the Offroad 4Runner.
All three, my modified Outback, the new Wrangler, and the 4Runner excel in different ways. The OB excels more often than the other two, this is without doubt. But nothing beats the Wrangler on trail or the 4Runner TRD, built in the same plant that makes the Land Cruiser, as an expedition vehicle in the US (the 2008+ USDM Land Cruiser is a...ugh).
The only question is which one is right for whom and when.
There is no point arguing across totally different platforms and a Subaru's flex compares to a Wrangler's like a school football team compares to Barca. And vice-versa with respect to handling, steering, and so on.
