2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered a diverse range of trims, each with distinct styling elements. The base LS and popular LT models featured different grille patterns, while the sporty RST trim boasted a slotted grille, blacked-out appearance, and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Z71 combined the LS grille with a blacked-out look, red tow hooks, a skid plate, and unique 20-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The upscale Premier trim adopted the RST’s slotted grille with chrome accents, while the luxurious High Country featured a chrome bar grille and bright-finished 22-inch wheels. The Tahoe's design was characterized by its dominant grille and standard LED headlights, with expressive taillights and tailgate trim at the rear. Despite its familiar design themes, the new Tahoe appeared more slab-sided, with larger wheels enhancing its overall look.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a more rugged appearance, with a higher stance and 23 cm of ground clearance. It featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The Wilderness stood out with a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, with Anodized Copper stitching and accents. The Outback Wilderness offered a new roof rack system capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping. Collectively, these modifications injected purpose and personality into the Outback's styling, appealing to those seeking a more adventurous vehicle.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options, with the standard 5.3-litre V8 delivering 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The High Country trim featured an exclusive 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel engine was also available, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, except for the Z71 trim. The Tahoe's 10-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with a four-wheel-drive system optional on base trims and standard on others. The Z71 trim included a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires. The Tahoe could tow up to 3,810 kilograms and handle a payload of 831 kilograms. The major engineering change was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, improving ride quality and interior comfort. The Z71 trim impressed with its smooth ride, thanks to adaptive damping and air suspension upgrades.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Wilderness achieved fuel efficiency of 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway, with an average of 11.0 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The Outback's CVT had eight programmed ratios, but its droning and soft simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim featured all-wheel drive, with a taller stance and 23 cm of ground clearance. It had gloss-black 17-inch wheels with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, improving off-road capability. The Wilderness excelled off the pavement, with improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a dual function X-Mode traction system. On pavement, the Wilderness felt quick but was limited by its tires.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from a new independent rear suspension, enhancing passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel, with ventilated seats available on higher trims. The power sliding storage console was a recommended feature, providing a large storage tray and a locking drawer. The second row offered a 3-person bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with available 10.6-inch entertainment displays. The third-row seat was more spacious, accommodating adults comfortably. The Tahoe provided 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,056 litres with the seat folded, and a maximum of 3,480 litres. These figures surpassed most full-size SUVs, except for longer-wheelbase models.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 4-way manual passenger seat. The rear seat offered generous head and legroom, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded. The Outback Wilderness had a robust roof rack, supporting a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, suitable for rooftop camping. The cargo area included waterproof seatbacks and a cargo tray, with LED lighting for visibility at night.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new digital platform offering enhanced computing power and cybersecurity protection. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice-recognition system, and Chevrolet Connected Services. Navigation and Bose premium audio systems were available upgrades. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though main-menu shortcut icons were somewhat hard to use. The voice-recognition system was impressive, responding accurately to natural prompts. The test vehicle included a wireless charging pad and a mid-grade 9-speaker Bose audio system. The Rear Seat Media system offered versatility, though it was not fully tested. The Tahoe also offered an available 15-inch head-up display.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate control. It featured physical knobs for stereo volume and tuning, but most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, despite its target demographic. Subaru offered a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system on other trims, which would have been a welcome addition to the Wilderness.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe included standard safety features such as Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Tahoe's driving-assistance features worked as expected, though the pedestrian alert could be distracting. A surround-view camera was recommended for maneuvering the large SUV. Crash-test results were not available at the time of review.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centring assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Wilderness lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. EyeSight technology was effective, maintaining safe distances and keeping the vehicle centred. The 2021 Outback received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.