2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX retained its decade-old body shell, with minor updates over the years, including the signature spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. Despite its age, the GX's styling was coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV enthusiasts with its aggressive look. However, the interior did not match the modern luxury SUV standards, with wood trim resembling plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. The semi-aniline leather was a standard feature, but the overall interior feel was somewhat outdated.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a more rugged and adventurous design, with a higher stance and 23 centimetres of ground clearance. It featured aggressive all-terrain tires, unique grille design, and blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents. The interior was dominated by dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but lacked ventilated seats, making it less comfortable in hot weather. The Outback Wilderness offered a practical and purposeful design, with a focus on off-road capability and a unique personality.

The 2021 Lexus GX was powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Despite its powerful engine, the GX's 2,349 kilograms weight made high-speed maneuvers challenging, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, but the GX excelled in off-road capability with features like a Torsen centre differential, low-range 4WD, and Multi-Terrain Select. It offered 20.5 centimetres of ground clearance and a towing capacity of 2,948 kilograms.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs and offered commendable fuel efficiency. The Outback's CVT, however, detracted from the driving experience with its droning and soft simulated gear changes. The Wilderness trim featured enhanced off-road capabilities, including 23 cm of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system. It excelled in off-road environments, providing a capable and adept performance on challenging trails.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with limited legroom and an awkward steering wheel position. The dashboard design offered excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood. Storage space was limited, with small centre-console storage and cupholders. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children and accessing it was cumbersome. Cargo space was limited, with only 1,833 litres available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but uncomfortable in hot weather. The interior offered generous rear seat head and legroom, with rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The cargo area provided 920 litres of space behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the rear seat folded. The Outback Wilderness also boasted a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It offered a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system, but the infotainment system was outdated, with graphics reminiscent of the 1990s. The interface relied on analog controls, providing a refreshing alternative to screen-centric systems but lacking modern functionality.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate control. While it offered physical knobs for basic functions, most controls required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was limited, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided superior functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available in other Outback trims.

The 2021 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including a pre-collision system, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were unavailable.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective and unobtrusive, providing a Level 2 ADAS experience. While crash-test results for the Wilderness were unavailable, the standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from IIHS.