2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior with Nissan's new signature design. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional robust and athletic styling. The SUV featured a redesigned grille, fenders, bumpers, and LED lights, giving it a modern look akin to the Nissan Kicks, Rogue, and Pathfinder. The Armada was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the latter offering captain’s chairs as an option. The SUV's exterior boasted body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a variety of standard features, including a power sliding sunroof and heated side mirrors. The Armada's new logo was prominently displayed, and a new exterior colour, Coulis Red Pearl, was introduced. However, the interior remained somewhat dated, with modern tech upgrades contrasting with older design elements.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness pushed the boundaries of the traditional station wagon, offering a higher ride height and more rugged features. With 23 centimetres of ground clearance, it was equipped with aggressive all-terrain tires and improved approach and departure angles. The Outback Wilderness stood out with a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents. Its roof rack supported a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The interior was complemented by Gunmetal Gray trim and Anodized Copper accents. The Outback Wilderness provided a distinct personality and purpose, appealing to those seeking adventure.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. It featured a 7-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. Its towing capacity was best-in-class at 3,856 kilograms. However, fuel efficiency was not its strong suit, with estimates of 17.5 L/100 km in the city and 12.9 on the highway. The Armada's handling improved over previous models, but its turning radius and parking maneuverability remained challenging.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Fuel efficiency was better than the Armada, with estimates of 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway. The Outback Wilderness was equipped with a CVT, which, while functional, lacked the engagement of a dual-clutch transmission. Its standout features included 23 cm of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system. The Outback Wilderness excelled off-road, handling challenging terrain with ease, though its on-road performance was limited by its tires.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior was spacious, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and power-adjustable front seats. The Platinum trim offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with seats folded. However, the high load floor made loading difficult for petite individuals. Small-item storage was limited, but the centre console provided ample space.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the rear seat provided generous head and legroom. Cargo space was 920 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,144 litres with seats folded. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack, supporting a 700-pound static load for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Nissan Armada boasted a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with features like navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and rear-seat entertainment. The steering wheel, though functional, lacked sophistication.

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

The 2021 Nissan Armada came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including features like automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning. However, it lacked advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rollover rating.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and more. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The Outback Wilderness was not rated by safety organizations, but the standard Outback received high marks.