2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a compact crossover that embraced the rugged appeal of larger SUVs while maintaining the practicality of a hatchback. It shared its platform with the Impreza but stood out with black body cladding, model-specific alloy wheels, and a higher ride height, offering 22 centimetres of ground clearance. This design allowed the Crosstrek to mimic an SUV's presence, enhanced by vibrant colour options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. Despite its SUV-like appearance, the Crosstrek retained the Impreza's interior, which was functional but somewhat plain, with water-repellant upholstery and simulated carbon-fibre trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness pushed the boundaries of what a station wagon could be, resembling a Jeep more than a traditional wagon. It featured a unique grille, blacked-out trim, and a matte black hood decal, with a new Geyser Blue paint option. The Wilderness boasted 23 centimetres of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark grey StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but not ideal for hot weather. The Outback Wilderness offered a spacious interior with heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and a robust roof rack for outdoor adventures.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre boxer-four engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, and a more powerful 2.5-litre boxer-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, available on the Outdoor and Limited trims. The Crosstrek's lower centre of gravity, thanks to its boxer engine, contributed to improved handling, although the raised ride height introduced some body roll. All trim levels came with standard AWD, and the Outdoor trim featured X-Mode with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes for enhanced traction. Despite these features, the Crosstrek was primarily suited for on-road driving, with predictable handling and a comfortable ride.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided ample power for the midsize crossover, with a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Outback Wilderness featured a CVT with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, though its performance was somewhat hindered by the transmission's droning and soft gear changes. The Wilderness trim excelled off-road, with 23 cm of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system. On pavement, the Outback Wilderness felt quick but was limited by its tires, while off-road, it demonstrated impressive capability on challenging trails.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It provided 588 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,565 litres with them folded. While competitive in passenger space, the Crosstrek lagged behind some rivals in cargo capacity. It featured a rear-seat reminder system, a handy cubby hole for phones, and decent bottle holders in the doors. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, offering good outward visibility.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey 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 ports. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded flat, with waterproof seatbacks and a cargo tray. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack, supporting a 700-pound static load for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek came with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, featuring a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen, with navigation standard on the Limited trim. The system was user-friendly, with large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions. EyeSight driver-assistance features were controlled via steering wheel buttons.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate control. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for some functions, most controls required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less intuitive, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better voice assistant functionality. Despite targeting a higher-income demographic, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other trims.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS. It featured EyeSight driver-assist technology with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. CVT-equipped models also included additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, EyeSight's cameras could be obstructed by windshield wipers or direct sunlight.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with 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, though it lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. While crash-test results for the 2022 model were unavailable, the 2021 Outback received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.