2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Ford Bronco

The 2022 Subaru Forester was available in several trims, including the base, Convenience, Touring, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Premier. Prices started at $29,495 MSRP for the base model, with the Premier trim reaching $40,595. An additional destination charge of $1,800 applied, and Subaru offered a variety of dealer-installed accessories. All-wheel drive was standard across all models. The Forester Wilderness, new for 2022, featured white paint, a dark grey interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $38,995, including destination. The Wilderness trim added a suspension lift and higher ride height, giving it 22.9 centimetres of ground clearance. However, the massive protective cladding and matte-black hood decal gave it a somewhat unappealing look. Inside, the Forester focused on functionality, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces, copper-coloured stitching, and an 8-inch Starlink infotainment system. Despite its rugged appearance, the Forester was well-made, though the Wilderness trim's styling choices were not universally appealing.

The 2022 Ford Bronco was highly sought after, thanks to its retro styling and off-road capabilities. It returned with two new models, the Everglades and Bronco Raptor, expanding the lineup to eight trims. The Everglades was designed for swamp trekking, featuring an intake snorkel, Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco was sold out for 2022, but those who ordered could choose between two-door or four-door body styles and four-cylinder or six-cylinder engines. The Bronco's design was utilitarian, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, and a tall ride height. Inside, it featured marine-grade vinyl upholstery, sealed switches, and drain plugs for easy cleaning. The G.O.A.T. mode dial allowed drivers to select specific terrain settings. Despite its ruggedness, the Bronco offered modern technology, including a digital instrument panel and large infotainment touchscreen. It was praised for its off-road prowess and on-road comfort, making it a versatile choice for adventure seekers.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with its 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Wilderness model had a CVT design that increased initial torque supply by 25%, doubling its towing capacity to 1,360 kilograms. Fuel consumption was rated at 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Forester's engine was adequate near sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT simulated an automatic transmission with eight programmed ratios, and the Wilderness trim included SI-Drive for a sportier response. The dual-function X-Mode system offered various settings for different surfaces, and the re-tuned suspension improved ride and handling. The Wilderness trim had longer springs and shocks, raising ground clearance to 22.9 centimetres. The Forester excelled in various environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2022 Ford Bronco offered a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 2.7-litre V6 engine with 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission was available for the two-door model with the four-cylinder engine, while a 10-speed automatic was standard for the V6 and all four-door models. The Bronco's four-wheel drive and electronic two-speed transfer case enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Everglades model excelled in challenging terrain, with a water fording depth of 92.5 centimetres. On-road, the Bronco offered a smoother ride and better steering than its rival, the Jeep Wrangler. Wind noise was present but not intrusive, and the absence of tire howl contributed to its overall excellence.

The 2022 Subaru Forester prioritized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The StarTex upholstery was water-resistant, and the Wilderness trim included all-weather floor mats and a rubber cargo mat. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 100 kilograms and a static load of 362 kilograms, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester offered high comfort levels, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 818 litres without the sunroof and 762 litres with it, expanding to 2,101 litres with the rear seats folded. The squared-off cargo area was practical, and the Wilderness trim included a full-size spare under the cargo floor.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's boxy design provided ample interior space, with generous headroom and legroom. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required some effort, but grab handles and side steps aided entry. Cargo capacity varied by model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering 634 litres behind the rear seats and 1,481 litres with them folded. The four-door hard top increased capacity to 1,008 litres and 2,197 litres, respectively. The rear seats didn't fold flat, creating a step-up that complicated loading larger objects. The Bronco featured clever storage solutions, including a large armrest bin, netted door pockets, and accessory rails. External hard mounting points and removable fender flares added to its utility.

The 2022 Subaru Forester came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and Starlink connected services. Higher trims featured an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a Harman Kardon sound system. The Wilderness trim included a 180-degree forward-view camera for off-roading. The navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function would have been useful. The voice recognition system was inconsistent.

The 2022 Ford Bronco used technology to enhance its off-road capabilities, with G.O.A.T. modes for specific terrain settings. A forward-looking trail camera provided confidence in navigating obstacles, and Trail Turn Assist allowed for sharper turns. The Sync 4 infotainment system offered quick responses, sharp graphics, and off-road apps. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Bluetooth and an available wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Subaru Forester introduced the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with improved camera-based driver assist technology. It included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The Forester also featured a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Limited and Premier trims offered DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with a 4-star rating for rollover resistance.

The 2022 Ford Bronco included hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control as standard safety features. Optional packages added frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Bronco received a four-star rating for frontal crash protection and a three-star rating for rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" rating in frontal, side, and roof strength tests.