2022 BMW X3 vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a rugged take on the traditional Outback, offering a higher stance and a more adventurous design. With 23 centimetres of ground clearance, it was equipped with aggressive all-terrain tires and enhanced approach and departure angles due to its restyled bumpers. The Outback Wilderness featured a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and a matte black hood decal, all contributing to its distinctive look. The interior was dominated by dark grey and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and Anodized Copper accents. While the cabin lacked ventilated seats, it offered heated ones, and the roof rack was robust enough to support rooftop camping.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW X3 presented a more refined and modern exterior with a slightly more aggressive stance. The kidney grille was larger, and the adaptive full LED headlights were slimmer, adding to its sleek appearance. The rear featured new taillights with a pincer claw design and larger exhaust tips. The X3 offered a variety of exterior finishes, including new metallic colours like Brooklyn Grey and Tanzanite Blue. Inside, the X3's cabin was clean and efficient, with a focus on comfort and practicality. It featured a variety of inserts, including wood trim and SensaTec synthetic leather upholstery, with options for premium Vernasca leather. The interior was spacious, with a standard panoramic moonroof on the M40i model.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine provided ample power for the midsize crossover, which weighed 3,896 pounds and had a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Outback Wilderness achieved fuel efficiency ratings of 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway. While the engine was strong, the CVT transmission detracted from the driving experience with its droning and soft gear changes. The Wilderness trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with its lifted stance, all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles. It also featured a dual-function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control, making it the most capable Outback for off-road adventures.

The 2022 BMW X3 offered a range of powertrains, with the xDrive30i featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 248 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. The M40i variant boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, delivering 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The M40i's 0 to 100 km/h time was an impressive 4.5 seconds. Both models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The M40i offered a more exhilarating driving experience with its sport brakes, adaptive suspension, and rear-oriented torque split. The mild-hybrid system provided a smoother start/stop operation and an additional 11 hp during acceleration, although it did not improve fuel efficiency.

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, and the driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment. The rear seats provided generous head and legroom, with heated seats and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area offered 920 litres of space behind the rear seats and 2,144 litres with the seats folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2022 BMW X3 provided a spacious interior with seating for five adults, although the rear middle seat was best suited for smaller passengers. The rear seats featured a 40/20/40-split, offering ample cargo space for luggage and equipment. The SensaTec faux-leather seats were comfortable, with the option to upgrade to Vernasca leather for added softness. The X3's interior was ergonomically designed, with a redesigned centre console and a standard 10.25-inch infotainment system. The X3 also offered a power tailgate and optional hands-free opening for added convenience.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which integrated climate control and dominated the dashboard. While physical knobs were available for volume and tuning, most functions required the use of the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not intuitive, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for voice commands. Despite its target demographic, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other Outback trims.

The 2022 BMW X3 featured BMW Live Cockpit Plus with iDrive 7 telematics, including a 5.1-inch colour display instrument panel and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. The system offered navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and various connected digital features. An optional Live Cockpit Professional upgraded both screens to 12.3 inches and provided a fully digital experience. The X3's standard sound system included a 12-speaker 205-watt HiFi system, with an optional Harman Kardon surround sound system available on the M40i model. Additional tech options included a head-up display, gesture control, and heated seats.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Wilderness also featured steering-responsive LED headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective and qualified as a Level 2 ADAS. 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.

The 2022 BMW X3 received a five-star crash safety rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with adaptive LED headlights, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, active blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The X3 also featured active pre-collision protection systems, including seatbelt tensioners and automatic window closures. Optional safety features included parking assistance, traffic jam assistance, and active lane-keep assist. The 2018 X3 was previously named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, and the 2022 model added even more safety features.