2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a rugged departure from the standard Outback, with a design that leaned more towards an off-road vehicle than a traditional station wagon. It featured a higher ground clearance of 23 centimetres, aggressive all-terrain tires, and restyled bumpers that improved its approach and departure angles. The unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents added to its distinctive look. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark grey and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and Anodized Copper stitching. The Outback Wilderness was positioned as an entry point into the turbocharged Outback family, priced at $41,995 plus a destination charge.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative yet upscale design. Over the years, Buick had shifted from a sedan-heavy lineup to a focus on SUVs, with the Enclave sitting at the top of its range. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with new exterior styling, including a redesigned grille and fascias. Inside, the Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable cabin with upgraded materials and a restyled centre console. The Avenir trim level featured unique design elements and a split sunroof. The Enclave was praised for its smooth ride and quiet cabin, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning technology.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided ample power for the midsize SUV, which weighed 3,896 pounds. The Wilderness had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs and offered fuel efficiency of 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway. The Outback's all-wheel-drive system, combined with its lifted suspension and all-terrain tires, made it highly capable off-road. It featured a dual-function X-Mode traction system and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. This engine was mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and responsive driving experience. The Enclave's all-wheel-drive system was standard in Canada, and it had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Avenir Technology package enhanced the ride quality with a premium suspension and real-time chassis damping. The Enclave was known for its quiet and comfortable ride, with active noise cancellation and QuietTuning technology contributing to a serene cabin environment.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering 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 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating for up to six adults. The front seats were power-adjustable and heated, with tri-zone climate control standard. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row. The cargo area offered 668 litres of space behind the third row, 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows folded. The Enclave featured a restyled centre console with push-button transmission gears and ample storage space.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which integrated climate control and dominated the dashboard. While it had physical knobs for volume and tuning, most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not intuitive, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available in other Outback trims.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Enclave also offered a range of advanced features, including adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came 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 was not crash-tested, but the standard Outback received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Buick Enclave included the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, with features like automatic emergency braking, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium trim added enhanced safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high ratings from the IIHS.