2022 Mazda CX-30 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 restyled bumpers that improved its approach and departure angles. The exterior featured a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, while the interior was dominated by dark grey and black tones with StarTex water-repellant upholstery. The Outback Wilderness was designed to stand out with its exclusive Geyser Blue paint and a robust roof rack system capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness offered a practical yet stylish cabin with a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, and Anodized Copper stitching. The seats, covered in StarTex, were heated but not ventilated, which could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The vehicle provided ample space for passengers and cargo, with a waterproof cargo tray and rear seatback material. Positioned as an entry point into the turbocharged Outback family, the Wilderness was priced competitively, offering a unique blend of style and functionality for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 was a stylish subcompact SUV that shared its platform with the Mazda3, offering a sleek design reminiscent of a downsized CX-5. Its raked windshield created a greenhouse effect, which could be distracting for taller drivers due to its slight curve. The cabin was praised for its comfort and quietness, with a solid feel to all components. The interior design was a blend of conventional and digital displays, with an infotainment screen that rose organically from the dashboard. However, the system's functionality was criticized for its steep learning curve.

In Canada, the CX-30 was available in GX, GS, and GT trims, each offering a range of features. The GX included essentials like heated front seats and a standard AWD drivetrain, while the GS added premium touches like dual-zone climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The GT trim offered luxury features such as a power liftgate, full leather upholstery, and a head-up display. The GT was also the only trim available with the upgraded turbocharged engine, which provided a more dynamic driving experience. Overall, the CX-30 was a well-rounded vehicle with a focus on style and performance.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 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. Fuel efficiency was rated at 10.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.9 on the highway, with real-world testing averaging 11.0 L/100 km on a mountainous route. The Outback's CVT, with eight programmed ratios, offered paddle shifters for manual control but was criticized for its droning and soft simulated gear changes.

The Outback Wilderness stood out with its all-wheel drive, 23 cm ground clearance, and 225/65R17 Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. It featured improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making it the most capable Outback for off-road adventures. The dual function X-Mode traction system, with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, enhanced its off-road capabilities. On pavement, the Outback felt quick but was limited by its tires, while off-road, it excelled on challenging trails, proving its worth as a rugged and capable vehicle.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of engine options, with the base GX featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The GS and GT trims came with a 2.5-litre engine delivering 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Our test model featured the upgraded 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, which produced 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel. The six-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery to all four wheels.

The turbocharged engine offered lively acceleration, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30's conventional shifter design, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, provided a sporty driving experience. The vehicle's well-weighted steering and quick turn-in made for precise handling, though the suspension could be harsh over rough roads. Overall, the CX-30 delivered a sporty and refined ride, with a focus on performance and driving dynamics.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant simulated leather that kept moisture from soaking into the seats. While effective in cold weather, the lack of ventilated seats made the interior uncomfortable in hot conditions. The dual-zone automatic climate control was efficient, and the driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment for comfort. 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, with waterproof materials for added durability.

The Outback Wilderness also boasted a robust roof rack with a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load rating, ideal for rooftop camping. The vehicle's interior was designed for practicality and adventure, with ample storage space and LED lighting in the cargo area for convenience.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 1,280 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 572 litres with the seats in use. The GT trim featured a power rear liftgate for added convenience. The front seats had a sliding centre console cover, which could get stuck when the rear seats were folded. Despite this design flaw, the centre console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles.

The rear seats provided adequate headroom for adults on short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be less comfortable due to limited space. Overall, the CX-30 offered a practical and well-designed interior, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which integrated climate control and dominated the centre of the dashboard. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for basic functions, most controls required the use of the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not intuitive, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preferable for their superior voice assistant functionality. Despite its target market, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other Outback trims.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash. Controlled by a rotary dial and toggle buttons, the system lacked touch functionality, which was a drawback for users familiar with touchscreens. Inspired by luxury-car systems like BMW's iDrive, the setup was criticized for its poor usability. Navigating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the rotary dial was cumbersome, though accessing CarPlay from the home screen was straightforward. Overall, the system required a learning curve and could be frustrating for new users.

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 system was powered by cameras mounted behind the windshield and was carefully calibrated to maintain its effectiveness. The Wilderness also featured steering-responsive LED headlights, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. While crash-test results were unavailable, the standard Outback earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of driver-assistance features, though many were not standard in Canada. Available features included forward collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Standard features included rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The CX-30 earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with high marks for its crash-test performance and driver-assistance technology.