2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a rugged take on the traditional Outback, offering a higher stance and a more adventurous aesthetic. With 23 centimetres of ground clearance, it was designed to tackle more challenging terrains, resembling a Jeep more than a station wagon. The Wilderness model featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. Its unique design elements included a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, while the interior boasted a dark grey and black theme with StarTex water-repellant upholstery. The Outback Wilderness was priced at $41,995, making it an entry point into the turbocharged Outback family in Canada.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue continued to build on its reputation as a top seller with a mature and sophisticated design. The exterior featured Nissan’s V-motion grille, multi-level LED headlights, and a sleek floating roof design. Inside, the Rogue offered a layered dash with contrasting colours and surfaces, creating a refined look. The centre console was notable for its electronic gear selector, providing more space for storage. The Rogue's interior was spacious, with comfortable Zero Gravity front seats and ample legroom in the second row. The fit and finish were exemplary, especially in the top-of-the-line Platinum model.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder Boxer engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided ample power for the midsize SUV, 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. The Outback Wilderness featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios, though its performance was somewhat hindered by the CVT's characteristic droning. The Wilderness trim stood out with its all-wheel drive, 23 cm ground clearance, and all-terrain tires, making it highly capable off-road. It also had improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, along with a dual function X-Mode traction system.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue received a performance boost from its new 1.5-litre VC-Turbo engine, delivering 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This represented an 11% increase in horsepower and a 24% increase in torque over the previous model. The Rogue's fuel efficiency was impressive, with ratings of 7.8 L/100 km city and 6.5 highway. The new CVT offered wider gear ratios, enhancing the Rogue's responsiveness. The chassis and suspension provided a smooth ride with minimal body roll, and the electric power-assisted steering offered good feel and a tight turning diameter.

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

The 2022 Nissan Rogue excelled in interior storage, with numerous compartments for stashing items. The front cabin featured bottle holders, cupholders, a glove compartment, and more. Rear-seat passengers had storage options in the doors and seatbacks, along with USB charging ports. The Rogue's cargo area could accommodate up to 1,033 litres of luggage, expanding to 2,098 litres with the second row folded flat.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrated with climate control. While physical knobs were provided for volume and tuning, most functions required the touchscreen. Voice recognition technology was limited, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better functionality. The lack of a premium audio system was a notable omission for this model.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured a technology upgrade with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 9-inch centre infotainment touchscreen, and a 10.8-inch head-up display. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, with wireless Apple CarPlay available on upper trims. ProPilot Assist, a hands-on driver-assist technology, was available, offering advanced features like navigation integration for predictive speed control.

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. The Wilderness also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for 2021 and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Nissan Rogue featured the Safety Shield 360 suite, with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist enhanced these features to a Level 2 advanced driver-assist system. The Rogue received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.