2022 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a bold departure from the standard Outback, offering a rugged aesthetic that pushed the boundaries of what a station wagon could be. With 23 centimetres of ground clearance, it sat higher than its siblings, resembling more of an off-road vehicle. The Outback Wilderness featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection, and restyled bumpers that improved its approach and departure angles. Its unique design elements, such as a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, set it apart. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark grey and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and Anodized Copper stitching adding to its rugged charm.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness maintained a more utilitarian appearance, with a focus on practicality and functionality. It featured a suspension lift and higher ride height, providing 22.9 centimetres of ground clearance. The Forester's interior was straightforward, emphasizing function over form, with hard plastic and soft surfaces creating a cabin that felt well-constructed but somewhat dated. The 8-inch Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, though the presence of three display screens was less than ideal. The Forester's exterior styling, with its cladding and matte-black hood decal, was not immediately appealing, but its driving dynamics and utility made it a compelling choice for those seeking practicality.

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 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.9 on the highway, with an average of 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 less satisfying during maximum acceleration. The Wilderness trim featured a taller stance, 23 cm of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires for off-road capability. It also boasted improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making it the most capable Outback ever.

The 2022 Subaru Forester continued with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. While lacking a turbocharger, the Forester's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling its towing capacity to 1,360 kilograms. Fuel consumption was rated at 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with an average of 9.1 L/100 km during testing. The Forester's dual-function X-Mode system offered various settings for different surfaces, and its re-tuned suspension improved ride and handling. The Wilderness trim featured longer springs and shocks, raising ground clearance to 22.9 centimetres, and included all-terrain tires and a standard aluminum front skid plate. The Forester excelled in various environments, though it lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise at higher speeds.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant simulated leather that prevented moisture absorption. While effective in cold weather, the lack of seat ventilation made it uncomfortable in hot conditions. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger had 4-way manual adjustment. Rear seat head and legroom were generous, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the rear 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 Subaru Forester emphasized 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, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 100 kilograms and a static load of 362 kilograms, allowing for a three-person roof tent. Comfort levels were high, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space measured 818 litres without the panoramic sunroof and 762 litres with it, expanding to 2,101 litres with the rear seat folded down. The Forester's cargo area was usefully shaped, with new cargo hooks and a full-size spare under the cargo floor.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring integrated climate control. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for basic functions, most controls required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. Despite its target demographic, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other Outback trims.

The 2022 Subaru Forester, even in base trim, included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims featured an 8-inch screen, with available navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Forester Wilderness included a 180-degree forward-view camera, useful for off-roading. The test vehicle had both navigation and the Harman Kardon audio system, though these were not available on the Wilderness trim in Canada. The voice recognition system was inconsistent in its effectiveness.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centring assistance. The Wilderness trim also had steering-responsive LED headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and a rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective, qualifying as a Level 2 ADAS. While crash-test results for the 2022 model were unavailable, the 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, offering improved accuracy and smoother operation. 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 a rear automatic braking system. Limited and Premier trims included DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology for drowsiness and distraction monitoring. The 2022 Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with a 4-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not rated the 2022 model, but it was expected to retain the 2021 model's "Top Safety Pick+" rating.