2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a bold departure from the standard Outback, offering a more rugged appearance and enhanced off-road capabilities. It featured a higher ground clearance of 23 centimetres, aggressive all-terrain tires, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The unique design elements, such as a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, gave it a robust and adventurous look. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark grey and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and Anodized Copper stitching, creating a functional yet stylish interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota 4Runner maintained its traditional SUV roots, with a design that emphasized its ruggedness and off-road prowess. Its high ride height, boxy proportions, and sharply angled front bumper were all about function over form. Inside, the 4Runner's cabin was a reminder of its last redesign in 2009, with a dash layout that felt dated. However, it offered practical features like push-button start, remote keyless entry, and a power-sliding rear window. The 4Runner's design was less about modern aesthetics and more about delivering a sense of adventure and nostalgia for those who appreciated its classic SUV appeal.

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 a midsize crossover SUV. However, the CVT's characteristic droning and soft simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience during maximum acceleration. The Outback Wilderness excelled off-road, thanks to its 23 cm ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and dual-function X-Mode traction system. It could tackle a 40% grade and offered improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making it the most capable Outback ever.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with a 4.0-litre V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While reliable, this engine felt underwhelming in most driving situations, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The 4Runner's ride was harsh and cumbersome on paved roads, with noticeable body roll. However, off-road, it shone with features like Crawl Control and a locking differential, making it adept at handling rough terrain. The 4Runner's towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms was more than most car-based crossovers, adding to its utility.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness offered a spacious interior with dark grey StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, and the driver's seat had 10-way power adjustment. Rear seat space was generous, with heated seats and dual USB ports. The cargo area provided 920 litres of space behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also featured a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner provided a maximum of 2,540 litres of cargo capacity in the two-row version, with 1,337 litres behind the second row. The three-row model offered slightly less space, with 2,514 litres maximum. The 4Runner lacked a power rear liftgate but featured a power-open/close rear window for easy access. While the cabin wasn't the most spacious or efficient, it offered plenty of storage spaces for gear.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated climate control. 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 provided better voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available on other Outback trims.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, surrounded by hard buttons and dials. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple USB ports. While not the most advanced system, it offered tactile controls, making it user-friendly, especially for those wearing gloves. The 4Runner could be upgraded with navigation and a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. 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 earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars for frontal and side-impact testing from the NHTSA, with three stars for rollover testing. It was backed by a five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty.