2022 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a rugged and adventurous aesthetic, distinguishing itself from the standard Outback with its elevated stance and off-road enhancements. It featured 23 centimetres of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The unique grille design, 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, creating a purposeful and robust interior environment.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape adopted a more European design language, moving away from its earlier blocky exterior. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar and the Ford blue oval logo. The Escape, particularly in the ST-Line Elite trim, exuded an upscale appearance with 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps. Inside, the Escape offered diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats were comfortable, and the interior was designed for long drives, with a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat enhancing comfort.

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 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's CVT, while offering eight programmed ratios, was less engaging than a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Wilderness trim featured all-wheel drive, 23 cm of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires, making it highly capable off-road. It also boasted improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, along with a dual function X-Mode traction system.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. While the Escape's suspension was soft and compliant, it provided a comfortable ride on rough roads. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness found in some competitors.

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 a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way manual passenger seat. Rear seat space was generous, with ample head and legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and dual 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's roof rack supported a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics. The front-door armrests were well-positioned, and the head-up display was easy to adjust. Cargo space was 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded, slightly less than some competitors. Rear-seat legroom was limited, but headroom was impressive, and the front-seat backs were designed to maximize space for rear passengers.

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

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher trims like the ST-Line Elite. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look, and Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between features. A wi-fi hotspot was available, and the system included a static "Home" button for convenience. While Sync 4 was occasionally slow to respond, its overall feature set and layout were impressive. A Bang & Olufsen sound system was optional on higher trims.

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. The Wilderness also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. While crash-test results for the Wilderness were unavailable, the standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in frontal and side-crash tests. However, it did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Co-Pilot360 2.0, available as an upgrade, added adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology.