2022 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Lexus GX

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 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, all contributing to its bold appearance. Inside, the cabin was outfitted with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, a black headliner, and Anodized Copper stitching, creating a functional yet stylish interior.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX presented a commanding presence with its massive spindle grille and 206 millimetres of ground clearance. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned with limited availability, offering exclusive paint colours like Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards functionality, with a short wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it adept at off-road adventures. The interior, however, was a mix of luxury and practicality, with some plastic materials betraying its premium status. The GX offered heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery, but its overall design felt dated compared to newer Lexus models.

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 adequate power for its 3,896-pound weight and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. While the CVT offered eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, its droning and soft gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim stood out with its all-wheel drive, 23 cm ground clearance, and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, making it capable off-road. It featured improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, a dual function X-Mode traction system, and hill descent control, making it the most capable Outback for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery and a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 12.3 on the highway. The GX's weight contributed to its predictable and controllable roll through corners, and its driving dynamics were enhanced by a Torsen limited-slip differential and a 4WD system. The GX also featured a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) for improved on-road and off-road performance.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness offered a practical interior with dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but not ideal for hot weather. The front seats were heated, with a 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way manual adjustment for the passenger. The rear seat provided generous head and legroom, heated seats, and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded flat, with waterproof materials and a robust roof rack for additional storage.

The 2023 Lexus GX provided ample cubby space, a deep centre console bin, and convenient cupholders. The interior featured hard buttons for controls, a sliding centre console lid, and comfortable second-row captain’s chairs. However, the third row was tight and best suited for emergencies. The GX's cargo space was limited, with 328 litres behind the rear seats, 1,322 litres with the third row folded, and 1,832 litres with both rows down, less than a Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, integrating climate control and offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While physical knobs were available for volume and tuning, the touchscreen was necessary for most functions. The voice recognition technology required learning specific prompts, and the lack of a premium audio system was a notable omission.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an improvement over its predecessor but still lagging behind newer Lexus models. It included SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and smartphone compatibility, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. The GX also offered off-road technology like a 4WD system, KDSS, and a multi-terrain monitor, but its infotainment system felt outdated compared to competitors.

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. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. While crash-test results for the Wilderness were unavailable, the standard Outback received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus GX lacked crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, but it included the Lexus Safety System+ with features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. Despite its older design, the GX offered modern safety technology, enhancing its overall safety profile.