2022 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Toyota Venza

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 rougher 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 dominated by dark grey and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and Anodized Copper stitching, creating a robust yet stylish interior.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Venza was a sleek and sculpted midsize crossover SUV, exuding a more luxurious vibe akin to a Lexus. Its contoured body and tapering rear roofline gave it a distinctive look, avoiding the boxy appearance typical of its class. The interior borrowed elements from the Toyota RAV4 but elevated them with higher-quality materials and a more refined design. The Venza's cabin featured soft-touch surfaces and integrated climate control buttons, offering a near-Lexus level of luxury. Overall, the Venza was praised for its cohesive and graceful styling, making it one of the most attractive vehicles in Toyota's lineup.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided ample power for its 3,896-pound weight and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. However, the CVT's droning and soft gear changes detracted from the driving experience. 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 for challenging terrains.

The 2023 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system, producing a combined 219 horsepower. The hybrid setup included a CVT and standard all-wheel drive, with electric motors providing initial acceleration. The Venza reached 100 km/h in just over 7.5 seconds, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. While its handling was adequate, it prioritized ride comfort over sporty performance. The Venza's ride quality was smoother than the RAV4 Hybrid's, though not as plush as a Lexus, and it handled road imperfections with ease.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark grey StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could become uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats offered 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way manual adjustment for the passenger, with heated seats for both front and rear occupants. The rear seat provided generous head and legroom, along with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 920 litres behind the rear seat and 2,144 litres with the seat folded flat, and the roof rack supported a 700-pound static load for rooftop camping.

The 2023 Toyota Venza offered spacious front seats, enhanced by large windows and a panoramic sunroof. The rear seats provided ample legroom and foot room, though headroom was slightly limited. The Venza's cargo capacity was 816 litres, less than some competitors, and it was not rated for towing. However, it excelled in holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and large door pockets. The Venza's interior materials were of high quality, matching the front seats' luxury feel.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring integrated climate control and physical knobs for volume and tuning. However, the voice recognition technology required specific prompts, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for voice commands. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium audio system, which was available in other Outback trims.

The 2023 Toyota Venza offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base LE trim had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and Limited trims featured a 12.3-inch display. The new infotainment system was praised for its sharp graphics and logical menu structure. The Venza XLE and Limited trims included a one-year trial of Drive Connect services, activated by saying "Hey Toyota." The base audio system had six speakers, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive LED headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The Outback Wilderness was expected to perform well in crash tests, with the standard Outback earning top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Venza received high safety ratings, with five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure assist. The XLE trim added parking sensors, while the Limited trim included a surround-view camera and a head-up display. The Venza's safety features were effective, with no false alarms reported.