Subaru Outback vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was a striking presence on the road, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, which lent it a traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, adorned with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps were protected by acrylic glass, showcasing the “Wagoneer” logo. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared many interior-styling features with the Wagoneer, such as a nicely integrated infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it elevated the experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a facelift, presenting a more aggressive appearance with a redesigned front end, including new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. The addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim gave it a rugged look. The Outback Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding. The Outback was available in seven trims, with the Onyx Edition priced at $38,695 in Canada. The Limited trim, which we tested, featured Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery. The interior was upscale, with contrasting leather, dashboard, and door panels, and light gray contrast stitching on the dashboard. Despite some hard plastic trim, the Outback maintained a high-quality feel, though the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim were prone to collecting dust and smudges.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a robust 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, propelled the Grand Wagoneer from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, impressive for its 2,900-kilogram weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, it boasted impressive off-road capabilities, though its size limited its trail performance. The cabin was quiet, and the air suspension provided a smooth ride, but at higher speeds, the ride became bouncy, and the steering felt imprecise.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed engine design, with the standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. While the CVT made good use of the power at lower speeds, passing and climbing power was lacking. The Outback XT models offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing more responsive performance. The Outback's fuel efficiency was slightly disappointing, with our test vehicle returning 9.2 L/100 km. The Outback's suspension tuning was excellent, offering a firm ride at lower speeds and soaking up bumps at higher speeds. The Outback handled well, with decent steering and capable brakes, though the standard engine left something to be desired in terms of power.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. However, space up front was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer offered 775 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, the cargo space was 2,667 litres. It had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack and flat door sill trim. Our Limited test vehicle had a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, and heated seats wrapped in premium Nappa leather. The Outback offered 923 litres of cargo space behind the back seat and 2,141 litres with the back seat folded down. The flat, textured plastic door sills served as steps to reach the roof rack. The Outback's interior was comfortable, with ample legroom and storage space, though wind noise was noticeable on the highway. The vehicle's height made it easy to get in and out, and the cargo area was versatile for various needs.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch centre console touchscreen, and an optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which included over-the-air software updates. While the system was functional, the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The system included physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control, while other functions were embedded in the touchscreen. The base Outback had a 7-inch touchscreen with wired connectivity. The Starlink system was improved for 2023, though the graphics and voice recognition system were lacking. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was not available.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for the future.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top marks from the IIHS, including in the new side-impact crash test. The Base model included EyeSight with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like Automatic Emergency Steering and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were accurate but felt artificial. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, leading to jarring stops.