Subaru Outback vs Jeep Wagoneer

People love crossover SUVs because they drive like cars but provide the utility of an SUV, and the Subaru Outback was one of the first modern crossovers when it went on sale almost 30 years ago.

Now, the 2023 Subaru Outback gets several updates. The improvements include fresh styling, new infotainment and safety technologies, and the Onyx Edition joins the Canadian line-up, which features blacked-out exterior trim and water-resistant upholstery.

These changes to the 2023 Outback build on the momentum established by the rugged Subaru Outback Wilderness, which debuted last year.

Jeep is digging deep into its back catalog for new models. The Stellantis brand (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) recently resurrected the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, and now it’s bringing back another name from the past—the Wagoneer.

The Jeep Wagoneer was one of the original American SUVs and boasted a 28-year production run, spanning 1963 to 1991. It’s a tough act to follow, then, as demonstrated by Jeep’s last attempt at a full-size SUV, the ill-fated Commander.

The Wagoneer returns not just as a new SUV, but as a sub-brand that sits atop the rest of the Jeep lineup in size, price, and prestige. For the 2022 model year, Jeep is launching both the standard Wagoneer and a more luxurious Grand Wagoneer (covered in a separate review). As the lower-tier model, the standard Wagoneer targets full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia.

The 2022 Wagoneer launches in Series II and Series III trim levels, with a base Wagoneer Series I model scheduled to join the lineup at a later date. Our test vehicle was a Wagoneer Series II, which is the de facto base model until the Series I arrives.