2021 Dodge Durango vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular and athletic styling, reminiscent of its Charger and Challenger siblings. Despite its third-generation design dating back to 2011, the Durango's 2021 updates, particularly in the SRT Hellcat model, brought a fresh look with features like a cold-air scoop, twin-pipe exhaust, and LED headlamps. The SUV offered a variety of wheel options and a choice of 11 exterior colors, enhancing its appeal. Inside, the Durango's cabin was modernized with a new instrument panel and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a range of upholstery options from cloth to luxurious Laguna leather. The Durango's diverse trim levels catered to a wide audience, providing options from track-ready equipment to premium appointments.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness pushed the boundaries of the traditional station wagon, offering a rugged design with 9.5 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires. Its unique features included a distinctive grille, blacked-out trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal. The interior was equipped with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, heated seats, and a black headliner, creating a functional yet stylish environment. The Outback Wilderness stood out with its off-road capabilities, thanks to its enhanced suspension and traction systems, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers. The model's pricing positioned it between the Onyx XT and Limited XT, offering a balance of performance and value.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered a range of powerful engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing up to 295 horsepower, and moving up to the 5.7-liter V8 with 360 hp. The SRT 392 model boasted a 392 HEMI V8 engine delivering 475 hp, while the SRT Hellcat featured a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 with an impressive 710 hp. Despite its power, the Durango's handling was smooth, with precise steering and effective braking, especially in the Hellcat model. The SUV's suspension, however, showed its age, transmitting road imperfections to the cabin. The Durango's towing capacity reached 8,700 pounds with the Tow N Go Package, making it a capable hauler.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. While the engine provided ample power, the CVT transmission's droning detracted from the driving experience. The Outback's AWD system, combined with its all-terrain tires and lifted suspension, offered excellent off-road capabilities. The Wilderness trim featured improved approach and departure angles, a dual-function X-Mode traction system, and skid plates, making it the most capable Outback for off-road adventures. On paved roads, the Outback felt quick but was limited by its tires, which were better suited for off-road conditions.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler, offering seating for up to seven passengers across three rows. The front and second-row seats provided ample space, while the third row was more spacious than many competitors. The Durango's cargo space was average for its class, but its fit and finish had improved significantly over the years. With 21 seat options, buyers had plenty of choices to customize their interior.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats offered power adjustments, while the rear seats provided generous space for passengers. The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback's robust roof rack supported a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping. The interior was equipped with dual-zone climate control and USB charging ports, enhancing comfort and convenience.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 10.1-inch screen on higher trims running the Uconnect 5 system. This system offered faster performance, user profiles, and connectivity options like Amazon Alexa and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with Blu-ray and DVD players. The TomTom navigation system was user-friendly, though a head-up display would have improved usability.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, complemented by physical controls for essential functions. While the voice recognition technology required learning specific prompts, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided better voice assistant functionality. The Outback lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other trims. However, the PIN code entry technology was a practical feature for active lifestyles.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with a rearview camera as the only standard active safety feature. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The NHTSA awarded the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, but front crash testing results were pending.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness prioritized safety with its EyeSight ADAS, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Wilderness also included steering-responsive headlights and a blind-spot warning system. While the DriverFocus technology was unavailable, the EyeSight system performed well in maintaining safe distances and lane centering. The standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.