2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a more conventional design compared to its futuristic successor. It had an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern and attractive dash design, seamlessly integrating tech features into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, making the interior user-friendly and visually appealing.

Trim levels for the 2021 Tucson included SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, power-adjustable seats, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a hands-free power liftgate. The top-tier Ultimate trim offered a color trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, an 8-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stood out with its higher stance and rugged design, making it resemble a Jeep more than a station wagon. It offered 9.5 inches of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles due to restyled bumpers. Unique design features included a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal. The roof rack and rail system supported a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping, and Geyser Blue was an exclusive paint color for the Wilderness.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness featured dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which looked like leather but wasn't. The cabin included a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and standard all-weather floor mats. The rear seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, enhancing the vehicle's practicality. These modifications gave the Outback Wilderness a distinct personality and purpose, setting it apart from standard versions.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance around town. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, striking a balance between softness and athleticism. The base engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while the 2.4-liter engine increased this to 2,000 pounds.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a horizontally opposed design, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine, shared with the turbo Outback XT models, provided ample power for the 3,896-pound vehicle, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The EPA estimated a combined fuel efficiency of 24 mpg, though real-world testing averaged 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The Outback Wilderness's CVT had eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters but lacked the engaging feel of a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The vehicle's 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and revised suspension and traction systems made it highly capable off-road. The Wilderness trim also featured improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, a front skid plate, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. Higher trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The Tucson's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with solid headroom and legroom. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults on road trips. The vehicle had plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage, including helpful trays for the driver.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated and offered 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way power adjustment for the front passenger. The rear seats provided generous space for two adults or three kids, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. The cargo area measured 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the seat folded flat. The seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, and the cargo area had LED lighting. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 220-pound dynamic load rating and a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness had an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While it included physical knobs for stereo volume and tuning and buttons for temperature control, most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other trims. However, it featured PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle during outdoor activities.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The Wilderness trim also had steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. The EyeSight system proved effective during testing, maintaining safe distances and keeping the vehicle centered. The 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.