2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have described as frog-like. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stood out with its higher stance and rugged design, making it closer to a Jeep than a traditional station wagon. It offered 9.5 inches of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles due to restyled bumpers. Additional design features included a unique 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 could support a 700-pound static load, perfect for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin featured dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, Anodized Copper stitching, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. The Outback Wilderness injected much-needed personality into the Outback's styling.

The 2021 Kia Sportage was available in LX, EX, or SX Turbo trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. All Sportages had a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw a slight dip. The turbocharged models had lower fuel economy, with the FWD version at 20/28/23 and the AWD at 19/24/21. The Sportage’s McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left something to be desired.

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 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine gave the Wilderness a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency at 24 mpg combined, though real-world testing on a mountainous route averaged 21.3 mpg. The Outback Wilderness had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, though the CVT's droning and soft simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim included all-wheel drive, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a dual function X-Mode traction system. It excelled off-road, handling steep hills and challenging trails with ease.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for the driver and passengers. The SX Turbo trim included a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

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 for the passenger. The rear seat 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 rear seat folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While it had physical knobs for volume and tuning and buttons for temperature control, most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not very responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims. However, it did offer PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle during outdoor activities.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage received Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS and performed well in NHTSA crash tests.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness aimed to preserve the efficacy of its standard EyeSight 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 also had steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot warning, lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it lacked Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. The standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.