2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning it with Nissan's new signature exterior design. The SUV featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED headlights and taillights, giving it a modern look while retaining its traditional beefy and athletic body styling. The Armada was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL trim. The Platinum trim, which was tested, showcased body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and an acoustic windshield and front side windows. Depending on the trim, the Armada rode on 18-, 20-, or 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in all-season tires. Despite the updates, the Armada's underbite aged the model, especially compared to the redesigned Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stretched the notion of the Outback being a station wagon, offering 9.5 inches of ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and improved approach and departure angles. The Wilderness featured a unique grille design, 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. Inside, the cabin was a sea of dark gray and black, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trim, and Anodized Copper stitching and accents. The Wilderness package also included waterproof rear seatback material and a waterproof cargo tray, setting it apart from standard Outbacks.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-liter V8 engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The SUV came standard with rear-wheel drive, with automatic four-wheel drive available. Despite its weight of over 6,000 pounds, the Armada was a capable off-roader with a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi twin-tube shock absorbers. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. However, its fuel economy was low, with RWD models getting 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway, and 4WD models getting 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters. The Wilderness had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24 mpg in combined driving. The Wilderness trim stood out with its 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch gloss-black wheels with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. The dual function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control made it the most capable Outback ever, excelling in off-road conditions.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen was a standout feature, though some controls were hard to reach. The first and second-row seats provided comfort, with power-adjustable options. The third-row seating was less comfortable for adults. The Armada had 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. However, the high load floor made loading and unloading challenging. Small-item storage was limited, but the center console storage bin was spacious.

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 power-adjustable, with the driver's seat offering 10-way adjustment. 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 Wilderness also had a more robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Nissan Armada boasted a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with navigation, a six-speaker stereo system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad, 13-speaker Bose audio system, rearview camera mirror, and second-row entertainment system were available. The analog tachometer and speedometer, along with a functional steering wheel, provided limited control over the driver information screen and infotainment system.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment and climate control system, with physical knobs for volume and tuning and buttons for temperature control. The voice recognition technology required learning specific prompts, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto more user-friendly. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims. However, the PIN code entry technology allowed for keyless access, ideal for active lifestyles.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating. It came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear door alert. However, advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist were not available.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems, including 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, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness had not been crash-tested, but the standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.