2021 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior, especially in higher trims, featured a fresh design with an 11.6-inch portrait display, chrome trim, and contrasting leatherette. The Onyx Edition XT stood out with its gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green stitching, adding a touch of wildness to the otherwise conservative design. The exterior maintained a smooth and plain styling with high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, emphasizing practicality over flashiness. The Outback's tall but balanced appearance, with a few chrome flourishes and bracket-shaped LED running lights, remained largely unchanged, reinforcing its identity as a lifted wagon rather than a typical SUV.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Explorer offered a more diverse lineup with eight models, including the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating, King Ranch branding, and a mix of quality and questionable materials. The exterior design, based on a rear-drive platform, showcased a long and tall hood, short front overhang, and a rakish roofline, giving it a taut, athletic appearance. The blacked-out roof pillars created a floating roof effect, adding to its visual appeal. Despite its high price, the King Ranch's cabin felt mostly worthy of its near $60,000 window sticker, though occasional reminders of the base trim were evident.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, struggled to move the vehicle efficiently, especially when fully loaded. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) further hampered performance, making the Outback slow and noisy. However, the turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine available in the XT trims offered a significant improvement with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing a quieter and smoother driving experience. The Outback's ride comfort and handling were designed for long-distance cruising, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system enhancing its off-road capabilities. The X-Mode feature optimized performance in tough conditions, making the Outback more proficient off-road than many crossovers and SUVs.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains, starting with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds and up to 24 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid drivetrain, available for the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, and offering up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard in the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, delivered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 pounds and 21 mpg in combined driving. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg and provided satisfying acceleration and a pleasing exhaust note. The Explorer's ride quality felt robust, with the Timberline model offering enhanced off-road capabilities. The sport-tuned Explorer ST catered to driving enthusiasts with its High-Performance option package.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered impressive ground clearance, allowing it to tackle rough terrains without the drawbacks of larger vehicles. Inside, it provided 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom in all seating positions. The Outback excelled in storage options, with large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and cost savings.

The 2022 Ford Explorer, particularly in the King Ranch trim, offered a comfortable experience for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch featured triple-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, suitable for long-distance driving, while the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was best suited for children due to its low cushion and limited legroom. The Explorer's practical storage space was lacking, with missed opportunities for additional storage solutions. The King Ranch provided 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expanding to 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system felt outdated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was particularly lacking. Despite this, the system offered modern features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and optional navigation. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions, reducing its effectiveness compared to systems that also use radar.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of the Sync 3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen or a 10.1-inch portrait-style screen. The larger screen felt like an afterthought, not well integrated into the dashboard. Our test vehicle included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch trim added wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 3 system's voice recognition was lacking, often failing to understand commands accurately. The Explorer also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, with an available rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium trims and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor were available on select trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and received top ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for all trims. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the previous year's model received five-star ratings except for rollover resistance, which earned four stars. The Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also featured post-collision braking and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.