2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its age, attempted to maintain a modern appearance with updates in 2018, including new headlights and grille designs. However, these subtle changes were often overshadowed by the vehicle's large and imposing silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's design was reminiscent of the mid-2000s, with a massive, multi-tiered center dash and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that appeared small against the expansive dashboard. The cabin offered ample space, but the front seats were bulky, limiting headroom for taller drivers, especially with the optional sunroof. The second-row seats, however, provided generous headroom and legroom, ensuring comfort for passengers.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a rugged and adventurous look, with a higher ride height and aggressive all-terrain tires. Its unique design elements, such as a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents, set it apart from standard Outbacks. Inside, the cabin featured dark gray StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which, while practical, could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The interior was equipped with heated seats and dual-zone climate control, ensuring comfort in colder conditions. The Outback Wilderness also offered generous rear seat space and a robust roof rack, enhancing its practicality for outdoor adventures.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration, even for an SUV weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics were reminiscent of a truck, with a soft suspension and powerful brakes. It offered a towing capacity of up to 7,400 pounds, which, while respectable, fell short compared to competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, combined with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided adequate power for the midsize SUV. The Outback Wilderness excelled off-road, thanks to its 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and advanced traction systems. It offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and achieved an average fuel efficiency of 21.3 mpg during testing. While the CVT's performance was less engaging, the Outback's off-road capabilities made it a standout choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious cabin, with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and an impressive 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Its power-retractable rear window was a unique feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area. Despite its generous interior space, the Sequoia's front-row design felt dated, with deep in-door pockets and a massive center console providing ample storage.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness offered a practical interior with dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The cabin featured heated front and rear seats, dual-zone climate control, and generous rear seat space. The cargo area provided 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Outback Wilderness also featured a robust roof rack, capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. While the system was dated, it was user-friendly, with simple menu navigation and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but functional, providing essential information.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dominating the center dashboard. While it included physical knobs for volume and tuning, most functions required touchscreen interaction. The voice recognition technology was less intuitive, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered superior functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims, but it included a convenient PIN code entry system for keyless access.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. However, it lacked more advanced safety technologies and received a four-star rating in the NHTSA's rollover test.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness prioritized safety with its EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also included steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective and unobtrusive, providing a Level 2 ADAS experience. While crash-test results were unavailable, the standard Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.