2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that we often recommended to growing families due to its practical features. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load toddlers into rear-facing child safety seats, and its comfortable third-row seat accommodated additional passengers like grandparents or carpool kids without hassle. The Odyssey also offered substantial cargo space, rivaling that of a Chevrolet Suburban when the third-row seat was folded down and the second-row seats were removed. Despite its practical design, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, especially in the Elite trim with its dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and kinked sliding doors that created dramatic character lines.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, on the other hand, stretched the boundaries of what a station wagon could be, offering a higher ride height and more aggressive all-terrain tires. It featured a unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, and a matte black hood decal, giving it a rugged appearance. Inside, the Outback Wilderness had a dark gray and black cabin with water-repellant StarTex upholstery and Anodized Copper accents. The vehicle also boasted a robust roof rack capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping. The Outback Wilderness injected much-needed personality into the Outback lineup, appealing to those who wanted a more adventurous vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It was a front-wheel-drive minivan with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some of its competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive in Southern California, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. While the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, its brakes tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during extended downhill driving.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that generated 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, combined with the vehicle's 3,896-pound weight, allowed for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Outback Wilderness had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 24 mpg in combined driving, but it averaged 21.3 mpg during a mountainous test route. The vehicle's continuously variable transmission (CVT) had eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, but it lacked the engaging feel of a dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Outback Wilderness excelled off-road, thanks to its 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and advanced traction systems.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a low ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and numerous storage spaces. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, making it easier to tend to children or create a pass-through to the third-row seat. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo space to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats expanded it to 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness had dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats offered power adjustments and heating, while the rear seats provided ample space and heating as well. 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 featured a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, making it suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims included navigation, WiFi hotspot access, and CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies. The rear-seat entertainment system had a 10.2-inch display and various media inputs. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system felt outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command functionality.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical knobs for volume and tuning. While the voice recognition technology required specific prompts, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims, but it did include PIN code entry technology for secure access.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the safety features could be overly sensitive and abrupt. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured EyeSight technology, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Wilderness also had steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective and unobtrusive. The standard Outback earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.