2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stood out with its elevated stance, offering 9.5 inches of ground clearance, which was 0.8 inches higher than other Outback models. This gave it a more rugged appearance, akin to a Jeep rather than a traditional station wagon. The Wilderness model featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection trim, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. Additional design elements 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 system was robust, supporting a 700-pound static load, and the exclusive Geyser Blue paint hue added to its distinctiveness.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness's cabin was dominated by dark gray and black tones. The StarTex water-repellant upholstery mimicked leather but lacked ventilated seats, offering only heated ones. The interior featured a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. The rear seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, enhancing the vehicle's practicality. These modifications injected personality into the Outback's styling, making it stand out from standard versions.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received styling updates, including a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. The grille was more upright, flanked by large fake air intakes, giving the Equinox a chunkier look. Unlike rugged competitors like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4, the Equinox maintained a car-based crossover appearance, though its tall roofline and puffed-up front fascia made it look less car-like than the Ford Escape. The dashboard featured a creative design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center, and the materials and fit and finish were decent for its price range.

The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, a black interior with red stitching, and a model-specific shift knob. While the exterior trim added personality, the black interior felt too subdued. The Equinox's dashboard design was coherent, and the materials used were appropriate for its segment. The vehicle offered a decent amount of headroom and second-row legroom, though some competitors provided more legroom for front-seat occupants.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine, shared with the turbo Outback XT models, provided ample power for the 3,896-pound SUV, allowing a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route.

The Outback Wilderness featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters. While the CVT's droning and soft simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience during maximum acceleration, it was generally adequate for everyday driving. The Wilderness trim included all-wheel drive (AWD) and specialized wheels, tires, suspension, and traction systems. With 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch wheels, and all-terrain tires, the Wilderness excelled off-road. It also had improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, a front skid plate, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). While the Equinox had more torque than most rivals, it lagged in horsepower compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.

In city driving, the Equinox's torque was beneficial, providing quick acceleration from stops. However, at higher speeds, the engine felt coarse and unresponsive, and the automatic transmission's shifts were rough. The Equinox was not designed for sporty handling, lacking the driving enjoyment of the Mazda CX-5 and the refinement of the Honda CR-V. Despite this, it offered decent comfort on poorly maintained roads.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, a water-repellant simulated leather that prevented water and sweat from soaking into the seats. While heated front seats were standard, ventilated seats were not available, making the interior uncomfortable in hot weather. The dual-zone automatic climate control effectively cooled the front half of the cabin, and the driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat had 8-way power adjustment.

The rear seat provided generous space for two adults or three children, with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. However, the StarTex upholstery caused discomfort in hot weather. The cargo area offered 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded flat. The seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, and the robust roof rack supported a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox had seating for five across two rows, with a decent amount of headroom in both rows. Second-row legroom was good, though some competitors offered more legroom for front-seat occupants. The lack of a telescoping steering wheel and limited legroom made it challenging to find a comfortable driving position, even with the optional power driver's seat.

The Equinox offered a tall seating position, providing an unobstructed forward view, though the rear pillars created a slight blind spot. The small rear window hampered rear visibility. The climate control buttons and knobs were clustered below the touchscreen, making them easy to access. The Equinox provided 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was below average for the segment. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or cargo-area storage bins found in competitors.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for volume, tuning, and temperature control, most functions required using the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not very responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims, but it did offer a PIN code entry system for keyless access during outdoor activities.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims received an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The 8-inch touchscreen was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, though the center-console slot for phones was too small.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness included the EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), featuring 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, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It earned "Superior" for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and "Advanced" for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Safety Alert Seat. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.