2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was designed to stretch the boundaries of what a station wagon could be, edging closer to a Jeep in its ruggedness. It featured a 9.5-inch ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain tires, and restyled bumpers for improved approach and departure angles. The exterior boasted a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, and a matte black hood decal, while the roof rack could support a 700-pound static load, perfect for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin was outfitted with dark gray StarTex water-repellant upholstery, Anodized Copper accents, and all-weather floor mats, making it both functional and stylish.

The 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch, on the other hand, offered a more traditional SUV look with a long and tall hood, short front overhang, and a rakish roofline. The King Ranch trim featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The interior was a mix of high-quality and questionable materials, but mostly felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag. The exterior included shiny 20-inch 10-spoke wheels and quad exhaust outlets, but visually, it didn't stand out much from other Explorer models.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), provided adequate power for its 3,896-pound weight and a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. However, the CVT's droning and soft gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim featured 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and a dual-function X-Mode traction system, making it highly capable off-road. On pavement, it felt quick but was limited by its tires, while off-road, it excelled in climbing and descending steep hills and navigating challenging trails.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid drivetrain, available for the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an electric motor for a total of 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg and offered a robust driving experience, both on and off-road, despite its 7.9 inches of ground clearance.

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 heated and offered 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way for the passenger. The rear seats provided ample space for two adults or three children, with heated seats 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 roof rack could support a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch offered a comfortable experience for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch trim included triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with 14-way power adjustment for the driver and 8-way for the passenger. The third-row seat was less accommodating, suitable only for children. The cargo area provided 18.2 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment system, with physical knobs for volume and tuning and buttons for temperature control. However, most functions required the use of the touchscreen, and the voice recognition technology was not very responsive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, offering superior voice assistant functionality. The Outback also included PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle during outdoor activities.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch portrait-style touchscreen. The King Ranch trim included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. It also featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the voice recognition system was less effective, often failing to recognize commands accurately.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with Subaru's EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. It also featured steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system, and rear cross-traffic warning. The 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also featured a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. The 2021 Explorer received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating for rollover resistance.