2022 GMC Terrain vs 2022 Subaru Outback

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 front and rear 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 new and could support a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping. Inside, the cabin was dominated by dark gray and black StarTex water-repellant upholstery, with Anodized Copper stitching and accents, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. The Outback Wilderness was priced at $36,995 plus a $1,125 destination charge, with our test car totaling $39,965.

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The AT4 was marketed as a "small off-road SUV" and included a steel skid plate to protect vital components. Our test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, including the Tech Package, Infotainment Package II, and GMC Pro Safety Plus Package. These additions brought the MSRP to $41,810, including a $1,395 destination charge. The Terrain's interior was roomy and featured power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat offered ample legroom and foot room, with a rear USB charging port. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

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 for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though our test averaged 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The Outback Wilderness featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, though the CVT's droning and soft simulated gear changes detracted from the driving experience. The Wilderness trim included all-wheel drive, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and 225/65R17 Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. The redesigned front and rear bumpers improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making the Wilderness the most capable Outback ever. The dual function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control further enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which offered better acceleration and a 3,500-pound towing capacity, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could tow up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission kept the Terrain in the torque band, though there was a delay off the line. The Terrain AT4 featured FWD mode for fuel conservation, AWD mode, Off-Road mode, and Hill Descent Control. The AT4 offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance, less than competitors like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and Subaru Outback. The Terrain AT4 provided a good ride and decent handling on pavement, with thick tire sidewalls absorbing bumps and cracks. However, off-road performance was limited, with the front end scraping on rutted fields and water drainage channels. The sport-terrain tires lacked grip on curves, and the overall driving experience was dull, with numb steering and an overall lack of power. The EPA rated the Terrain AT4 at 26 mpg, and our test saw 26.2 mpg.

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. The front seats were heated, but ventilated seats were not available. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat had 8-way power adjustment. The rear seat provided ample room for two adults or three kids, with rear air conditioning vents 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 Outback Wilderness also had a more robust roof rack, supporting a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load for rooftop camping.

The 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 offered a roomy interior with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The eight-way power driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel ensured a comfortable driving position. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping. The back seat provided proper support, plenty of legroom and foot room, and a rear USB charging port. The Terrain's interior included numerous storage solutions, such as a small shelf in the dashboard, narrow shelves in the door panels, and a storage tray forward of the cupholders. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

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, temperature control, and defogger systems, most functions required the use of the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not very responsive to natural voice commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable for their superior voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims. However, it did feature PIN code entry technology, allowing the key fob to be left inside the vehicle while engaging in outdoor activities.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. The larger screen also offered connected navigation with natural voice recognition and a Bose premium sound system. Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and the Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a new head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, a Tire Fill Alert system, and a remote engine starting system.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), which included 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 trim also had steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Outback Wilderness did not include Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. The EyeSight system proved effective during testing, maintaining safe following distances and keeping the vehicle centered in the lane. 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 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available on SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. Our Terrain AT4 had all these features, which worked effectively and subtly during testing. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of this review.