2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Lexus NX

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, with aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection, and improved approach and departure angles due to redesigned bumpers. The unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal added to its distinctive look. The new roof rack system supported a 700-pound static load, perfect for rooftop camping, and the exclusive Geyser Blue paint hue further set it apart.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness featured a dark gray and black cabin with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which looked like leather but wasn't. While ventilated seats were absent, heated seats were standard. The interior also included a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. The rear seatback and cargo tray were waterproof, enhancing its practicality. These modifications injected personality into the Outback's styling, making it a unique offering in the lineup.

The redesigned 2022 Lexus NX, available in four model series, offered a range of trims from base to Luxury, with prices starting at $37,950. The NX 350, with its turbocharged engine, was the focus of this review. The NX's design featured a prominent spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate, reflecting Lexus's refined attention to detail. The new model was longer, wider, and taller, providing more passenger and cargo space. Most NX models had NuLuxe simulated leather, while the Luxury trim included real leather and open-pore wood trim. A panoramic sunroof was available for the first time.

The NX 350 F Sport distinguished itself with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, 20-inch gloss black wheels, and black mirrors. Inside, sport-bolstered seats, a black headliner, and a new F Sport steering wheel added to its sporty appeal. The minimalist interior design, a departure from the previous model's button-laden dashboard, aimed for simplicity but sometimes made it challenging to locate features quickly. The NX's electronic shifter was user-friendly, and quality levels were generally high, though the turn signal felt inexpensive.

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 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 yielded 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route.

While the engine was strong, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) detracted from the driving experience with its droning and soft simulated gear changes. The Outback Wilderness featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and a taller stance with 9.5 inches of ground clearance. It had 17-inch wheels with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, enhancing off-road capability. The redesigned bumpers improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making it the most capable Outback ever. The dual-function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control further enhanced its off-road prowess.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg, and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 250, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, with FWD standard and AWD optional.

The NX 350 had Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, while the F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. On winding roads, the F Sport felt taut and responsive, while the Luxury trim offered a softer ride. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the NX 350, with observed fuel economy of 22.2 mpg for the F Sport and 25.5 mpg for the Luxury. The NX's handling impressed, though the turbocharged engine lacked the refinement of German rivals, and road and wind noise were more noticeable than expected.

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. Heated front seats were standard, but ventilated seats were not available. The dual-zone automatic climate control effectively cooled the front half of the cabin, while the driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment and the front passenger seat had 8-way power adjustment.

Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous space, 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 seatbacks and cargo tray were waterproof, and LED lighting illuminated the cargo area. The roof rack supported a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, ideal for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room, though it felt more intimate from the driver's seat due to the new dashboard design. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for the front seats, and Lexus thoughtfully padded the driver’s door panel and center console for added comfort.

Rear-seat passengers had ample space, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports. The panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat, enhancing the sense of space. The NX's cargo area offered 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Luxury trim included a Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes, though it was not tested due to bright conditions.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dominating the center of the dashboard. While physical knobs and buttons were provided for volume, tuning, and temperature control, most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was not very responsive to natural commands, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other trims. The PIN code entry technology allowed keyless access, ideal for active lifestyles.

The 2022 Lexus NX featured the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a standard 9.8-inch touchscreen and an optional 14-inch screen. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and cloud-based features. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium system available. The new Voice Assistant responded to natural commands, and a three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect service was included.

The NX also offered User Profiles for storing driver preferences, a digital key capability, and additional technologies like a digital mirror and a 10-inch head-up display. The larger touchscreen collected fingerprints and dust, and it was challenging to display multiple data panels simultaneously. The lack of a tuning knob was a notable omission.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured the EyeSight advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), with 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, blind-spot warning, lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. The EyeSight system proved effective and unobtrusive during testing. The 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) with features like Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a safe stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist, and rear pedestrian detection. Premium trim added an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.