2022 Subaru Outback vs 2022 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was a standout 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 and rail system were new, 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 also 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 its practicality. These modifications injected personality into the Outback's styling, setting it apart from standard versions. The Outback Wilderness was priced at $36,995 plus a $1,125 destination charge, positioning it between the Onyx XT and Limited XT models.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner retained its rugged roots, tracing back to the SUV craze of the 1980s. Unlike many modern SUVs that evolved to car-based platforms, the 4Runner maintained its relationship with the Toyota Tacoma pickup. This design choice was not due to stubbornness but rather a strategic decision, as Toyota had the Highlander for family duties, allowing the 4Runner to cater to off-road enthusiasts. The 4Runner's high ride height, boxy proportions, and sharply angled front bumper emphasized its adventurous spirit. Inside, the function-focused design was evident, though the dash layout felt dated, reminiscent of the late 2000s.

The 2022 4Runner was available in several trims: SR5, Trail Special Edition, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Limited. The SR5 came with push-button start, remote keyless entry, a power-sliding rear window, satellite radio, multiple USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Trail Special Edition featured 17-inch dark gray alloy wheels, a Yakima LoadWarrior cargo basket, a sliding rear cargo deck, and a 40-quart premium accessory cooler. The TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road trims added road-oriented and off-road features, respectively, while the TRD Pro and Limited trims offered enhanced capabilities and luxury touches.

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 vehicle, allowing for a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The EPA estimated fuel efficiency at 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing on a mountainous route yielded an average of 21.3 mpg. 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 Outback Wilderness's all-wheel-drive system, combined with its 9.5 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch gloss-black wheels, and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, made it highly capable off-road. The redesigned front and rear bumpers improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, while the dual-function X-Mode traction system and hill descent control enhanced its off-road prowess. On pavement, the Outback Wilderness felt quick but was limited by its tires, which were better suited for off-road conditions. During testing on challenging trails, the Outback Wilderness demonstrated its capability, handling steep hills, boulders, and narrow trails with ease.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. This engine, though dated, was reliable and provided decent acceleration. Power was routed through a five-speed automatic transmission to either the rear wheels or available 4WD with low range. The 4Runner's ride quality was harsh and cumbersome on paved roads, with significant body roll and jostling over bumps. However, off-road, the 4Runner excelled, with its suspension effortlessly absorbing rocks, bumps, and root beds. The TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road models included Crawl Control and a locking differential, enhancing their off-road capabilities.

The 4Runner's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, which was more than most car-based crossovers but less than some compact pickups. The optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System improved handling both on and off the trail. Despite its rough ride on pavement, the 4Runner's off-road performance made it a favorite among enthusiasts.

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, the lack of ventilated seats made 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 ample space for two adults or three children, 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 featured a robust roof rack with a 220-pound dynamic load rating and a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner offered a maximum of 89.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity in the two-row version, with 47.2 cubic feet behind the second row. The three-row model provided slightly less space, with 88.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity and 46.3 cubic feet behind the second row. The third-row seat, optional on the SR5, SR5 Premium, and Limited models, increased seating capacity to seven but reduced cargo space to just 9 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The 4Runner lacked a power rear liftgate but featured a power-open/close rear window, making it easy to stow items in the back. While the 4Runner's cabin packaging felt dated, it still offered plenty of storage spaces for gear.

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 voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other trims. However, it featured PIN code entry technology, allowing owners to leave the key fob inside the vehicle and access it using a PIN code.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with hard buttons and dials for easy operation. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth connectivity, Satellite Radio, and multiple USB ports. While a larger screen was not available, navigation, HD radio, and a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system could be added. The 4Runner's infotainment system covered the tech basics and relied on tactile controls, making it user-friendly even with gloves on. However, it lacked advanced features like a head-up display.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with Subaru's EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems (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 Outback Wilderness also featured steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it did not include Subaru's DriverFocus distraction mitigation technology. 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 Toyota 4Runner came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features, including forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. Additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree parking camera system were available. The TRD Pro also included an off-road camera system. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars for frontal and side-impact testing and three stars for rollover testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2022 4Runner had not yet been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.