2023 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Subaru Outback

In 2022, Subaru broke conventional norms with the Outback Wilderness by pushing the boundaries of its usual station wagon appeal to a near-SUV-like stance. Elevated to a ground clearance of 9.5 inches—0.8 inches higher than its counterparts—the Outback Wilderness came equipped with formidable all-terrain tires nestled under oversized fender trims. This enhanced design also featured revamped front and rear bumpers that improved both approach and departure angles, making it more rugged and adventure-ready.

Distinctive aesthetics marked this Outback variant, with its unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, and blacked-out exterior trim accented with Anodized Copper touches. A matte black hood decal reduced glare, further adding to its rough-and-tumble persona. The roof rack and rail system were redesigned to support a static load of 700 pounds—ideal for rooftop camping—while the exclusive Geyser Blue paint job turned heads with its novelty.

Inside, the cabin mood was set by dark gray and black hues. The water-repellent StarTex upholstery, which although mimicked leather, was void of ventilation, thus heating up uncomfortably on hot days. Complementing this upholstery were features like the black headliner, Gunmetal Gray interior trims, Anodized Copper stitching, brushed aluminum pedals, and all-weather floor mats. Additionally, the rear seatback and cargo tray were waterproof, mirroring the adventurous soul of the Outback Wilderness.

In terms of pricing, this model nestled comfortably between the Onyx XT and the Limited XT trims, priced at $36,995 plus an additional $1,125 destination charge. Moreover, it had variants stretching from $26,945 to $37,495, catering to a wide array of buyers.

On the other hand, the 2023 Kia Sportage brought forth a thorough redesign, showcasing a French-like flair. It discarded its previous quirkiness and adopted an exciting, exotic design language. With bold boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) framing a distinctive grille and textured metal trim on the D pillars, the Sportage struck a balance between innovation and elegance.

Kia offered the 2023 Sportage in seven trim levels, including the familiar LX, EX, SX, and SX Prestige, alongside the newly introduced X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige trims. However, the swap to synthetic leather upholstery over the real deal was notable. While this material was more durable and animal-friendly, it failed to match the luxurious feel of natural leather, although higher trims maintained a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

From the driver’s seat, the expansive front windshield coupled with a low beltline enhanced peripheral visibility. Non-base models boasted dual-zone full automatic climate control and an impressive over two feet of dashboard display space, although they also subjected owners to plenty of hard-wearing plastic and piano-black surfaces prone to fingerprints. The peculiar hard plastic plate ahead of the front-seat passenger’s door handle proved more of an irritation than an aesthetic benefit.

Under the hood, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness packed a resilient turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering a substantial 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm. Weighing in at 3,896 pounds, it boasted a towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs, making it a reliable companion for myriad adventures. However, its fuel efficiency stood at a modest 24 mpg combined, dipping to 21.3 mpg on rugged mountainous terrain.

Subaru’s use of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) rather than a dual-clutch one detracted somewhat from the driving pleasure, with mushy simulated gear changes creating a disconnect during spirited driving. Nevertheless, the CVT had eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, offering some manual control. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD), 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, and enhanced front and rear bumpers improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, bolstering its off-road attributes.

The Outback Wilderness had an outstanding 9.5 inches of ground clearance and a dual-function X-Mode traction system, capable of Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Hill descent control, full underbody skid plating, and revised CVT ratios for conquering a 40% grade allowed the Wilderness to thrive in rough terrains, making it the most formidable Outback version to date.

Conversely, the 2023 Kia Sportage came standard with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission delivered adequate performance, albeit less exciting compared to the turbocharged engines of yesteryears. Fuel efficiency ranged from 25 mpg city and 32 highway with FWD to 23/28/25 mpg with AWD.

Kia’s X-Line trims borrowed rugged cues from the Sorento, offering 19-inch alloy wheels and gloss-black trims without boosting its off-road prowess. True off-road aficionados turned to the X-Pro trims, sporting BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, 17-inch wheels, and spec-specific drive modes like Normal, Sport, Smart, and Snow. Despite lacking the symmetrical AWD of Subaru, the AWD Sportage managed off-road settings proficiently with adequate power distribution.

Although the Sportage’s 8.3 inches of ground clearance wasn’t best-in-class, it significantly contributed to its off-pavement capabilities. However, on the road, the X-Pro’s all-terrain tires and higher ground clearance introduced noticeable road noise and lower cornering prowess, emphasizing its off-road leaning.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery—a water-repellent simulated leather—across its seats. The effective dual-zone automatic climate control ensured a comfortable driving environment despite the sweat-inducing upholstery. Power-adjustable seating (10-way for the driver, 8-way for the front passenger) and heated seats brushed aside cold weather inconveniences.

Rear seat roominess in the Outback Wilderness was generous, presenting ample knee, foot, and head space, along with rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports. However, the discomfort due to the StarTex covering persisted. Cargo space stood at 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and expanded to 75.7 cubic feet when folded flat. The waterproofed seatbacks and cargo tray added functional robustness, and LED lighting in the cargo area aided visibility after sunset.

Moreover, the reinforced roof rack of the Outback Wilderness carried a 220-pound dynamic load, extending its adventuring capabilities.

Contrastingly, the 2023 Kia Sportage increased its footprint significantly over the previous generation, providing 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom—an impressive measure for its class. Cargo space measured 39.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with them folded down, slightly below the Outback's capability but still spacious.

The Sportage’s front-seat storages were standard but included thoughtful additions like a cubby ahead of the shifter, dual cupholders, and a sizeable center console bin. However, the SUV suffered from overly complicated touch-sensitive HVAC controls, which proved frustrating in real-world driving scenarios.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness showcased an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen for infotainment and climate control, primarily governed through the touchscreen, save for physical knobs for stereo and temperature. The voice recognition technology was less user-friendly, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay filled this gap effectively. Unfortunately, Subaru’s decision to omit the premium sound system for this specific trim was perplexing, given its target demographic.

A standout feature was the PIN code entry system, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to secure their key fob in the vehicle and access it post-adventure via a PIN code.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface in trims from EX upwards, complemented by a panoramic 12.3-inch driver information display in the SX trims and beyond. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were wired, even in elevated trims. The overall interface design suffered from overly similar icons, complicating navigation. Nonetheless, wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and HD Radio were standard from the EX trim.

A premium Harman Kardon stereo was standard on the upper trims, contributing to an advanced technological suite fitting the Sportage’s modern image.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight ADAS, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. Steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot warning with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warning enhanced its safety profile. Although the Outback Wilderness missed out on Subaru's DriverFocus technology, it maintained excellent safety ratings—Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA for the previous models.

The 2023 Kia Sportage too upheld high safety standards, with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and lane-following assists, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors as standard. Higher trims added premium safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-view monitor, and Highway driving assist. However, these features were restricted to the upper trim levels.

The crash-test results for the 2023 Sportage were pending, similar to many new vehicles hitting the market.