2022 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Toyota Venza

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stretched the idea of the Outback being a station wagon, edging closer to a vehicle like a Jeep. This new version of the popular model offered 9.5 inches of ground clearance, an increase of 0.8 inches over other Outbacks. Along with the heightened ride, it also featured aggressive all-terrain tires under oversized fender protection trim and improved approach and departure angles due to restyled front and rear bumpers.

Beyond these practical enhancements, the Outback Wilderness stood out with a unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a glare-reducing matte black hood decal. The roof rack and rail system supported a 700-pound static load, accommodating rooftop camping, and introduced the exclusive Geyser Blue paint hue.

Inside, the interior was dominated by dark gray and black hues. StarTex water-repellent upholstery, while durable, lacked the comfort of ventilated seats and solely offered heated seats. The interior featured a black headliner, Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching and accents, and brushed aluminum pedals. The package was completed with all-weather floor mats, waterproof rear seatback material, and a waterproof cargo tray, giving it a rugged edge that set it apart from standard Outback models.

On the other side, the 2023 Toyota Venza offered a midsize crossover SUV with a sleek and sculpted design, unlike the typically boxy vehicles in its class. Its stylish rear roofline tapered down sharply to the taillights without appearing weak, maintaining a coherent, harmonious design that resonated more with Mazda than traditional Toyota designs. The Venza's contouring and curves offered a more luxury-oriented appearance, reminiscent of Lexus vehicles.

Inside, the Venza borrowed significantly from the Toyota RAV4 but enhanced the experience with higher-quality materials and details. Unlike the basic dials found in the RAV4, Venza featured integrated climate-control buttons and more soft-touch surfaces, bringing it closer to Lexus's level of luxury. The dashboard and center stack were similar, yet the overall quality felt more substantial. The blend of comfort and refinement made it one of the best-looking vehicles in Toyota's lineup.

Under the hood, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. With its 3,896-pound weight, the Wilderness boasted a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. Despite strong engine capabilities, the EPA-rated 24 mpg in combined driving was more optimistic than real-world testing, which averaged 21.3 mpg over a challenging route with elevation changes.

The CVT transmission, programmed with eight ratios and offering paddle shifters, could detract from the driving experience due to its droning and soft simulated gear changes. However, for normal driving, it sufficed. The Wilderness’ 9.5-inch ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and modified final-drive ratios made it a force off-road, while revised front and rear bumpers improved approach and departure angles. These features, combined with the X-Mode traction system, hill descent control, and 40% grade scrambling capability, rendered it the most capable Outback ever.

Conversely, the 2023 Toyota Venza utilized a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system paired with electric motors and a 1.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack, producing 219 horsepower. The CVT delivered power efficiently to the front wheels, with an additional electric motor powering the rear wheels for AWD. The Venza reached 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, a respectable time for its class.

Riding comfort took precedence over sporty handling, and while the steering lacked feedback, it aligned with the Venza's effortless, luxury-leaning personality. The ride quality was smoother than the RAV4 Hybrid but not quite as plush as luxury equivalents. The two-part braking system offered seamless transitions between regenerative and physical braking, ensuring a smooth driving experience.

In the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, seats were covered in water-repellant StarTex upholstery, which, while practical for wet conditions, was uncomfortable in hot weather. Heated front and rear seats offered cold weather comfort, and dual-zone automatic climate control cooled the cabin effectively. The front driver seat featured 10-way power adjustment, while the passenger seat included 8-way power adjustment. Rear seat space was generous, suitable for two adults or three children, and included rear air conditioning vents and dual USB charging ports.

Cargo space was ample, with 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 75.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The waterproof seatbacks and cargo tray added practicality, and the roof rack's robust configuration accommodated rooftop camping with a 700-pound static load capacity.

The 2023 Toyota Venza provided plenty of space for front occupants, enhanced by large windows and a panoramic sunroof that turned opaque at the touch of a button. The upward limit for rear seat passengers was defined by headroom, though it provided ample legroom and foot room. The materials used in the back matched the front in quality, providing a more luxurious experience.

However, the Venza's cargo capacity was limited to 28.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, significantly less than many competitors like the Honda Passport or the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Venza did not have a towing rating, which further limited its functionality. Yet, it excelled in storing smaller items with features like a wireless phone charger, spacious cupholders, a deep center armrest bin, and sizeable door pockets.

The Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen infotainment system that dominated the dashboard. Despite physical knobs for volume and tuning, and buttons for climate control, most functions required touchscreen interaction. Voice recognition was less intuitive compared to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The lack of a premium sound system was surprising, given the target demographic, and the PIN code entry system provided outdoor enthusiasts with secure vehicle access when away from the car.

The Toyota Venza offered a more modern infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The standard LE trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and higher trims featured a larger 12.3-inch display. The updated system offered sharper graphics, swift responses, and a logical menu structure. Additional tech features included a Wi-Fi connection, remote vehicle monitoring via a smartphone app, and a virtual navigator with Drive Connect services activated by voice command.

The base audio system had six speakers and satellite radio, with the nine-speaker JBL premium audio option available on higher trims. This option elevated the audio experience with improved sound quality, catering to audiophiles seeking a richer auditory environment.

The Subaru Outback Wilderness came with Subaru's EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. The technology performed well in maintaining safe distances and keeping the vehicle centered. Additionally, steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system, lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic warnings were included. While crash-test results were unavailable at the time, the standard Outback earned top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Venza received high safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, earning a five-star overall rating and a Top Safety Pick honor, respectively. Every Venza came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. Higher trims added advanced features such as parking proximity sensors, emergency braking in reverse, a surround-view camera system, head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror.