Subaru Outback vs Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent design since its 2019 refresh, aligning its exterior with Ford's modern aesthetic while retaining the original Edge body shell. This resulted in a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered similar styling without the performance enhancements. Inside, the Edge's interior began to show its age, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness presented a rugged appearance, sitting higher than standard Outbacks with 9.5 inches of ground clearance. It featured aggressive all-terrain tires, oversized fender protection, and improved approach and departure angles due to redesigned bumpers. Unique design elements included a distinctive grille, black 17-inch wheels, and Anodized Copper accents. The interior was dominated by dark gray and black tones, with StarTex water-repellant upholstery and heated seats. The Outback Wilderness also offered a robust roof rack capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, making it ideal for rooftop camping. These modifications gave the Outback Wilderness a distinct personality, setting it apart from standard models.

The 2021 Ford Edge primarily utilized a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Edge ST performance model featured a more powerful EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard all-wheel drive and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The Wilderness achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed an average of 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The Outback's CVT, with eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters, was less engaging than a dual-clutch automatic transmission might have been. The Wilderness trim featured all-wheel drive, 9.5 inches of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities. It also included a dual function X-Mode traction system and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles, making it the most capable Outback for off-road adventures.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom. It provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims. The center console featured a rotary shift knob to free up space, though the console's narrow width limited its utility.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured dark gray StarTex upholstery, which was water-repellant but could be uncomfortable in hot weather. The front seats were heated, with the driver's seat offering 10-way power adjustment and the front passenger seat 8-way power adjustment. The rear seat provided generous 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 it folded flat. The Outback Wilderness also had a robust roof rack with a 700-pound static load rating, suitable for rooftop camping.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The system's simple graphics and menu layouts were user-friendly, and the Edge offered four USB ports, including two rear USB ports.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While it had physical knobs for volume and tuning, most functions required the touchscreen. The voice recognition technology was less intuitive, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto offered better voice assistant functionality. The Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available on other trims. It did feature PIN code entry technology, allowing users to leave the key fob inside the vehicle during outdoor activities.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and more. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base trim.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured EyeSight advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had steering-responsive headlights and a blind-spot warning system. The Outback Wilderness's EyeSight technology was effective and unobtrusive. Crash-test results for the 2022 model were not available, but the 2021 Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.