2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Edition Review, Pricing & Specs

Last updated on July 7th, 2022 at 08:13 am

Subaru’s legendary Outback station waggon has persisted in a world that embraces crossovers by replicating the trappings of SUV styling while yet providing the practicality and driving manners of a traditional station waggon, according to the company. It even receives a position on our Editors’ Choice list for 2022. Even though its raised suspension and plastic body cladding scream “active lifestyle,” it gives a more carlike experience when you’re behind the wheel. A turbocharged or non-turbocharged four-cylinder engine is available to buyers, and both machines are equipped with all-wheel drive as standard. A sturdy Subaru roof rack provides a convenient spot to store bicycles or a kayak without requiring the extra-tall stance of an SUV, allowing for simpler loading and unloading. After years of popularity, even luxury manufacturers have decided to give the Outback formula a go. The Outback’s closest competitors are the Audi A4 Allroad and the Volvo V60 Cross Country, which start at roughly $20,000 more than the Outback.

2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Specs

• Base Price: $28,320
• MSRP: $38,370
• Engine: 2.4 L Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded H-4
• Drivetrain: All Wheel Drive
• Transmission: 8-Speed CVT Transmission
• Horsepower: 260 hp
• Torque: 277
• Fuel Mileage: 22 mpg in this city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined
• Length: 191.3 inches
• Width: 74.6 inches
• Height: 66.9 inches
• Seating Capacity: 5-seater

What’s New in the Year 2022?

As of 2022, the Outback portfolio will have a Wilderness variant that is much more robust than the previous model, including more ground clearance, an updated suspension, Yokohama all-terrain tyres, and several design upgrades to communicate its tougher image. The Wilderness model also has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a roof rack with a capacity of up to 700 pounds, and water-resistant inside upholstery as standard equipment.

Pricing and Choosing Which One to Purchase

We believe the Premium model offers the finest combination of standard and extra features in terms of value for money. While it is only available with the 182-hp four-cylinder engine as standard, upgrading to the turbocharged 260-hp engine would cost you at least $6000 more money. We do not believe that the increased acceleration and towing capability of 800 pounds provided by the turbo are worth the additional cost. As an alternative, the Outback Premium has an 11.6-inch touchscreen, a 4G LTE mobile hotspot, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, extra USB ports, and other features that aren’t available on the original model. We’d choose the more economical package that includes blind-spot monitoring, a hands-free power liftgate, and passive entry with push-button start over the more expensive options.

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2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Trim Levels

-Outback

Starting at $27,145* MPG 33/26

• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-MODE®
• Standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology
• LED Steering Responsive Headlights
• SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• 8.7 inches of ground clearance
• Raised roof rails with integrated cross bars and tie-down points

-Outback Premium

Starting at $29,345* MPG 33/26

• SUBARU STARLINK® Safety and Security
• SUBARU STARLINK® 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus
• 10-way power driver’s seat
• All-Weather Package with heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• LED fog lights

-Outback Limited

Starting at $33,795* MPG 33/26

• Leather-trimmed upholstery
• 12-speaker 576-watt-equivalent Harman Kardon® premium audio system
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
• Hands-free Power Rear Gate
• 8-way power front passenger seat

-Outback Touring

Starting at $37,695* MPG 33/26

• Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery
• SUBARU STARLINK® 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation
• Power moonroof
• Heated steering wheel
• DriverFocus® Distraction Mitigation System
• Ventilated front seats

-Outback Onyx Edition XT

Starting at $35,345* MPG 30/23

• 260-hp direct-Injection turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® engine
• StarTex® water-repellent upholstery
• 18-inch black-finish alloy wheels
• Keyless Access with Push-Button Start
• Hands-free Power Rear Gate
• Dual-function X-MODE with Hill Descent Control

-Outback Wilderness

Starting at $37,195* MPG 26/22

• 260-hp direct-Injection turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® engine
• Raised suspension with 9.5 inches of ground clearance
• 17-inch matte black-finish wheels and Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires
• Unique front and rear bumpers with integrated tow points and extended lower cladding
• StarTex® water-repellent upholstery and anodized copper-finish interior accents
• High-capacity fixed roof rails

Engine, Transmission, and Performance are all important considerations for 2022 Outback Wilderness

The Outback is powered by a pair of flat-four-cylinder engines: a 2.5-litre with 182 horsepower as standard and a turbocharged 2.4-litre with 260 horsepower as an option. Both vehicles are equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that resembles an eight-speed gearbox to reduce unpleasant engine drones. Of course, all Outbacks come equipped with standard all-wheel drive, which has been a Subaru trademark since the company’s founding (except for the rear-drive BRZ sports coupe). We found that the Outback’s basic engine had unimpressive acceleration and gearbox characteristics in our testing. Even though the turbocharged version was far faster, it was still hampered with the same obstinate gearbox. However, most Outback owners are more concerned with the ride quality and the vehicle’s ability to do modest off-road driving. Its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive enable it to navigate inclement weather and even muddy, rutted roads easily; however, the Wilderness model offers 9.5 inches of ground clearance as well as a beefed-up suspension, skid plates to protect its underside and a drive mode selector that includes Snow and Mud modes for maximum go-anywhere versatility. The Outback’s suspension gives a comfortable ride, and its steering is precise and simple to control when driving on the highway. However, it is devoid of any agility, which may surprise WRX fans who have switched to the more practical waggon. The wagon’s basic engine is also capable of towing 2700 pounds, while the turbocharged variant can tow 3500 kg.

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Subaru Outback Wilderness Exterior Design for 2022

The Outback Wilderness is available in six colours, including eye-catching finishes such as Autumn Green Metallic and the trim-exclusive Geyser Blue. The Outback Wilderness is available in six colours. Even though I’ve often argued that we need silver, white, and black automobiles on the road, I loved the contrast between all of my tester’s upsized matte-plastic cladding and the shining black paint on the outside of this model.

Outside, a few elements distinguish the Wilderness from the ordinary Outback, the most noticeable of which is the one-inch rise to the suspension, which is the most prominent feature. There’s also a massive 9.5 inches of ground clearance, which is equivalent to the amount of support seen on specialist SUVs. The Outback is more than capable of handling a rough logging road even though the approach and departure angles (20 degrees and 23.6 degrees, respectively) aren’t as steep as they would be on a vehicle such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Toyota 4Runner. The black six-spoke wheels have a robust, purposeful appearance to them, and at 17 inches in diameter, they’re also somewhat smaller in diameter than the basic Outback’s. The wheels are clad with Yokohama GEOLANDAR all-terrain rubber to enhance off-road traction.

There are a few further distinctions between the ordinary Outback and the Wilderness on the exterior. The former has a skid plate in the front and rear bumpers, while the latter has Wilderness badging on both front fenders and even more copper accents on the thick, ladder-style roof rails. It can support a static weight of 700 pounds and a moving load of 220 pounds, ideal if you need to transport a large amount of equipment. Unlike many other automobiles on the road nowadays, a full-size spare tyre is included, so you won’t be trapped in the middle of anywhere if you have a flat tyre in the Wilderness.

Interior of the Subaru Outback Wilderness for 2022

According to the external motif, copper highlights can be present on the steering wheel and gear selector, and the headrests are stamped with the Wilderness emblem. Wilderness tags can also be seen on the door panels and the trunk lid. Again, as a tribute to the more aggressive use case that Subaru has in mind for the Wilderness, Subaru has opted for thick rubber floor mats rather than carpet, and they depict a mountain image with a textured finish.

Aside from that, this is a typical Outback cabin, which means it’s spacious, comfy, and completed with high-quality materials throughout it. There is just one inside colour available for the Wilderness. Subaru’s grey imitation leather looks and feels upmarket – especially when combined with the contrasting cooper stitching on this trim. In addition to radio volume and tuning knobs, there are controls for controlling the driver and passenger temperatures. However, most functions are controlled by a large touchscreen located in the centre console, easy to use. Overall, I believe this operating system is simple to use. However, it is not nearly as fast as some other methods I’ve examined lately. The functions that drivers are likely to use regularly, such as the button to deactivate the auto stop-start feature and the heated seats, are located at the bottom of the home screen, which is easy enough.

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Every passenger will have plenty of legroom and storage space in the Outback, and the cargo compartment is quite spacious. There are 32.5 cubic feet of space available with the 60/40 rear seats in place, but the volume increases to 75.7 cubic feet when they are folded flat. For someone my height, I’d have plenty of space to crash in the back of the vehicle if I packed little, so car camping enthusiasts should take care.

Fuel economy and real-world miles per gallon (MPG)

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the regular Outback will get 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the interstate. The efficiency of the turbocharged variant suffers significantly, with ratings of 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, the Legacy is equipped with more fuel-efficient engines. The standard engine is predicted to get 27/35 mpg in the city and highway, while the turbocharged version is expected to achieve 24/32 mpg in the city and motorway. On our 200-mile real-world highway-fuel-economy route, we tested an Outback equipped with each of these engines, and they all delivered the same 28 miles per gallon. In the same test, the car with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine achieved 34 miles per gallon. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website for additional information about the Outback’s fuel efficiency.

Interior, comfort, and cargo space are all important considerations

Both the Outback and the Legacy offer luxurious accommodations and high-quality materials, sharing much of their interior design. Subaru’s interior design is useful and has a high sitting position, even though it is dull. Outboards come standard with dual-zone temperature control, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and several USB connections, except for the cheapest model. More luxury options like a heated steering wheel, vented front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and heated rear seats are available on higher-end model levels. In addition, the Outback sports a roomy back seat that provides an additional 1.4 inches of legroom over the previous version. While testing, we found that the rear cargo compartment has 33 cubic feet of room and can accommodate 11 carry-on baggage with the back seat up and 23 bags with the seat down flat. The Legacy accepted eight and twenty-two luggage during the same testing, respectively.

Information and communication technology (ICT)

Outbacks with the base trim have two stacked 7.0-inch touchscreens, while all higher versions have a large 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen as their primary touchscreen. In addition to large touch icons and fast reaction times, the huge screen has a rotational volume and tuning knob and certain physical buttons for temperature settings, which make them simpler to operate. While features like built-in navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless device charging are available as options, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are included by default. Buyers who choose the top-tier Limited and Touring trim levels will get a 12-speaker, 576-watt Harman/Kardon audio system as standard equipment.

Driver-Assistance and Safety-related Features

All Outback models are equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance technologies as standard equipment. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for further information on the Outback’s crash-test results. The following are important safety features:

• Forward-collision warning and the automatic emergency braking are included as standard.
• Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist is included as standard.
• Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning are also available.

Warranty and maintenance services are included

Subaru provides limited and powertrain warranties, which is competitive, albeit not particularly noteworthy. Additionally, it does not offer any free planned maintenance or upgrades.

• The limited warranty is valid for three years or 36,000 miles.
• The powertrain warranty is valid for five years or 60,000 miles.
• There will be no free planned maintenance.

FAQs About 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness

Conclusion

The Outback Wilderness 2022 is the first to leave the building. The Outback was already a popular choice for outdoorsy types who weren’t into extreme rock crawling. The Wilderness package incorporates modifications that Outback owners were already making to their cars to increase their off-road capabilities—such as lift kits and all-terrain tires—and details that make a living with the tall waggon more accessible as a washable rear seatback and a hatch-mounted cargo light. The end effect resembles a Subaru Outback that has been in the gym for six months. It’s broader, more complex, and taller, yet it retains the same pleasant, supple ride and ample station waggon usefulness.

Sprucing up the Outback was simple, given the basic recipe was already a success. Who doesn’t like a large hatchback? Subaru just enhanced what was already wonderful in the Outback. Increased cladding, increased riding height, and other features designed exclusively for outdoor activities. While the external changes may be subtle to non-Subie enthusiasts, current Outback owners will notice how the Wilderness tucks the front fascia corners for increased cliff clearance and extends the plastic cladding up the nose and above the wheel wells to reduce the likelihood of shrub-related scratching. Everything chrome-plated on the normal Outback is satin black on the Wilderness. At the same time, critical action points like tow-hook anchors and roof-rail tie-downs are brilliant anodized copper, lending the Wilderness a sassy gold-toothed smile to the pirate. “Avast, mateys; I have arrived to transport your boat.” With a towing capacity of 3500 pounds, the Wilderness can tow a moderate-sized boat, and the revised roof rack can carry up to 220 pounds when moving and 700 pounds while stationary. Conveniently, this means it can transport not just bicycles or kayaks but also a rooftop tent—avoid moving an occupied rooftop tent.