The Subaru Outback has always been a popular SUV choice for those who like spending time outdoors, and the 2022 Wilderness model makes things even better. The package includes features that Outback owners would have tried to buy separately to enhance the off-road capability of their car, giving you a complete off-roading vehicle.
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness is a tough and large vehicle ideal for driving off-road, but with the comfort and tech, you can enjoy driving on the road too.
Overview
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness follows the same formula that the Outback has always had in previous model years. It acts as a wagon alternative to an SUV for those who want a vehicle with better on-road than off-road experience.
The Wilderness has been widely described as an SUV version of the Outback but separates itself from the Outback with an extra inch of ground clearance and a different exterior design that is not built for off-road driving.
Characteristics
Power and Performance
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness is powered by an impressive 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine. This gives you 277 lb.-ft of torque and 260 horsepower for smooth driving on any road. The Outback Wilderness offers a fantastic blend of car-like driving with SUV capabilities, with different tech features that enhance it.
The four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine is combined with an eight-speed automatic, continuously variable transmission, which has been designed and tuned for stability on the rough terrain. At the same time, the suspension retains ride comfort and offers top performance on road.
On the Outback Wilderness, you have higher front and rear shock absorbers, which match the increased ground clearance.
Interior, Infotainment, and Cargo
As for the interior design, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness has unique styling. It can seat five adults and has an ergonomically friendly and practical layout. The seats are made with non-leather and water-resistant materials that feel comfortable when you sit, and patterns and colors of copper and honeycomb on the grille and accents.
The vehicle features an 11.6-inch touchscreen which is mounted vertically for easy access and other infotainment features that would come in handy. These include the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto configurations, dual USB ports, dark tint privacy glass, optional seat heaters, and more that would keep you and your passengers comfortable.
The cargo area of the 2022 Outback Wilderness is also waterproof and the vehicle gives you lots of room to store your luggage and more. Under the cargo area, you would see the full-size spare tire with a tire-pressure monitor too.
Fuel Economy
The combined fuel economy for the city and highway is 24 mpg, for the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness. As for the city rating, it is set at 22 mpg, which is less than the regular Outback. And the highway rating is 26 mpg, which is four mpg less than the regular Outback. Although the fuel economy isn’t great, it’s decent for driving on road.
Warranty and Maintenance
Subaru is providing decent warranty coverage to its buyers, which isn’t different from what other SUV manufacturers are offering. The limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles, while the powertrain warranty is set at five years or 50,000 miles. This warranty coverage also extends to the 2022 Outback Wilderness.
Price
The average price that the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness might go for is $38,120 to $39,965. From the starting price alone, it is one of the most expensive Outback models. If you purchase it for the latter price, you would get upgraded infotainment features and a power moonroof.
Although the price puts it in the same range as the Ford Bronco Or Jeep Wrangler, the Outback Wilderness gives you the benefits of a unibody wagon rather than a standard SUV.
Is the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Reliable?
Subaru Outbacks are generally known to be decent on the reliability scale, and you can say the same for the 2022 Wilderness vehicle. Since most of the upgrades done on this vehicle are practical as they are stylish, you can expect that Subaru did not forfeit reliability for luxury.
Safety
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness also comes with a couple of safety features. You can rely on this vehicle, as the Subaru Outback is known for having high safety ratings.
Some of these features include EyeSight driver assist technology, advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering, rear vision camera with adaptive guidelines, LED fog lights, LED steering responsive headlights with high beam assist, and hill descent control.
What People Are Saying About the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness features all the off-road fittings that outdoor enthusiasts are looking for in an Outback, and this is what most people are saying about it. It also has a spacious interior made with rugged materials that stand the test of time, and an impressive number of security features. It also has a couple of practical upgrades that set it apart from other Outbacks.
On the other hand, the 2022 Outback Wilderness does not offer good fuel economy like others in the Outback series, which is a bit discouraging to many. The CVT isn’t ideal for enthusiastic drivers either, and the off-road features might be a bit uncomfortable when you drive on the road.
Competitors
While the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness is a pretty impressive SUV, it’s not the only one in the mid-size SUV market, and so it’s facing a lot of competition. One of the main competitors is the popular Ford Bronco which took car enthusiasts by storm with the 2021 model year, and the impressive Jeep Wrangler which might be just what you need for your off-road experience.
But the 2022 Outback Wilderness offers a good balance between on- and off-road driving, and a practical, well-built car that would accompany you to work or outdoors.