Used 2022 Subaru Outback

The 2022 Subaru Outback is one of those between-the-genres cars. It’s kind of a midsize crossover, kind of a station wagon with SUV camouflage. Yet it’s always one of Subaru’s best sellers.

Ground clearance of 8.7 inches isn’t just a consideration when going off-road. Those who encounter snow every winter will also be grateful for it. With the arrival this year of the new Outback Wilderness, maximum ground clearance increases to 9.5 inches.

What is the Subaru Outback Wilderness? It comes in as the off-road specialist of the range, with a dedicated all-wheel drive system and suspension setup, all-terrain tires, and under-body protection.

The current generation of Outback (the sixth) debuted as recently as 2020, so the tech is still fresh. And safety is top-notch. It has earned a maximum of five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash-test program, and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has made it a Top Safety Pick+.

A level of practicality like an SUV, the traction and grip of all-wheel drive, and the lower-set composure of a regular car all combine to give the 2022 Outback a rare blend of abilities. It’s no sport sedan, but twisting roads don’t become something to dread. There’s some satisfaction to the driving experience, yet everyone else on board can be happy as well.

The strong basic structure of the Outback allowed Subaru to keep the A-pillars relatively thin, so front-three-quarter vision is affected as little as possible. The long hood means it’s not always easy to gauge where the end is, but the front-mounted 180-degree camera (in the Onyx XT trim upwards) negates that little issue.

The taller Wilderness model rides smoothly, but is less adept at hustling up a mountain road. The body leans a bit when pushed. Drive a curvy section even a little too quickly and the stability control kicks in aggressively to slow the car down. That’s great if a teen driver is behind the wheel. But for the rest of us, a Sport mode with slightly higher limits would be helpful.

That said, the Wilderness excels on a dirt trail. Press the X-Mode button and torque is sent exactly where it’s needed to claw up and over some fairly tough hills. The underbody sails over large rocks, thanks to increased ground clearance. And on the way back down, Subaru’s hill descent control maintains a controlled pace. This is the Outback to own if you hit the trails regularly.

The slightly raised ride height and generous dimensions of the 2022 Outback mean that it’s easy to get in and out. Strapping toddlers into child seats doesn’t involve bending down as much as with a regular car.

In general, the cabin is agreeable. Soft-touch plastics and pleasing shapes join comfortable seats and ample passenger space. The base Outback employs twin 7-inch screens to control infotainment and climate functions, but the rest of the lineup has an 11.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen set vertically. Premium trim gains rear ventilation this year in the back of the center console.

Roof rails and plastic side cladding emphasize the SUV vibe of the 2022 Outback. The base model, which gains LED fog lights this year, starts with 17-inch alloy wheels. Once we’re at the Limited and Onyx XT trims, there are 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Onyx XT sits a little apart from the rest of the lineup — sporting a grille and side mirrors finished in Crystal Black Silica. And then there’s the even more distinct Wilderness, making its debut for 2022.

The new Outback Wilderness has its own design of the front and rear fascias, wider moldings for the wheel arches, larger side cladding, and matte-black anti-glare graphics on the hood, plus anodized copper finishes for the front tow point cover and roof rails. It runs on 17-inch alloy wheels wearing Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires with raised white lettering.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
There’s a standard system in every 2022 Outback, but it’s not always the same. The upper trims have more sophisticated versions, and the new Wilderness has its own dedicated system with greater off-road abilities, incorporating modes for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud, plus a low-ratio gradient control.

TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
Even though the base 2.5-liter engine is adequate, the turbocharged unit in the XT models is a definite asset for driving in mountainous areas. Engine power drops as the altitude increases, so it’s worth acquiring as much as possible for those conditions.

At its most affordable, the 2022 Outback still packs a useful inventory of standard equipment. This includes steering-responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams, rear seat reminder, the EyeSight driver aids (see our Safety section), paddle shifters, cloth upholstery, satellite radio, two USB ports, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

However, we would still pay an extra $2,200 for Premium trim to gain a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an extra pair of USB ports. This trim is also eligible for more options.

Premium qualifies for blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry/ignition, hands-free tailgate operation, powered moonroof, and navigation. These latter two items are also optional in the Limited, Onyx XT, and Wilderness models.

The Onyx XT comes with the turbocharged engine, as does the Wilderness, Limited XT, and the Touring XT (but not the regular Limited or Touring versions). With the higher trims come more features, such as simulated leather upholstery (Onyx XT, Wilderness) or real leather upholstery (Limited, Limited XT), heated steering wheel (Limited XT), heated rear outboard seats (Limited, Limited XT), heated/ventilated front seats (Touring, Touring XT), and a 12-speaker/576-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound system (Limited and up).

The special thing about Subaru engines is that they have a flat-4 configuration, also known as a boxer. It’s where the four cylinders are not upright and in a line, but set horizontally in opposing pairs. This arrangement results in a lower center of gravity, bringing benefits in vehicle stability.

The four lower trims have a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter unit developing 182 horsepower. The XT models and the new Outback Wilderness are fitted with a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-4 producing 260 horsepower, and it’s fine with regular gasoline.

Both engines have a fuel-saving stop/restart feature that we’ve sometimes found to be less than smooth. You can turn it off by getting into the touchscreen’s menu.

All-wheel drive is standard across the range, and a CVT is employed throughout.

2.5-liter flat-4
182 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
176 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/33 mpg

2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4
260 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
277 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/30 mpg (Wilderness: 22/26 mpg)