Subaru has just debuted its premiere off-roader, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness. It comes with a turbocharged engine, enhanced suspension, and off-road modes, plus a tough exterior that can tame the outdoors with ease. The Outback Wilderness has plenty of standard safety features and comfortable seating for a rambunctious family of five.
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Rugged Style of the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness
The Outback Wilderness is full of style enhancements for 2022. The front and rear bumpers have signature Wilderness model designs and decals. The front fascia has a hexagon honeycomb black grille. Tough black cladding creeps up from the front skid plate all the way up to the center of the front fascia. The profile has black cladding over the wheel wells, too. The hood has a matte black decal traveling down the center. There are LED fog lights up front and LED lights for the rear gate.
The rear of the Wilderness model makes use of the thick black cladding motif again with a chunky U-shaped rear bumper. There are bright copper accents all around the vehicle that indicate where you’ll find utility points like front and rear tow hooks and roof rail tie-downs. The roof rack can accommodate 700 pounds of gear and has versatile options for storing cumbersome camping gear. An upgraded options package outfits the Outback Wilderness with a power moonroof.
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The 2022 Outback Wilderness has an exclusive color called Geyser Blue. It hearkens back to Subaru’s rally heritage and the blue color palette is a welcomed change from Subaru’s usual drab color schemes for the Outback. 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on the Wilderness model and they have a matte black finish. The Outback Wilderness comes with Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires as standard equipment. Your spare tire isn’t a dud either. It’s a Yokohama all-terrain tire that’s stored under the cargo area in the rear. The back of the Outback Wilderness has a power, hands-free liftgate with an LED light.
The dimensions of the 2022 Outback Wilderness model have some of the same measurements as the standard Outback. It has 191.3 inches of length like the standard Outback and a wheelbase of 108.1 inches. However, the Wilderness model sits slightly higher, adds more than an inch and a half in width, and has a slight nudge to the track both front and rear.
Performance Capabilities to Match
It’s abundantly clear that the Outback Wilderness can manage challenging terrains and elevations. A 2.4 Liter turbocharged BOXER engine comes standard on the Outback Wilderness. It produces 260 horsepower and 277-pound feet of torque. Asymmetrical all-wheel drive is also standard. The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness has a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. It can be operated as an 8-speed manual with the paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel assembly.
The 2022 Outback Wilderness has a ground clearance of 9.5 inches. That’s thanks to longer shock absorbers and springs. That’s about an inch higher than the other Outback models. The approach angles have a 2-inch increase. The breakover angle has gone up and the departure angle went from 21.7 degrees to 23.6 degrees. The rear differential was also tweaked a bit, too. It has a 3,500 maximum towing capacity.
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness comes with active torque vectoring and an assortment of electronic stability controls. The suspension has been upgraded for rugged adventures. The X-MODE system has been upgraded to provide an even sportier experience. It has two functions – snow/dirt and deep snow/mud. The X-MODE in the Outback Wilderness can switch automatically from low to high speed so that there is no loss of power as you traverse trails that require a quick change in traction and torque. A front skid plate comes with the 2022 Outback Wilderness from Subaru. However, if the standard equipment isn’t rugged enough for you there are accessory options that include a steel skid plate to cover the fuel tank, engine, rear differential, and transmission undercarriage.
When it comes to gas mileage, the 2022 Outback Wilderness doesn’t disappoint. It gets 22 miles per gallon in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. Driving conditions will make these figures highly variable, but the CVT transmission keeps the turbo BOXER engine primed for the best fuel economy.
Stylish Interior of the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness
The first thing you might notice inside the 2022 Outback Wilderness is the seats. They’re made of a water-resistant, ultra-durable material called StarTex. The headrests have a huge Outback Wilderness logo. There’s bright copper stitching on the seats to match the copper accents on the steering wheel and shift knob. Brushed aluminum pedals and gunmetal grey accents hit the AC vents just right.
The center console has an 11.6-inch touchscreen display. It comes with a STARLINK multimedia system and it’s oriented vertically like a tablet. You can access X-MODE controls and infotainment. Yet, there are still some manual buttons for volume, radio tuning, and air conditioning. The 2022 Outback Wilderness comes with full Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Top-of-the-line models come with an integrated navigation system.
The cargo area has a waterproof cargo tray, and it extends up over the rear seatbacks. The Outback Wilderness has all-weather floor mats with the embossed Wilderness logo on them, as well. There’s little doubt what this SUV is meant to do – get dirty and get moving in style.
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2022 Subaru Outback Exterior Colors
The exterior paint colors of the 2022 Subaru Outback are a good match for the sense of adventure that the SUV provides. Drivers will be awestruck by its finely carved exterior, which, of course, will be available in a variety of color choices. There are a variety of paints available, each of which is distinct in its own way, ranging from the well-blended Cinnamon Brown Pearl and Autumn Green to the sporty Crimson Red Pearl.
Top Safety Gear from Subaru
One of the best safety features on the new Outback Wilderness is the EyeSight Drive Assist Technology. It employs cameras and sensors to monitor traffic around you. It comes standard on the Subaru Outback. The system can prompt you to get back in your lane if you drift and it can adjust the cruise control for safety. It also comes with automatic braking against frontal collisions. The Subaru EyeSight safety suite has given the Outback the highest rating from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). The IIHS reported that EyeSight helped to reduce rear-end crashes with injuries by up to 85%. Additional safety gear includes a front-view camera and a rearview camera. The available option package includes automatic reverse emergency braking.
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Final Thoughts about the Subaru Wilderness
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness is the most off-road capable vehicle that Subaru has ever created. This SUV can ride toe-to-toe with a Land Rover Defender or Jeep Wrangler. It has power, towing, and torque. The interior is unique and sporty. It’s also meant to clean out easily.
The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness debuted without pricing information. Subaru is expected to provide details about pricing later in the year. The current model of the Subaru Outback has an MSRP of $26,795. So, even with a slight bump in price, it’s easy to see that the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness could present serious competition for Land Rover and Jeep.
Subaru vehicles are notoriously reliable. According to Experian Automotive, 97% of Subaru vehicles sold between 2010 and 2019 are still on the road today. You might not think that the Outback Wilderness model is fit for city slickers, but there’s plenty of tech inside the cabin to make daily commutes much easier. It gets great gas mileage. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes. So, whether you plan on conquering mountains or not, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness model will certainly make you feel capable of anything.