The Subaru Outback Wilderness Faces the Toyota 4Runner Again
It’s time for the Subaru Outback Wilderness to try and redeem itself against the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness couldn’t keep up with the Toyota 4Runner in the woods, but this time it has a few modifications.
The Subaru Outback Wilderness challenges the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
The team at Driving Sports TV has been putting the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness through the paces to see if it can hang with the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. The Outback couldn’t keep up with the 4Runner when they met in the dirt a few months ago.
But now, the Outback Wilderness has a few upgrades to make it more capable. It’s an inch taller than the factory Wilderness and has LP Adventure wheels with Goodyear Wrangler tires. It gained a Mishimoto oil cooler, CVT cooler, and extra skid plate as well.
The Subaru Outback Wilderness and Toyota 4Runner are now a bit more evenly matched with similar ground clearance and about the same amount of power. However, the lift on the Subaru might now improve its range.
Did the Outback Wilderness keep up?
In the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, at about 7,500 feet in elevation, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness started off by following in the Toyota 4Runner’s tracks pretty well. Both SUVs made it to 9,500 feet without any problems.
As the terrain got rougher, the driver of 4Runner wished for a front-facing camera, which has been added for the 2022 model. The Outback WIlderness has one. Also, the 4Runner has four-low while, and the Outback Wilderness doesn’t.
Eventually, things became more challenging for the Subaru Outback Wilderness as the rocks created steeper inclines. The rocks were scraped from other vehicles, and the Wilderness didn’t have rock sliders or full underbody armor.
So the driver of the Outback Wilderness called it quits. He wanted to be better safe than sorry. The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro remains the champion of the trails. But the mods helped the Outback Wilderness get father than it did before.
If the Outback Wilderness had more mods, it might have tackled a few more challenges. But that doesn’t seem as convenient as the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro that’s ready to roll straight from the factory.
How do the Outback Wilderness and 4Runner compare?
Well, we already know that the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro is better equipped for off-roading than the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness. But the Wilderness can hold its own for lighter challenges and going camping.
You can get started in the Outback Wilderness for $36,995, while the 2022 Toyota 4Runner starts at $52,120. So, you can save thousands with the Subaru.
The Wilderness has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 266 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 3,500 lbs. The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro comes with a 4.0-liter V6 engine with 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 lbs.
So while the 4Runner is more capable, it can also tow more. It’s the winner of the off-roading challenge for now. But the Subaru Outback Wilderness is still impressive with a much lower price.
