Subaru Outback: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?

Most significant changes: A new Wilderness model with more off-road capability and a rugged look

Pricing: $28,070 to start, up $225 from 2021; higher trim levels (except the Wilderness, which is new) increase $75 to $175

On sale: Now

Which should you buy, 2021 or 2022? If you’re an adventurer or live in a more rugged landscape, you’ll want the Outback Wilderness; for the other nearly unchanged trim levels, look for a deal on a 2021 example.

The big change for the 2022 Subaru Outback wagon is a new, more off-road-oriented Wilderness model. Other versions of the 2022 Outback, which Subaru completely redesigned for the 2020 model year, get only minor tweaks. They include standard LED foglights for all trims and rear-seat climate vents for the Premium trim, along with small price increases across the board.

Related: 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness First Drive: More of What Outback Owners Love

The Wilderness is more than just another trim level with outdoorsy styling cues, though it does get those, too. It’s set apart with rugged-looking bumpers, larger wheel-arch cladding, black window trim and black 17-inch wheels, as well as a matte-black anti-glare hood decal.

But it also gets functional changes from top (a big roof rack that can support a roof tent for two) to bottom (9.5 inches of ground clearance, nearly an inch more than other Outbacks). The wagon’s approach, departure and breakover angles all are up nearly 2 degrees. It also gets more aggressive tires and shares StarTex, Subaru’s water-repellant, neoprene-based upholstery, with the Outback Onyx XT model. The Wilderness, which is offered only with the Outback’s turbo engine upgrade, also has special tuning for the transmission, all-wheel-drive system and suspension to improve off-road performance over other Outbacks.

Subaru has said the Outback Wilderness is the first of a series of Wilderness models coming for other Subarus that are “extensively upgraded and retuned for rugged adventure.” The second Wilderness edition graces the refreshed 2022 Forester.

Including the Wilderness, the Outback is offered in eight trim levels. The 2022 model continues to have standard AWD and a choice between two four-cylinder engines: a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter or 260-hp, turbocharged 2.4-liter. All Outbacks also have standard Subaru EyeSight safety and driver-assistance tech, which includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and hands-on lane centering.

2022 Outback Pricing

Pricing is up for all 2022 trim levels thanks to a $75 increase in the required destination charge. The base and Premium versions, however, get higher price bumps of $225 and $175, landing at $28,070 and $30,270, respectively (prices include destination). The new Wilderness is priced at $38,120 to start, which puts it just below the top-of-the-line Limited XT and Touring XT trim levels ($39,120 and $41,070, respectively).

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