The Subaru Outback Heads Out Into the Wilderness

One of the benefits of living in Upstate New York is the ability to explore all the trails and parks that are just a stone’s throw from our Subaru dealership near Albany. You don’t have to drive far from the Capital District to find some hills and riverbeds to test the limits of your vehicle. There really is nothing like off-roading, and the extreme seasons we enjoy in Upstate New York seem tailor-made for trail running all year round.

However, if you are a fan of the exceptional vehicles made by Subaru, then you probably know the limitations of most of these models. While Subarus are built for dependability and longevity, there weren’t any specific models designed to stand up to the rigors of off-roading. Sure, the midsize SUV is called an Outback, but would you feel comfortable pushing it to the limits in that desert expanse in the middle of Australia? Well, for the 2022 Outback, the engineers at Subaru have come up with a new trim called the Wilderness to provide you with a Subaru that is as home off-roading as driving on the highway.

At Subaru of Troy, we proudly serve all the folks who call the greater Albany area home. With an extensive lineup of new and used Subaru models, including the 2022 Outback Wilderness, we are the place to go if you want to get the Subaru model you truly desire.

What’s Under the Hood?

The folks at Subaru knew that challenging the outdoors requires a powerful engine designed for tackling all the obstacles Mother Nature might throw in your way. The key is to make sure that you don’t get stuck in the wilderness when riding the trail in your Outback Wilderness. This is why the Outback Wilderness is equipped with a 2.4-liter Turbocharged DOHC Boxer 4 gas engine. This is the same engine featured only on the Onyx Edition XT, with its direct fuel injection system helping to deliver up to 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This is significantly more powerful than the standard 2.5-liter Boxer 4 engine on other Outback models that provide 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. As you can see, that added torque and horsepower will sure come in handy when out on the trail.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness features a Lineartonic CVT transmission, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and X-MODE, like other trims of this vehicle. However, the engineers at Subaru have revised the front and rear gear ratios on the transmission to improve low-speed climbing on the Wilderness model, allowing it to handle up to a 40-percent grade. This is not something that should be attempted in other Outback models.

As for the X-MODE, Subaru has added settings for deep snow, sand, and mud that will sure come in handy when you challenge the toughest trails in Upstate New York in your Outback Wilderness. It is interesting that Subaru has stuck with the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system instead of going with a four-wheel drivetrain like other off-road models from other automakers. However, when combined with the X-MODE settings and the active torque vectoring in the Subaru all-wheel drivetrain, this should provide solid traction and handling in tough conditions.

What’s Outside?

Some purpose-built off-road models may look the part but then let you down when you’re out on the trail. The key is to have form follow function, which is the approach taken by Subaru in designing the Wilderness trim for the 2022 Outback. It starts with added ground clearance, a full 9.5-inches compared to the standard 8.7-inches on the other Outback models. This was achieved by lengthening the front and rear shock absorbers and springs. The front and rear bumpers have also been given greater clearance. In addition, the track was widened on the Wilderness, from 61.8 inches to 62 inches in the front and 62.8 inches to 63 inches in the rear. This gives the Outback Wilderness a slightly wider stance and better overall stability.

The 2022 Subaru Wilderness Outback sports a set of Yokohama GEOLANDAR 225/65 R17 102T all-terrain tires wrapped around 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a black matte finish. While the wheels are the same size as on the Outback and Premium models, one-inch smaller than the ones on the Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition XT trims, this is more than made up for by the width on the all-terrain tires and wider stance of the Outback Wilderness. Subaru has even given the Wilderness a full-size spare, so you won’t be left dealing with donuts if you get a flat while out on the trail.

To help shield against obstacles, Subaru has equipped the Outback Wilderness with a front skid plate. An anti-glare hood design consisting of a dark paint stripe has been added as well. Hexagonal LED fog lamps are a trim exclusive feature that will come in handy on cloudy days.

The Outback Wilderness also features a set of raised roof rails that provide enhanced functionality. The ones on other Outback models have a maximum capacity of 150 pounds of cargo. The Wilderness adds Anodized Copper finish accents and stronger tie-down points. This allows for a dynamic maximum capacity of 200 pounds and 700 pounds of static maximum carrying capacity. Form truly follows function on the 2022 Outback Wilderness!

What’s Inside?

Subaru has chosen to give the Outback Wilderness a Star Tex water-repellant interior. This is the same material used on the Onyx Edition XT. Rather than use a cloth that absorbs water or leather that can get soiled, Subaru has wisely chosen a material for the seats and upholstery that can stand up to whatever you and your passengers may track in from the wilderness.

The 2022 Outback Wilderness also features the larger 11.6-inch touchscreen on the Starlink Multimedia Plus system. This will make working the system more user-friendly as you access Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Starlink’s various cloud-based apps, and fight over the music to listen to on SiriusXM through the standard 6-speaker audio system. Standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability will come in handy to keep you in touch wherever you may roam in your Wilderness.

How Does It Handle?

All of these features help set the Wilderness model apart from the other models of the 2022 Outback. This is shown by the enhanced off-road performance provided by the Outback Wilderness. Where the standard Outback has an approach angle of 18.6 degrees, this increases to 20.0 degrees on the Wilderness. The departure angle also improves from 21.7 degrees to 23.6 degrees. Finally, the ramp breakover angle sees an increase from 19.4 degrees on the standard Outback to 21.2 degrees on the Wilderness model. Each of these will help you get up and over the toughest obstacles you are sure to encounter when off-roading. In addition, features like the enhanced X-MODE and retuned gearbox will give you the capability you need, while equipment like the front skid plate will give you peace of mind that your Outback Wilderness has the protection it needs.

The only downside of the Outback Wilderness is the fuel economy. Standard models of the 2022 Outback with the base 2.5-liter Boxer 4 engine provide an impressive 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 33 miles per gallon on the highway. The Onyx Edition XT with the same engine as the Outback Wilderness delivers 23 miles per gallon in the city and 30 miles per gallon on the highway. However, the Outback Wilderness provides only 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 miles per gallon in highway driving. While these are respectable numbers, they don’t compare to the fuel economy figures for other 2022 Subaru Outback models. This is probably a factor of the more powerful engine combined with the fact that the Wilderness has the heaviest base curb weight of any model of the 2022 Outback. But, if you want a vehicle made for off-roading, then this is truly a small price to pay.

Explore the Wilderness in Your Outback Wilderness

If you are looking for adventure in the wilderness around the greater Albany area, then the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness is the model for you. With all of its specialized features and enhanced capabilities, the Wilderness is the Outback designed for the outback and more.