2022 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport created quite a buzz when it was introduced, as the latest addition to the Bronco family. This smaller, unibody crossover retained a sense of rugged heritage, with styling cues reminiscent of the classic Broncos from 1966 through 1996. This model, although more suburban-focused, still proved ready for weekend adventures. Its short front overhang and tall fender wells were designed with trail driving in mind, featuring minimal adornments to avoid snagging on obstacles. The bold “BRONCO” lettering on the front grille and tailgate, along with a modest Ford badge on the exterior, linked it aesthetically to its bigger brother.

Ford offered a variety of wheel options, starting with 17-inch Sparkle Silver on the base model. Higher trims like the Big Bend used 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted wheels, while the Outer Banks came with 18-inch machined-face aluminum wheels painted in Ebony Black. The Badlands model featured 17-inch wheels with 28.5-inch all-terrain tires, and the First Edition sported 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels with 29-inch all-terrain tires. The Bronco Sport’s tastefully rugged interior featured an uncluttered design, with recurring shapes in the HVAC vents and smart use of open storage cubbies topped by an 8-inch infotainment screen. The trim levels offered varying interior comforts, from cloth seats in base models to leather-trimmed, heated bucket seats in higher trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness stretched the notion of a traditional station wagon, presenting elements closer to a Jeep. With 9.5 inches of ground clearance and aggressive all-terrain tires, this model aimed to bridge the gap between everyday functionality and rugged capability. The design featured a unique grille, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a matte black hood decal to reduce glare. The Wilderness came exclusively in a new Geyser Blue paint, enhancing its standout looks.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness had a dark gray and black cabin with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, ideal for preventing water and sweat absorption. However, on hot days, the seats could become uncomfortable without ventilation. Despite this drawback, the vehicle featured a functional interior with heated seats, dual-zone climate control, and generous rear seat space. The cargo area, measuring 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 75.7 cubic feet with seats folded, included waterproofing and LED lighting for practicality.

Ford’s media drive for the Bronco Sport showcased its off-road prowess at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Michigan. The vehicle offered two engine choices: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque on Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks models, and a more potent 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque on the Badlands and First Edition models. All models were equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), featuring up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport impressed off-road thanks to its 105.1-inch wheelbase, independent suspension system, and ground clearance ranging from 7.8 to 8.8 inches. Though designed for adventure, most Bronco Sports ended up as daily drivers with good manners on pavement. The 2.0-liter engine offered a better balance of power and driveability compared to the smaller 1.5-liter, which could feel underpowered when pushed hard.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine, coupled with the Outback’s weight of 3,896 pounds, granted it a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The vehicle delivered 24 mpg in combined driving, although real-world tests on mountainous terrain returned an average of 21.3 mpg.

Despite a strong engine, the Outback Wilderness would have benefited from a dual-clutch automatic transmission instead of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which led to droning sounds and soft gear changes under hard acceleration. The Outback’s all-wheel drive and specialized suspension and traction systems, including 9.5 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, made it highly capable off-road. The vehicle’s approach, breakover, and departure angles were also commendable at 20 degrees, 21.2 degrees, and 23.6 degrees, respectively.

On pavement, the Outback felt quick yet restricted by its tires. Off-road, however, it shone, handling challenging trails with ease thanks to its high stance, underbody skid plating, and advanced traction systems. The Wilderness proved to be the most capable Outback ever, offering significant off-road prowess while sacrificing some on-road handling.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport excelled at catering to an active lifestyle with thoughtful design elements. Its cargo space was engineered to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and a wide range of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories were available. The roof had a load capacity of up to 150 pounds (100 pounds with a moonroof). The 2.0-liter engine variant could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter model could handle 2,000 pounds.

The Bronco Sport’s cargo area featured innovative solutions like an optional slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps, made more convenient by a flip-up rear glass. The front cabin provided ample storage spaces, but visibility issues impacted taller drivers. In terms of overall space, the cargo capacity and intelligent design features offered practicality for active users, though visibility concerns could affect driving comfort.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness highlighted comfort and practicality with its spacious interior and thoughtful features. The water-repellant StarTex upholstery, while functional, could become uncomfortable on hot days. The driver enjoyed a 10-way power seat, and the front passenger had an 8-way power seat. Rear seat occupants benefitted from considerable legroom and headroom, along with heated seats, USB ports, and air vents.

Storage in the Outback was generous, with the cargo area offering 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with seats folded flat, enhanced by waterproofing and intuitive LED lighting. The vehicle’s robust roof rack supported a 220-pound dynamic load and 700-pound static load, suitable for rooftop camping. Despite its impressive cargo and storage solutions, the lack of ventilated seats diminished comfort in warm climates.

Ford equipped the Bronco Sport with the latest infotainment technologies. The 8-inch touchscreen connected to SYNC 3 and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additional features included Ford+Alexa, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera. The G.O.A.T. modes included up to seven terrain settings, adjusting steering, transmission, and throttle responses for different driving conditions.

The Bronco Sport's available tech package included intelligent access with push-button start, heated steering wheels, and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel on higher trims. The Badlands and First Edition models added trail control technology, allowing the driver to manage speed while focusing on navigation during off-road trips.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen that dominated the dashboard, accompanied by physical controls for essential functions. While the voice recognition system required mastering prompts, users could rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for better voice assistant performance. Surprisingly, the Outback Wilderness lacked a premium sound system, which was available in other Outback trims.

However, the Outback’s PIN code access allowed users to leave their key fob inside the vehicle, adding a layer of convenience for active outdoor activities. This feature ensured that the vehicle remained accessible without the need to carry a key during physically demanding activities.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, featuring pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. Additionally, the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package included adaptive cruise control, stop-and-go functionality, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and an advanced navigation system.

AWD was a standard feature across all trims, enhancing traction and stability. The Bronco Sport had yet to receive crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA at the time of review, but its comprehensive safety features promised a secure driving experience.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness included the EyeSight ADAS, boasting adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance. The system was carefully calibrated to maintain factory specifications. The Outback Wilderness also featured steering-responsive headlights, a blind-spot warning system with lane-change assistance, and a rear cross-traffic warning.

Crash-test results were not available during the review, but the standard Outback had earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, suggesting high safety standards for the Wilderness trim.