2022 Subaru Outback vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was designed to offer a rugged, off-road appearance that set it apart from the standard Outback models. It featured a higher ride height of 9.5 inches, which was an increase of 0.8 inches over other Outback versions, making it more akin to a Jeep in terms of ground clearance. This increase in height was complemented by aggressive all-terrain tires tucked under oversized fender protection trim, and revamped front and rear bumpers that improved its approach and departure angles.

Additional exterior design elements included a unique grille design, black 17-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim with Anodized Copper accents, and a glare-reducing matte black hood decal. The new roof rack and rail system, capable of supporting a 700-pound static load, underscored its off-road credentials. Exclusive to this model was Geyser Blue paint.

Inside, the Outback Wilderness featured dark gray and black interiors with StarTex water-repellant upholstery, which looked and felt like leather but wasn’t. The lack of ventilated seats was a downside, especially in warmer climates. The interior was further graced with Gunmetal Gray trim, Anodized Copper stitching, brushed aluminum pedals, and standard all-weather floor mats, adding to the rugged but upscale feel. The modifications collectively added personality to the Outback Wilderness, something prospective buyers either found appealing or not.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to break away from the traditional minivan aesthetic. The front-end styling resembled a Japanese bullet train, aiming for a more dynamic appearance. While most trims came with 18-inch wheels, the FWD iterations of the XSE and Platinum trims featured 20s. This helped tone down the minivan vibe and gave it a more crossover-like look.

The Sienna offered multiple trim levels: LE, XLE, sporty XSE, upper-class Limited, and top-tier Platinum, plus a new 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim. The interior, particularly in the Platinum trim, was noted for its high-quality brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents. The spacious cabin layout was practical and family-friendly, capable of seating seven or eight passengers. The eight-seater variations, available in LE or XLE trim, supported three-across car seats in the middle row, secured with LATCH anchors.

Both vehicles had distinct styling cues appealing to different types of consumers. The Outback Wilderness presented an adventurous, off-road-ready look, while the Sienna aimed to modernize the minivan concept with a sleek and practical design.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. This engine gave the crossover SUV a top towing capacity of 3,500 lbs and a combined fuel efficiency of 24 mpg, although real-world testing yielded 21.3 mpg in mountainous terrain. Despite the strong engine, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) left much to be desired, especially when compared to a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The CVT offered eight programmed ratios and paddle shifters for manual control, but its characteristic droning and mushy gear changes detracted from the driving experience.

On the other hand, the 2023 Toyota Sienna came standard with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with front-mounted electric motors, and a third rear-mounted electric motor for AWD models. This setup produced a combined 245 horsepower, which felt insufficient for the Sienna’s size and weight. The CVT in the Sienna also lacked the punch, making acceleration feel lackluster. Although the Sienna's hybrid system provided excellent fuel efficiency, it was not particularly inspiring to drive.

However, the Sienna excelled in chassis and steering. It was surprisingly nimble for its size, making it easy to handle in city driving and comfortable on the highway. Different driving modes, including Normal, Eco, Sport, and EV, offered varied driving experiences, though EV mode proved largely ineffective for sustained electric-only driving.

While the Outback Wilderness excelled off-road with its all-terrain tires, lifted stance, and specialized suspension systems like the dual function X-Mode, the Sienna shone in its nimbleness and ease of maneuverability, especially for a minivan.

The interior of the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured StarTex water-repellant upholstery, specially designed to prevent water and sweat from soaking into the seats. It had heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and sufficient power adjustments in the driver and passenger seats to ensure comfort. Rear seat space was generous, and the cargo area offered 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. These dimensions made it practical for both passengers and cargo. An upgraded roof rack could handle a 220-pound dynamic load and a 700-pound static load, facilitating rooftop camping.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, being a minivan, had outstanding interior space utilization. It featured numerous cubbies, bins, and shelves for storage, including a large cavity below the center console and a long shelf stretching in front of the passenger seat equipped with a wireless charging pad in higher trims. The Sienna's cargo area measured 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and extended to 101 cubic feet with the third row folded. However, the Sienna fell short in total cargo space compared to competitors because its middle-row seats could neither be fully removed nor fold into the floor.

For those prioritizing everyday practicality and space for family use, the Sienna had the edge, offering more cubic feet overall and practical storage solutions. However, for those needing capable off-road performance and outdoor utility, the Outback Wilderness was the better option.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment and climate control system. While the touchscreen interface controlled most functions, physical knobs and buttons managed basic operations like volume and temperature. Unfortunately, the voice recognition technology required learning specific prompts to function correctly, making it less user-friendly. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, making up for some of the native system's shortcomings. One unique feature was the Outback's PIN code entry, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

Conversely, the 2023 Toyota Sienna utilized an older infotainment interface, providing core features such as SiriusXM, Bluetooth, standard Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, but with some limitations. Physical buttons were present, which helped with usability. The main issues were the wired-only connections for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the somewhat clunky interface, which could make accessing certain functions cumbersome. Despite these drawbacks, the 9-inch touchscreen was adequate, and the optional 12-speaker JBL audio system delivered good sound quality.

While both vehicles had robust tech offerings, the Sienna’s user-friendly physical controls added a layer of convenience often missed in the more touchscreen-centric systems, whereas the Outback Wilderness featured more advanced off-road tech.

The 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness came equipped with the EyeSight driver assistance system, incorporating adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and a driver monitoring system. Additional features included steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assistance, and rear cross-traffic alert. Although crash-test results for this model were not immediately available, the standard Outback received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna provided a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna earned high safety marks, achieving a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 model, indicating its strong performance in crash tests and safety technology.

Both vehicles prioritized safety, making them excellent choices for families, but the Sienna’s expansive suite of safety features and top-tier safety ratings made it particularly compelling.