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2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness Incoming, Forester and Crosstrek to Follow Suit

Care to guess which are the best-selling Subaru models in the United States? The Forester sold best last year with 176,996 registrations, followed by the Outback and Crosstrek with 153,294 and 119,716 units to their names. To keep things fresh, Subaru is reportedly going to treat them all to an off-road package called Wilderness.
Subaru Outback 23 photos
Photo: Subaru
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The Outback is expected to be the first to receive this optional extra. Car & Driver understands that suspension upgrades will open the list of goodies, translating to a higher ground clearance than the 8.7 inches (220 millimeters) of the 2021 model in bone-stock form. “The package will also include a set of black six-spoke wheels that are likely to feature off-road-capable tires.”

Wilderness also means blacked-out trim for the exterior, LED fog lights, and special badging to bring the point home. Based on this yet-to-be-confirmed list of improvements over the standard model, the package shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. No more than $2,000 would be my estimate, and Subaru would better not exceed that figure unless it wants the Ford Motor Company to steal customers away with the Bronco Sport and Bronco.

As far as engine options are concerned, don’t expect anything to change under the hood. Similar to the Legacy sedan, the Outback all-road wagon is gifted with a couple of four-cylinder boxers. The free-breathing motor, a 2.5-liter, belts out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet (239 Nm) of torque on regular gasoline, which is somewhat underwhelming for a mid-size car.

Step up to the 2.4-liter turbo introduced by the Ascent mid-size crossover with seating for seven people, and you’re looking at 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet (376 Nm) of torque. Regardless of your pick, both four-pot mills are matched to a Lineartronic CVT and Symmetrical full-time AWD.

For the Crosstrek and Forester, which are supposed to get the Wilderness Package by the end of the year, your choices range from a 2.0- to a 2.5-liter boxer without forced induction. The Crosstrek is also available as a plug-in hybrid with zero-emissions technology borrowed from Toyota, which provides an EPA-estimated electric range of 17 miles (27 kilometers).
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Editor's note: Regular Outback pictured in the gallery.

About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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