This channel does a much better job of giving the Subaru a fighting chance at these comparisons. Realistic scenarios with truly objective points of view. I love this channel. I think Subaru hit a home run with this vehicle. A vehicle that can handle some tough stuff but yet doesn't compromise with the majority of everyday tasks like navigating a supermarket parking lot or driving to work with fuel efficiency.
I would on compare the two with the same tires. 4r had the advantage of more appropriate tires in this terrain. Subaru would have been my purchase due to $$ difference. I have a 2017 Forester that I like due to economy and comfort,
@John Dough depends on the use of the vehicle. I have no plans of climbing a mountain or severe off roading. I need 4x4 for snow, and back roads in my National forest. I'll take the comforts of the Wilderness.
I live in Australia and did a recent trip out to Alice Springs in the desert with my FJ Cruiser. My friend had a Subaru Forester. The Subaru could handle all but one of the official tracks of the East and West MacDonnell ranges. These tracks were mainly rocks and sand. You can do a lot more with the Subaru than you think!
Imagine how much better they would have done with the new Wilderness edition! Unfortunately, I checked with Subaru and they don't think they're bringing the Wilderness in to the country :(
Well, you could. But if they'd use a good transmission you could more than once every decade. I love Subaru and want a Crosstrek with the new bigger engine IF they'd put a real transmission back in with a slower first gear. Or if they're design their own CVT that's way stronger for towing (as in a small trailer with an ATV or something if needed), more reliable, and offered high and low range. Always wondered, if ATV'S have low in CVT why not a Subaru?
@@jackle842000 because regardless of how you want to slice it the biggest customer based they have is middle aged women. The cars are functional in ice and snow which is why they buy them. If you want it on your Subaru you'll have to modify it and explaining why the low range is crawling to a woman who won't care is wasting money. IF Subaru ever did that it would cost $8000 more for the package. The wilderness is a joke btw.
As much as I like this channel, you shouldn't watch it to get a fair comparison between cars, because you won't get it. They have cars they like, and they really don't make it a secret that they're helping a certain car to win. Such as the 4runner in this case...they didn't like the OEM tires on it, so they put pretty decent A/T tires on it. They didn't think the OEM tires on the Subaru were that great, but they left them on and compared them as equals. Plus they just don't always use built in traction features and such correctly or at all, giving the advantage to whatever car they're favoring. tl;dr, cool channel, the car they want to come out on top will but at least they aren't super secret about being shady.
@@WaruiKoohii favored or not, the 4Runner would win every time. CVT doesn’t compare to a standard automatic, and add in Toyota’s superior drive modes, 4 Low, locking differentials, and the Subie is at a distinct disadvantage. No need to complain, the Toyota is made to be a better off road vehicle. And it costs a lot more too.
@@WaruiKoohii the Subaru was on loan, that's why they babied it more. I'd reckon that's also why they didn't upgrade the tires. The Toyota is their's to modify and they went with a tire that is more capable than stock. With limited budgets/resources they can't line up every test to be as fair as possible. Maybe once they get more income from the channel, that can improve.
I believe some folks were missing the reason for the comparison. The Toyota was a benchmark to base the capabilities of the Wilderness Edition, not to see which one is a better off roader. My next vehicle will be the Outback Wilderness Edition. I love Jeeps, but I am a city slicker, and have no real reason to own one for the driving that I do. The Outback is made for softroading, road trips and grocery getting. If money were not an object, I certainly would get a Jeep with the EcoDiesel, but I would also not live in my tiny condo, and go offroading as much as I could in my spare time. Such as it is, the Subaru is great for my needs.
So are you saying you prefer being in your tiny condo than go outside? Maybe you were never really going to be a jeep owner? But I have one and have to say its not as bad a grocery duties nowadays
@@googleleavemynamealone9145 I haven't a clue as to what you are trying to convey. I now own the Outback Wilderness Edition and am quite pleased with my purchase and its capabilities. If I lived in the country, like I used to, then my old Kaiser Jeep M-715 would have been a great back up vehicle to have for harsher or challenging obstacles. As it is, the Subaru is great for my needs.
I have owned 4 Wranglers, and now own a Subaru. Wranglers are great if you are going to be off-roading a lot because they make so many off-road accessories for them and you can really build them up. I live in a really remote area that requires four wheel drive to get to the majority of the time. So I bought Jeep Wranglers for several years. However, I had numerous problems with them including major problems with the lifters and cam in the 3.6 engines. These problems combined (total cost for all 4 vehicles to get repaired by a dealership were $21,876.34 luckily I bought extended warranties on all but one) with not so great fuel mileage, made me change over to a Subaru. Once I got past the fact I was driving a Subaru, I fell in love with it. It has gotten me through some rough snow storms and rain washed muddy roads. They are very efficient and reliable vehicles. Go check out what the locals drive in the ski towns and you will be surprised.
The wife and I picked up a 2022 Outback Wilderness last weekend. Its a badass suv. Looks amazing inside and out and its super comfortable. We live in FL and its super flat here but driving on the sandy beaches and getting out the trenches is easy work for the Outback without sacrificing all the comfy amenities. We like camping and hiking and there isnt a place we cant go with the Outback here in FL. Only complaint is the 6 speaker audio system. It just plain sucks. First upgrade is the audio.
Ryan thank you for taking the Wilderness on a little adventure. I was impressed with its ability to direct power to the wheels that weren't spinning. I have watched the regular Outbacks and the like spin their wheels - going nowhere. Excellent job on the editing and Karleen adds to the episode.
I'm watching you from Germany. I'm so jealous of the cool cars you have in the USA. We don't have any 4Runners and the Outback is only a standard model without a turbo engine. Your videos are wonderful! Thank you so much for that!
In America, we do get some pretty cool 'adventure' oriented rides. There are lots of places to have fun around here and millions of people live on dirt roads out in the country.
I was just laying here on the couch selling an outback to my wife.... when in the first 30 seconds, I recognize the spot where we cur our christmas tree! Then proceed to notice the trail system they're using is in our back yard! Great video, great review!
I have a 2022 Outback Wilderness and a 2015 4Runner so theses challenges were particularly fun to watch. I think they are both excellent vehicles with their own individual attributes. I would never be doing that level of off-roading. More mud , loose rock and lots of snow where both are very capable. Great videos!
You guys are the best! Thank you so much for this video!!! So well done. Excellent editing and production! As a Subaru sales rep and future Wilderness owner, I value this. I’ve owned a 4Runner and loved it... but for the value and performance....Outback all the way always!🙂
I don’t even own a Toyota but I do like the wheels 😊. I would totally put em on an older Hilux diesel if I had one, should have bought a JDM ‘runner while they were cheap here in British Columbia, oh well.
Seeing someone put the outback wilderness through its paces outside of a subaru press course was great. Excellent production quality and I hope subaru will loan you out more offroad vehicles in the future for these kinds of tests, far more capable than it looks
@@javar2r3ra Did we watch the same video? It doesnt have a dedicated super low gear, that's the only thing holding it back. I own one and take it anywhere my jeep can go.
@@ozzyakiro4734 yes we watched the same video. All you Subaru guys are the same, "if only it had" excuses. Like I said, it's a station wagon with all wheel drive, and you guys think it's a real 4wd. 🤣
This is exactly the test I was waiting, those are the only modern cars I am interested in, otherwise I'd have to go for an '05 pajero sport, and both outback wildernerness and 4runner trd pro are US-exclusive. Since I am from Europe, well done motor companies, you f us once again
Same here...wish I could get me a 4runner TRD Offroad over here in Germany - so far my 2018 Forester is holding up well tho when it comes to some more "serious" offroading...hoping to be able to upgrade sometime rather sooner than later
4runner I can live without, a Hilux or Isuzu with a bit of is a good alternative, but that we cannot get the newer turbo engined Subarus here in Norway /EU is just a shame..
I just bought my daughter a 2022 Outback Wilderness, she loves it. I paid just over 49,000 with an added hitch, a little bumpier tire, plus the trade in of my daughters older Subaru. Subies rock!
Impressive performance by the Wilderness. But hey, if you're serious about off-roading, come on, the 4Runner is very tough to beat. If your definition of off-roading is a wide track made of gravel, the Wilderness model seems to be very adequate.
I bought a new 4Runner Sport V8 back in 2004. Little did I know that I would still be driving it every day in 2021. Over 200,000 miles with zero problems - and I'm taking it on a 2,000-mile cross-country trip next month. The biggest issue with my 4Runner is that I really want to get a new vehicle soon - but I can't find a good reason to buy one. My best advice to anyone who is thinking of getting a 4Runner is to make sure and get all the options you want, and get the right color because you are probably going to live with it for decades.
@@zzanatos2001 guess gas is cheap enough in the US that going for something more efficient like the Outback isn't really necessary. $4.90USD/gallon (3.78L) here in Vancouver BC. Makes gas guzzlers pretty painful. You are definitely getting your dollars' worth out of your 4runner, which is awesome.
@@bradcomis1066 that about what prices are like here in california. i just paid over 5/gallon the other day for premium. lots of the country is still pretty cheap in the 3 dollar range though. all depends where ya live
We can realistically expect gas prices of over $6 in the near future with Sippy Cup Sleepy Joe skuttling the newly gained energy independence of the United States in favor of buying the same amount of fuel from competitors overseas. Databyter
Offroading is a valid test, but not enough emphasis in reviews about how well Subaru handles slippery roads. The amount of control I have is crazy. Big open parking lot in the middle of winter, making sharp sudden turns, never losing control. Almost boring. Any of my other vehicles and the backend is trying to slide out or understeering. The 4x4s are clawing their ways out of the ditch while the Subarus never get in the ditch in the first place.
and for that reason, it will still be successful. wildly so in the PNW. I could see people having one Outback Wilderness as a daily and maybe a vastly customized rock crawling Wrangler, or just one 4Runner. and i think going either route is perfectly valid.
It's not about people, it's about uses. I wouldn't want the 4Runner for a 125-mile commute in "mountain driving" conditions (i.e. anything is possible), but I also can't imagine the Subaru on anything more than an easy dirt road. The CVT is a PITA in the best conditions and it doesn't have any low gearing. Subaru claims 8.5" of ground clearance, but that is the clearance of the entire underbody. The stock 4Runner is 9" (ish?) minimum ground clearance -- i.e. a single low point. Further, approach, break over and departure angles are what you would expect in a car. One is a truck that drives fine on road, one is a car that can be driven in dirt. If you have a long daily commute and expect to travel extensively off pavement, you need both.
I’m loving this battle. But the Subaru still made it ;) And can we just talk about that turning radius? If there were dirt roads to my office , I would so be in the 4Runner camp. Maybe I should change jobs. I love both vehicles!
I've rented 4Runners often while traveling and never fully enjoyed the driving experience or ergonomics. Nice room for extra people and camera gear but not exciting to drive. Bought my son a Crosstrek Sport and was thoroughly impressed with the attention to detail and driving experience. Whether driving canyon roads to the beach or going skiing the Subaru is a very fun and comfortable car to drive.
I had a 4x4 Tacoma a few years ago for work and it was not exactly fun. The seating position was uncompromising and road noise was bad. I definitely respect their pedigree and reliability but man, it’s hard to like one after using it for awhile
No doubt, suburbs drive well. then again, one is a car, one is a body on frame truck, so to be expected, especially given the weight difference. The other thing to consider is the 5th gen 4 runner reviewed here was last redesigned in 2011. Pretty crazy it’s a 10 year old model that has only had the most minor changes.
I’m going outback all day. They both handle the terrain and the fuel economy it’s much more realistic on the outback for a daily driver. The reality is, most people who buys these vehicles are not driving through that type of terrain.
No thanks. There's a reason most offroad Aussies stick with Nissan Patrols, Land cruisers Hiluxes etc. No bash plates that's a bad day CVT off roading is asking for premature death that's why Toyota won't budge for the Truck class anyone that knows there grit of actual offroading and not trail driving knows there's a minimum requirement for ground clearance and Subarus don't have that
@@Tallnerdyguy i think more people get them for the bulletproof factor and resell value. Subarus lose there value pretty quick conpared to a 4 runner or tacoma
I’m impressed with the Subie! As I live in the city and like a vehicle that I can use to access trails on occasion with no issues I’d go with the Outback.
Oh no, it's so bad to " awoken" to the problems facing minorities and the LGBTQ community, I'm sure Jeep has only straight white Americans that drive them.. THE HORROR👹
@@BoleDaPole I know so many lesbians with Jeeps. I know Bill will be disappointed. And if the worst thing you can call a Subie owner is “woke" I’ll take it. I’m happy past owner of an Impreza Sport and current owner of a 2015 WRX. Call me “Woke as F***”. 😊✌🏾🖖🏾✊🏾⛩🕉
The 4 runner is king except for mpg but the Subaru did better than expected. Put the same all terrains on the Subaru and you got perhaps the best adventure all arounder
@@Rodisflawless yeah. I own a car with a CVT. It is awesome on the road and whatnot. I have no real complaints. But slow driving or any driving that would involve working the tranny....yeah, not a good choice
Impressed by the subie! If i would be going for a full off-road adventure/project i'd choose the toyota of course. But If i'd just be an off-road&camping adventure amateur i'd go for the subie for sure.
Yeah my only beef with the outback wilderness is it really expensive for The fact that it’s still doesn’t have a normal automatic transmission, no real four-wheel-drive. Subarus thing is being cheap but capable enough, the outback is capable but not cheap.
@@jpc3984 Yes and honestly those CVT's scare me. I don't think I'm ready to trust my $40k on something that might hand grenade and leave me stranded 1000 miles away from home.
@@frankish5314 The Wilderness Drivetrain is warrantied for 6 years or 60,000 miles. Subaru is standing behind their new CVT. This is the CVT used in the Ascent which is tow rated for 5,000 lbs. If your gonna have CVT problems for your usage, chances are you will have them within that Warranty period. That is huge and worth 40K in my opinion. Databyter
I love this channel. One of my favorites for sure. Having owned a 4Runner TRD OR in the past, I wasn't surprised that it tackled everything without issues. However the Subie did surprise me. I didn't think it could make it. Awesome job
This just proves that a subaru does pretty much all you would ever need. If you do anything more than that you should just be getting a dedicated off roader at that point
You mean everything you would ever need. My last camping spot needing 4WD I would have never made it out with a Subaru. 0 percent chance. And yes I’ve owned an Outback recently.
@@veganpotterthevegan all I'm saying is it's better than your average outback. Hell no it won't do hardcore off roading, but it's still pretty darn impressive. Throw some KO2s on it and it would do even better. You'd have to be a little off in the head to believe its on the same level as a true 4x4.
I went back and forth for a few months between Outback and 4 runner. I bought the Outback XT and very happy I did. I live in Nevada and go off on trails for hiking and mountain biking. Longs drives are more enjoyable with the Outback vs my SUV I had.
That 4Runner is definitely the benchmark. I can’t believe how well that Subaru did. I just picked up a 2018 outback with the 3.6R. It’s really a great vehicle
What kind of fuel economy do you get in the outback? Looking to replace my wife's Legacy, and weighing economy vs power for occasional trips to Utah and Colorado.
@@forkthepork I get between 23.7 and 24mpg combined. It’s a pretty big vehicle with a pretty powerful flat six. So it’s actually not too bad. The lack of high mpg is definitely worth that extra power
You definitely showed at the end of the video that driving skill and experience has as much to do with off roading as the vehicle. So yes crawl control is a cool trick.
I have an Outback and 4Runner... the Outback is an unbeatable road car especially in snow country. The 4Runner is a great off-road machine. The Outback is not a serious off-road machine. The Outback can handle light off-road situations just fine, but that CVT transmission will burn up if you aren't careful. Don't get an Outback and try to follow Jeeps and 4Runners. You will burn and bash it up pretty fast...
Agreed that Outback is unbeatable road car with off road capability. I've had a 2010 for years and a 2019 replacement with no CVT issues whatsoever while towing a boat with the 2010 for years on end. That said the 4Runner is more truck like and it shows off road.
I'm a former Rubicon owner (loved it), current 4runner owner (love more) but may move to the Subaru. Throw some BFG ATs on and that vehicle will really shine. With much better gas milage than my last and current vehicle (though little less cargo space than 4runner).
Interesting comparo. I was expecting the 4Runner to trounce, but the Subie did quite well (and I own an Outback). For "heavy lifting," I'd still pick the 4Runner, but for more moderate adventures combined with daily driving, the Subaru looks to be a fine choice as well.
I just found out this amazing channel a few days ago and I have already watched so many of your videos and I seriously love them you guys are doing amazing job .
The Subaru: more comfortable, better mileage, cheaper, easier to park, cheaper to insure And it hangs with a trd 4runner on trails that most of it's owners will never endeavor to take on .. And on the tires it came with! Big win in my books. Guaranteed that 4runner gets even worse mileage with that wheel/tire package...
That 4 Runner has a bullet proof rep not to mention you hardly lose any money when you sell it might even make a profit these days...if the Subaru reliability is close to the Toyota it should be a no brainer for most...
I think one thing people are forgetting is also that the subaru is sort of pushing its limits to do this kind of stuff. Yes you CAN do this with the Subie, and its great that it can handle this kind of stuff from time to time, but... If you did this regularly with your outback it would definitely pop some rivets. Where as the 4Runner is made for this and is not pushing any limits at all.
Great video as always Ryan. I greatly appreciate your work in taking these vehicles in real life situations that many of us use them in. Far more informative than the reviewers that never venture off the pavement.
I have a 2022 Outback Wilderness. I would not trade it in for anything. Good fuel economy, turbo, and pretty capable AWD. I have taken my Subaru to gnarlier places than in this video. No sweat. Almost 3ft of snow, deep mud and severe grades. Love this channel, great content.
Thanks Ryan for a great review!! I’ve been waiting for The Wilderness and you just demonstrated that it has more capabilities than I’ll ever need. Subaru has hit a home run with this.
I'm actually really impressed with the Subaru. I knew the 4Runner would handle all these with ease, also great choice on the new tires and wheels, I love that color combo. But I did not think the Subaru would do as well as it did. Really, unless you're regularly doing trails this difficult or harder, the Subaru is a great choice, because it (probably) does literally everything else better than the 4Runner, and is much easier, comfortable, and economical to live with. (I have a 5th gen 4Runner with all terrains, BTW, and I drive with a light foot and do mostly highway at 70 mph or under, and I typically get about 20.5 MPG with it) That said, I wouldn't buy a Subaru, because I don't like their engines, and I'm still not sold on the CVT. If they ever get around to updating their engines and putting in say an 8 or 10 speed auto, I'd be a potential customer.
The engines and the CVT keeps me away from Subaru as well....or at least if they'd offer a manual transmission they might get my interest but the CVT in itself keeps me away. They're cars are capable in certain models like the Outback Wilderness, its not 4x4 rock crawling vehicle of course but for most of us who just drive down some gravel and dirt backroads to a camping spot occasionally, the Subaru would be a great fit for those duties, as well as snow/ice.
@@somethingelse9535 Nothing wrong with them other than the fact they still have the same power outputs they've had for what 20+ years...although good for snow/ice as they don't have as much power to just sit there and spin the wheels like today's high horsepower/torque crossovers do. They had issues with overheating and cylinder head warping did they fix those problems in the newer models? I think those were issues in the early to mid-2000's? They've come quite a ways with their CVT's as shown in some recent videos with the Wilderness models.
@@wildbill23c The only real issue with them were the 2.5L NA motors from 2002 to around 2005 with head gaskets. Which at worst was a gradual thing, not a leave you stranded fault. (the fix is to use the gasket from the Turbo model). Otherwise Subarus are extremely reliable. If you want a modern car with old used forever motor designs, try Toyota. There's a reason Toyota and Subaru stick with a design.
@@somethingelse9535 I've been eying the new Subaru Outback Wilderness lately. I wanted a Ford Maverick AWD Fx4 but they're so backed up with orders, and I'm not all that fond of a turbo replacing a larger displacement engine LOL. So the Outback Wilderness might find itself in the driveway in the next year or so.
Subaru has had me thoroughly impressed as of late. Their attention to detail and everyday focusing is great. I'm bummed they didn't put the turbo in the Forester Wilderness, or bring back the XT, but I'm sure it's on the horizon now that Foresters have taken over as the top sales vehicle for them.
It’s very impressive. It only needed 1 quart of oil to top it off this time. And the cvt went out on his way back home instead of on the trail. Very impressive indeed.
Actually this model uses smaller rims and taller tires designed to hold more air, that can be aired down, which makes a TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE when going over rocks and stumps. The tire deforms over the obstacle and grabs it like a glove. I get why reviewers don't air down, but people going over challenging roads do, and carry either a small air tank or an electric pump with them to re-air at the highway. It really makes a big difference and most serious AT or AT light tires are designed to be aired down with less chance of slipping a bead. Databyter
@@javar2r3ra I wouldn’t call it “pathetic”. All things considered, the Outback is a car posing as an SUV. So with stock tires and a CVT that cripples it due to its lack of a low-range gear. Getting up that corse was pretty gnarly. There’s some CUVs that can’t do that.
Thanks for confirming my decision that I still want to trade in my 2" spacer lifted 2018 Outback 3.6 for a 6th gen 4Runner when they finally come out. Toyota fanboy here. The Outback certainly has done a better than expected job on trails but I just want that 4Runner, can't afford the gas on the current one.
Agreed. It was the first thing I changed on my 4R. Toyota really should be selling these with more capable off road tires, but that might cut into sales of the Pro version.
In these tests the Subaru kept up with the 4-runner and did quite well and I thought the challenges were very difficult. It’s still not as capable obviously but it seems like it’s a significantly better than a basic outback or forester. Very impressive.
My Forester Touring with a 2 inch lift from Ironman 4X4 and the Falken Wildpeaks can do as much as a Forester Wilderness. Sadly you can no longer get skid plates from Subaru. Ralitek had the best skid plates on the market, (my opinion). But for any serious off roading (if you don’t have a Wilderness trim), you’ll need to install an additional engine and transmission cooler. My wife will Not let me take her Outback on anything more than light off roading (like her parents’ 3 mile long driveway in MT), but she’s ok when I do a bit more in my Forester. For serious off roading, we take our 4X4 pickup.
Just bought a 2021 Crosstrek Sport. I immediately lifted it 2" and put on a set of Toyo ATIII's and a skid plate. It handled Moab without a problem but I stayed off the more aggressive trails. All this in a much more agile and fuel friendly vehicle .. been averaging 30 mpg.
As someone that off-roads his subaru a lot in Utah, it's not really keeping up. It definitely could on these trails though. I'm disappointed they picked Geolander tires for the car.
@@veganpotterthevegan Tires can completely change the characteristics of nearly any vehicle. Sometimes with my WJ, I wish I had bought a set of MTs before I ever lifted it and just drove the heck out of it. Now I have a small lift and 31" MTs and I can go way more places than I ever imagined. 33s here I come!
That CVT is why I’m a “bitter clinger” when it comes to my 2013 Forester. As a great patriot once said, _”From time to time, the Tree of Liberty must be watered with the transmission fluid of CVT-equipped Subies.”_
Much respect for the subaru's but let be honest that 4Runner is made for strictly off-roading and it was not even driven to its full potential. Toyota for the win.
Subaru is a comfortable safe AWD vehicle. However that outback with the same kind of tires as on the 4 runner may perform a little better for the intended test. We know. Subaru hasn't built a real 4x4 suv yet. Up to now It's an excellent AWD.
@@housco11 your right is it a good vehicle nothing taken but... it is still not a full 4x4 meaning that in a tight situation would you take a Subaru out in the wild country hunting probably not. Most will have a truck or real 4x4 they just have different suspensions longer travel better shocks etc.. I'd take the Subaru to the beach though... they actually nice... just like the toyotas better
@@Adrian-jh5cr I agree with you in some points, and I think one of the weak points of the Outback is low travel due to independent suspension front and back, but the Subi with better tires a lift and suspension has a lot to offer. Having said that, more often than not, the driver makes a lot of difference, as seen in the video on the following link ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_RafVwMjOKY.html I own a 2004 Legacy but I wouldn't buy an Outback to do off road (for overlanding perhaps) I own an old Jeep for off road and a 426 Unimog for mix off road and some work.
@@Adrian-jh5cr Yeah properly equipped they can do a lot, considering they are AWD and have independent suspension, there's a guy here on RU-vid that travels around on a lifted forester with Ko2s and it does pretty well.
Nice, thanks for the insightful tips. Just bought a 2023 Wilderness and I am incredibly satisfied with it "out of the box". And FYI, I'm a 25 year veteran of the Old Dale District running over that terrain with 3 generations of Toyotas!
I own 2 vehicles. A 5th Gen 4Runner and and a 2020 Outback XT Onyx. This was a satisfying video knowing both can perform well. My 4Runner is my tow vehicle and offroader, and the Outback is a great road tripper for everything else. Really two different tools for two different purposes. I enjoy driving the Outback on roads and gravel roads more, and 4Runner makes easy work on the harder stuff with a locker and 4LO.
Outback huge interior quiet ride and safety features including near autonomous driving I used in traffic daily it’s a no brainer. It’s the only car I don’t get tired after 10 hrs. Audi Q7, xc90 in comparison. 4 runner is a truck, period. I’ll get one if I off-road more than 50 percent. Check the spec of outback rear leg room and head space vs ANY VEHICLE!
@@edwardlaw797 Absolutely 100% correct. As someone who purchased an Outback Onyx edition last year I considered the 4runner but ultimately gas mileage, and 4runners lack of blind spot monitoring did it for me.
Really, it showed that subaru is a joke off road. Now imagine it loaded with gear , along with your family that 4runners and jeeps tend to haul.. This thing was loaded and had problems. They just need to get rid of cvt or make more Manual transmission. If they are concerned about gas, then make a more efficient engine. But honestly I did harder stuff than that this weekend in my gladiator ecodiesel, and it gets better mpg than both , has more torqe, more room, and latest tech and comfort., ps, I pulled one out of sand at Lopez lake sunday.lol.
@@taraaaron1242 Jeeps are basically purpose-built for off-roading. Subarus are made for every-day driving with off-road capabilities. Not everyone likes the utilitarian styling of the Jeep, and that's fine. The Jeep is also a lot more expensive, so that's a consideration. My Forester Sport has done an amazing job with everything I've thrown at it, including driving in snow up to the bumpers. I will agree that the CVT is a weak-point, but as far as CVT's go, it's actually pretty good.
Great review!. I would say the deciding factor for getting an AWD over a 4x4 is usually MPG. The wilderness edition was definitely impressive and I think it did great!. The biggest issue that isn't shown in the video is heat. Here in the California desert that CVT will overheat very quickly when pushed up climbs. Dealing with that much wheel spin and climbing over an extended period of time has proven to overheat the Subaru CVT in our experiences. I do not doubt that wilderness will do a 40% grade... the real question is... for how long!
Exactly right. Great vehicles, but unfortunate they used a CVT. Even automatics without dedicated coolers can overheat in sand and snow. Having 4lo helps that significantly. The CVT just cannot provide the torque to overcome the braking force on the spinning wheel. The whole X mode system is fighting itself braking the slipping wheel to simulate a diff lock and the whole time it’s putting more heat into the CVT. If you did this often you would run into problems for sure. Heat is the killer of any automatic or CVT.
I have a 2020 Forester and I love it. I don’t do a lot of off roading but I do wish to do it more. My pick is the Outback since I’ll probably use it more as a daily/ family car than an off roader. But I must say 4runner has been my dream to have and honestly I’m rooting for it but the fuel economy is going to be a big deal for me.
The Wilderness seems like a great value at 39K while the prices on 4Runner is crazy high, for long term purchase the 4Runner still reins due to resale value. I'm sure Subaru will make changes every year/other year so the re sales won't be nearly as high long term.
It isn't just resale value, it is also reliability. The Toyota and pretty much every one in their family has a life span of about 400K and beyond for many. And that is with regular maintenance and very few major repairs.
@@gabrielreyes8476 Exaggerate much? Real stats have been analyzed on the topic, only about 4% of 4Runners make it to 200k miles. About 5% of Chevy Suburbans make it to 200k miles, by comparison. Normal people don't keep cars much beyond 100k miles, but almost every manufacturer has examples of cars that make it to a million miles, or darn near it, including Subaru.
@@mechmat12345 Could care less about your "stats" and I never exaggerate; I'm speaking from real world experience. I have an uncle who still drives his 1986 Corolla. Currently, almost 780k miles on it. Never a major repair. My sister's 1992 4Runner SR5, 520k on the clock. Never any major repairs and still runs flawlessly. My neighbor's 2001 Avalon, over 600k on the clock. Never a major repair. Currently a garage queen, but still runs flawlessly. I'd like to know what you consider "normal". Yes, every manufacturer has examples, but in the real world, not on paper, Toyota's and Honda's are proven to last outrageous lengths of time. Subi's included.
Having owned 4 Runners, Land Cruisers, and Subarus, the Outbacks are far more comfortable and economical to drive over long distances than the 4Runner. The 4Runner is more capable when things get really nasty, but that usually represents a very small amount of driving over the life of the vehicle. Land Cruisers are the best overall, but very costly to purchase and operate. The Outbacks drive more like cars with really good trail handling characteristics and the Wilderness only improves that. I'd get the 4Runner for towing and heavy trail use, but I'd get a Wilderness for everything else. It's a better all around package for touring and easy to medium off road use.
On road, in normal life, if you own a certain size trailer, then, well, only the Toyota is “capable”. No matter if you never go off road or do that every day.
@@JeepCherokeeful Most of the Subaru crowd won't pull anything larger than a small trailer or a teardrop. Roof tents are super popular with them as well as the roof is rated for the weight. Even 4Runners and Jeeps aren't great for towing. That's what a Tundra or a F-250 or F-350 trucks is for, and diesels models are even better. There's no such thing as one universal all around vehicle and it's best to weigh your needs and buy accordingly.
I was looking to buy a 4Runner but found a used 2018 Outback Limited for $20k with low miles and clean title. Currently waiting on Toyo at3 tires and 2” lift kit on it 🤷🏽♂️.
I've had 7 Subaru's and can say I was not impressed when the CVT came about. But have racked on 366xxxkms on the last couple and never had one issue and I use them off road all the time also. The 4 runner is definitely the better grunt for extreme off road , but for the lower price , better milage , better highway driving and all-around great overlander, I'll stick with the Outback.. I've also upgraded to the Falken Wildpeak AT3w and they are a great tire also have the 2" lift whick helps alot off road ..i wish when the do these comparisons that they would outfit both vehicles with the same tires rather than just upgrading one
It would depend on what type of offering I would do. If I was going down to Moab I would probably take the Toyota. But if I was taking a light off-roading in natural forest I'll probably take the Subaru.
I really wish Subaru would've spent their time developing an auto transmission instead of throwing their CVT into everything. The CVT was the biggest reason why I got rid of my Crosstrek (that and it's horrible power out put). Got into a WRX and it's great, but when it's time to grow up and get a family car, it's probably going to be a Toyota.
Agree but offer this counterpoint: I just sold my Outback 3.6R due to concerns with frequent towing and the CVT (had one replaced under warranty). Bought a 4Runner and took it on a trip last week with the camper. The five-speed AT was hunting constantly so I had to use manual select mode. It was still a compromise and loud getting over Sonora Pass in 2nd and 3rd gear. The gearing was truly annoying compared to the CVT. Never thought I'd say this about the CVT. Still glad to not have the mechanical hassles of our Subaru though.
The CVT is horrible on the crosstreks especially the 1st gen. That and the gutless 2.0 is the reason why I'm selling mine soon. The only good thing about these cars is that they hold their value extremely well especially in the north east.
Crosstrek is great for doordashing. You know, potholes, paved asphalt street hills and the ocassional gps mapping thru an unpaved rural road on a long dried up lake bed with rain divots.
I'd take the Subaru because I know that it is more than capable for the kind of trails that I would be on. Also, the fact that the vast majority of my driving would be on paved roads makes it an easy choice.
I'm sure the 4runner is the superior performer but it really invalidates any comparison when the tires on the 4runner are significantly better. Why bother if you're not keeping things equal where you can?
@@javar2r3ra Would you like to play basketball in High heels vs playing in Basketball shoes? Put snow tires on the Outback, and Off Road tires on the 4Runner and then lets do a street run on 6 inches of snow and see which one handles better?
Idk why but Subaru never gets a Fair game. Always needs to stand up against 4x4s or clearly more off-road capable cars... Subaru should get compared to Audi quattro,Volvo Cross country and so on.
@@marcymcsheehan3579 dude you literally could put fucking highway tires and steelies on the 4runner and it would still walk over the subiewooo in mud or rocks
Just bought a 2021 TRD Off-Road Premium. Loving it so far. Need to find some winter tires and wheels for our deep snow in the snow belt where 20" over night is not that uncommon.
Jim, Toyo Open Country ATIII are incredible. I had them on my 4runner and so do several other friends. I would drive 1200 mile trips with them , no noise either.
This highlights one big problem with reactive traction control systems as opposed to locking differentials: by the time the system reacts and applies the brakes, all the momentum is gone.
Agreed. TCS is suited to slippery roads, rather than offroading. Lockers/LSDs are suited to offroading or flat dragstrips, rather than slippery crowned roads. Selectable lockers, combined with TCS, should be fantastic. I want to try a new Rubicon Selectrac.
@@RKmndo It's really too bad more manufacturers don't include a proper diff lock on their "soft roaders". It would make them far more capable off road adn still allow for traction control to provide excellent handling on-road while in 4wd!
@@Gyppor Yeah. Suzuki offered a selectable "locking" center diff on their inexpensive FWD/AWD SX4. A selectable "locking" axle-diff can't be that expensive for the rear. Ford does it for the Bronco Sport Badlands. Toyota does it for several TRD models. Jeep does it for Rubicons, Mojaves, and Trailhawk Cherokees. My other issue with a lot of modern, supposed "offroad-capable" vehicles, even many 4WDs with 4Low, is their fragility, or their vulnerability to trail damage. Low and plastic bumper covers, airdams, and rocker covers don't belong on an offroad-capable intentioned vehicle. Low receiver hitches either. I know that crash standards have to be met, but a Wrangler meets them and is still available with OEM steel bumpers and metal rocker protection. Skids should also be available as OEM options/accessories if they're advertising the vehicle as off-pavement capable, IMO. Example: Suzuki doesn't put a skid on their DR650 dualsport moto, but they DO offer an OEM accessory skid. Subaru could make some more profit by expanding their offroad/overland accessory offerings, like Mopar does for Jeeps, especially now that Subie came out with this "Wilderness brand". I'd like to see more OEM winchmounts too, even if they have to be multi-mounts to still meet crash standards. I don't like the huge rims and low-profile tires used these days either, but those are probably for blowout safety reasons.
Now that the video is over... I am glad I got to watch it... Here for the channel first and foremost... But, Carlena, Ryan, Subie and the Mighty 4Runner, make it way more enjoyable... Oh and yeah... I'd still take the 4Runner!!!!
I have a 2016 outback and I followed a bunch of friends in lifted trucks out way on a farm and they told me to leave my car behind because it wouldn't make it.. I made it no problem... they were all very impressed.
On 12/11/22 I bought a 19 Forester Touring from Carter Subaru in Shoreline WA. My “new” Subie had only 4,700 miles. I was so impressed with the staff at Carter, that the 3 hour drive was worth it. My Forester is a Certified Subaru. We get 5-6 feet of snow every winter so I was looking for a low mileage Forester for myself at a good price and light colored exterior. Mine is Sephia Bronze with Saddle Brown interior. It’s a beautiful Forester. The previous owner put on Michelin Cross Climate tires. I’m very impressed with the traction from the tires. The only reason why I bought my Forester is because of how well my wife’s 19 Outback handles all road conditions. My wife’s Outback still has factory tires (her Outback only has 21K miles), so we’ll be driving my Forester to MT for a mini family reunion over New Years. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares with our Outback for our MT road trip. I hate the Stop Start function and the Drivers distraction on my Forester so I have to disable it every time. But I love everything else about my Subie. This spring I’ll be adding a Ironman 4X4 2” lift and skid plates from Ralitek . I’ve already added a K&N intake, mud flaps, WeatherTech window vents, bug shield, and full floor mats (in brown). When it gets warmer I’ll have it pinstriped. I will also be adding a FlowMaster exhaust. I’ve got a dashboard cover on back order.
Great review. I had a 2011 Outback that I loved. Great fuel economy, and light off-road capability, excellent awd system for driving in the snow (one of the best out there). I am glad to see the Wilderness version is living up to the hype. I am impressed that the Outback could handle (not with ease) those rough trails. The 4-Runner did as expected. You can’t go wrong with the Toyota, but the Outback smokes it on economy and handling. Really, I wouldn’t be trying to decide between the two vehicles. The 4-Runner is a truck, super rugged, and compares best to a Jeep or a Bronco. For the crossovers, I think Subaru wins against all the other unibody vehicles. Well, maybe the RAV4 Adventure it’s it’s arch rival (But Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is King). That trail test would be more applicable than this, but is great to see the Wilderness can almost keep up with the 4-Runner. The Outback is like a Swiss Army knife. It’s just does almost everything you need it to do.
I wish you would have put the same tires on the Subaru just to take that out of the equation. The forerunner has some obvious advantages but the Subaru did well for what it is!
@@lengue2001 This Subaru comes with off-road ish tires. Not true all-terrain tires like the wild peaks K02's. And at any rate it would be a better comparison on the same tires regardless of whick ones they are.
Even if the Toyota had the Yokohama tires, it would still have the advantage of taller/wider tires. The tread would also have slightly larger blocks and gaps, to keep it in proportion. It would fall somewhere between the Subaru factory tires, and the Falken Wildpeak tires. Not as good, but still better than the size on the Outback.
In a nutshell: the Outback gives you up to ~90% off-road capability while dedicated off-roaders sacrifice alot to get you that next 10%. Expanded version: the Outback is not a "rock crawler", it simply cannot produce low end torque delivered via a locking diff. But what it does do is give amazing off-road and deteriorated conditions capability via full-time AWD that's symmetrical, with minimal compromise to everyday use, in a very reliable package that's far more efficient than a truck/Wrangler.
I watched this video about 2 months ago when I first started looking for a new car to replace my 2011 Outback 2.5i Limited. I had narrowed it down to these two models after watching a ton of videos and lots of forum threads. The engine in my Outback shit the bed 3 weeks ago. It was finally time to make a decision, so I went and test drove both vehicles. Ending up going with a 2022 4Runner Off Road Premium with the TRD wheels option. I choose it over the Subaru for a few reasons: The climate/heated seat controls are built into the screen on the Subie (this is super annoying!!), I preferred the styling, much more capable in off road scenarios, but mainly it came down to the build quality and reliability of the 4Runner. A well maintained Toyota can easily last +200k without any major repairs and they retain their value. Subaru makes great cars but mine was too unreliable, and it cost me $4k in repairs over the 3.5 years that I owned it. Only downside to the 4Runner is the gas mileage(I can get about 22mpg on the highway but usually stay around 18 around town) but otherwise no regrets. Hopefully this can help someone else with deciding which car to get.
Very good clip!! I'm so happy that the Outback Wilderness Edition can make it thru. However, the reliability and durability of Subie's CVT in this usage is an unknown. Automatic transmission seems to be a more reliable choice.
CVT's are great for commuting and getting better fuel mileage, they are terrible for anything else. Don't get a vehicle with CVT if you plan on leaving any asphalt or if you have a rough driving style.
Honestly i have. I'm struggling between getting the 4 runner beast but i need something more economic. I can do light overlanding on my 03 outback but need more.
haha, but now you know why people were waiting for this. The outback wasn't designed, but the new tweaks in wilderness stoof up very well to a trail legend.
I have been waiting for this just to justify the fact that I got a 2020 outback limited and slapped some Yokohama Geolanders on there... I wanted a 4Runner but wife vetoed. So I like to know I'm not completely in the dust vs an off road legend.
@Richard Moore but it is, locking diffs center and rear is superior to AWD it's undisputable. I'm not saying subies aren't capable off road, but it just doesn't compare to a traditional old school 4x4
@@Millirawk True and fair, but it isn't competing as a full time offroad capable vehicle. It is competing as a niche road tripping, commuter that can go off-road, carefully, now and then. Datanyter
@@Databyter Subaru doesn’t market their vehicles as commuters that can “go off road, carefully, now and then”. You’re 100% correct, that’s exactly what they are, but they market themselves as capable vehicles for people wanting an adventurous outdoor backcountry experience. And they’re not that.