2022 Subaru Outback Review | Philkotse Philippines

Subaru Philippines has been busy launching new cars this year. It started with the local debut of the seven-seater Evoltis last May, which was then followed by the facelifted XV in July. Then a month after, the arrival of the 2022 Outback was officially announced, a vehicle that’s arguably the most rugged-looking Subaru in the Philippines today. 

But, let me get this out as early as now, the rugged exterior is not the main highlight of this Subaru Outback review. The thing that makes the 2022 Outback stand out among other Subarus, and other vehicles in the local market today is its slew of tech features. That said, I can’t help but compare the all-new Outback to a student-athlete that has a ripped body build complemented by a sharp mind. So, what exactly can the all-new Subie offer to you? Read on to find out. 

The 2022 Subaru Outback comes with a rugged and aggressive exterior design that’s highlighted by prominent black claddings. It also comes with sharp design details as seen on its head- and tail-lights, and on its crisp character lines. Although, I find the exterior of the all-new Outback too aggressive, and it looks a bit too rough for my liking. You might argue that the rugged appeal goes synonymous with the Outback’s nature of being a vehicle that’s meant to go on an adventure. Yes, that point is valid but, toning done the application of the black claddings could have done the trick. 

2022 Subaru Outback

The front end of the 2022 Outback is fitted with LED headlights that are integrated with daytime running lights, which shares a bit of similarity to other Subaru vehicles. Note that the headlights are steering responsive that allows the rays of light to follow your steering input. If you point the steering wheel to the right, the headlights’ ray of light will also go in that direction. The front grille comes with a silver accent while the bumper houses the LED foglamps, and skid plate garnish. To add, the Outback looks like a larger XV, and a smaller Forester when viewed from the front. 

Prominent black cladding can be seen at the Outback's exterior 

The aggressive design continues to be seen at the side. You can see black claddings were integrated into the vehicle’s side skirt, and even on the roof rails. I like how Subaru added a black cladding on the roof rail but the one fitted on the side skirt is a bit over the top. A simpler black-clad design could be better. The all-new Outback also comes with power-folding side mirrors with LED turn signals and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Outback gets a set of distinctive taillights

The rear still gets a good amount of black cladding, a design continuity of the Outback’s aggressive and rugged appeal. What I like most about the Outback’s rear are the LED taillights that are fused with black details, which give it a smokey effect. It also has a roof spoiler with third brake light. 

The interior of the all-new Subaru Outback looks smart and trendy, which is primarily because of the massive infotainment touchscreen placed in the middle. The Outback also has a black interior theme with silver and glossy black trims. Unlike the rugged exterior, the Outback’s interior is somehow relaxed and streamlined. 

Look at that massive infotainment touchscreen

The steering wheel design is similar to other Subarus, and it is integrated with buttons for phone, audio, cruise control, among others. This Outback also comes with paddle shifters, a white-on-black instrument cluster, and Nappa leather seats that are power-adjustable for the driver and the front passenger. The center console has glossy black trim, which adds texture to the whole interior but the said material is fingerprint and scratch magnet.  

Second-row seats offer good legroom

Aside from a trendy cabin layout, the thing that the Outback can offer to you is space. It can accommodate up to five individuals with generous leg- and head-room for rear passengers. Up to three average-sized Pinoys can slide in the rear seats but the elbow room might be an issue. There are also rear aircon vents for more efficient cooling of the cabin. And oh, it also has a sunroof. 

Cargo space is not a problem

In terms of cargo, the Outback has lots of it. With the rear seats up, you can easily load a month’s supply of groceries of a wealthy family, or three medium-sized luggage, three to four icebox/coolers, five overnight bags, among others. In case you need extra cargo space, the Outback’s rear seats can be folded. You just need to pull the handle located on either side of the default cargo area to fold the rear seats.  
 

The infotainment touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The 2022 Outback has a lot of tech and safety features. To start off, its massive touchscreen measures 11.6-inches, and it is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The large touchscreen is also integrated with several vehicle functions like climate control. The X-Mode function can also be accessed through the infotainment touchscreen. Considering that, it takes quite a bit of time of getting used to when it comes to using the Outback’s large touchscreen. 

One of the smart features that the Outback has is the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), a tech that uses facial recognition to monitor where the driver is looking. It gives a warning when it detects that the driver is not looking on the road when driving. The DMS also remembers one’s settings for the car’s climate control, door mirrors, seat adjustment, and adjusts these accordingly when one enters the car. Up to five drivers can save their pre-set settings through the DMS facial recognition.

2022 Subaru Outback instrument cluster

It is also equipped with the car brand’s most updated EyeSight 4.0 technology. The updated EyeSight gets an upgrade with new features that are meant to make your drivers safer. Subaru’s updated EyeSight tech further improves its Adaptive Cruise Control as it now comes with Lane Centering Function. This helps to steer the Outback to keep it in the middle of the lane, whether the road is straight or slightly curved. Yes, the Outback can steer by itself, which is a feature that could lessen driver fatigue. 

I was able to test the said tech during my highway runs, and I was impressed at the precision of the Outback’s Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering Function. Although, this tech is not a pass for you to go autonomous driving. It’s just a driving aid, and you still need to keep your hands on the steering wheel.    

EyeSight 4.0 also has Lane Departure Warning that includes Lane Departure Prevention. This tech sort of makes the steering wheel vibrate a bit when the system detects that you’re about to cross the lane marking. The 2022 Outback can also steer itself away from obstacles to avoid a frontal crash through the Autonomous Emergency Steering. In case you’re wondering, I wasn’t able to test that feature for obvious reasons.

The Outback is powered by a 2.5-liter Boxer gasoline engine that delivers 186 hp and 245 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Outback is also equipped with a Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive.

The Outback's 2.5-liter gasoline engine delivers adequate power

During my time with the Outback, the first thing I noticed is that the driver’s seat has a good cushion and side support, which helps to give a comfortable drive in the city or in the open highway. It is also complemented by a steering wheel that feels not too light, and not too firm. It has the right balance, giving you enough feedback without stressing you too much especially when you need to take wide turns. 

The power delivery of the Outback’s engine is adequate, and it gives you enough push even when there are four people onboard the vehicle. The throttle response is also notable, which allows you to overtake slower vehicles on the expressway with confidence. Although, the old 3.6-liter power unit of the old Outback puts out more oomph for obvious reasons. However, the new 2.5-liter engine is more than capable to be a highway cruiser.   

The Outback can absorb road impacts well

The Outback can also absorb road impacts well, and it relatively gives you a smooth ride even when driving on dilapidated roads. A drive around EDSA was pleasant than usual onboard the Outback. Another thing is that this car has minimum body roll, and it keeps you in place on the driver’s seat when tackling tight or wide turns. 

In terms of fuel economy, I was able to get 7.7 km/l while driving at an average speed of 20 km/h around the city. On the open highway, the Outback registered 14.3 km/l while driving at an average speed of 80 km/h. 

2022 Subaru Outback

The all-new Outback, priced at Php 2,380,000, is more than just a rugged-looking vehicle that offers a lot of interior space. It’s a vehicle that comes with tech features that can aid you in having a safer and more pleasant driving experience. 

The EyeSight 4.0 could be considered a benchmark in terms of safety tech among the mainstream car brands in the Philippines. The Lane Centering Function is one of the many EyeSight features that take a step forward in the right direction in seeing smarter and safer cars in the local market. With that, and when you consider the amount of tech integrated into the 2022 Subaru Outback, it’s easier to justify its Php 2.38 million price tag.