Sorry for the random watermark in the corner, we usually use that to indicate videos not ready for release but this one escaped us! Yikes

I’m happy to see that the Subaru Outback has the “cat clearance” I’ve always desired. Great video, Alex!

Yes, Kittys should now be an official unit of measurement for ground clearance. It was quite impressive that the cat walked right under the car, on cue when you were talking about ground clearance. Love your reviews Alex.

Considering trading my Tundra for a Wilderness. I never tow or haul anything. Outback would just make a lot of things easier to do.

0:55 kitty approved

To me Subaru has always been best for snowy conditions and the extra power and ground clearance will only help that.

It has the ground clearance of a full-size cat. The big con of this being so high off the ground, but having a lower, more reclined seating setup is the reduced visibility forward. Your sight lines, sitting higher up off the ground, are angled down toward the ground more than when you are lower, but the dash and hood edges are still in the same place, making it harder to see the ground by your hood. Simple geometry. The sight lines were created for a Subaru Levorg, which is only about 4-5” off the ground, but they’ve added a whole 5” more. I’ll bet over a foot, possibly two of roadway are not seen in comparison to the Legacy. It’d be interesting to compare the two.

Love our Outback XT - one of the best driving, well built, high quality vehicles that we have owned.

I love it remains being called a wagon. Uniqueness, and a category on its own.

best car reviewer on KZfaq hands down

Thank you for your well done, informative video. I have a regular 2017 Outback that I recently went up an unimproved logging road with. After about 100 yards I realized I had made a mistake as the road was all washed out, but there was no way to turn around (a steep ravine on one side and a mountain on the other). I clicked the Xmode and it got me through without a problem. It looks like the Wilderness version will be even better.

"T-shirt Tags" dammit Alex, you are the best.

Capabilitywise, this car is more than what most people need unless you are a hardcore off-roader. The buying decision will mostly be the preference on the look, budget and fuel economy. If there’s a SHTF scenario, I will take this over a Jeep or Bronco for reliability, cargo capacity and mpg.

Personally, I think "gold" seatbelts would have been a step too much, and would just get dirty easier.

Cat Clearance approved lol

Alex is one of the very best car reviewers on the internet. Many, including myself, enjoy Alex's presentations as the most complete, well researched and enjoyable to watch reviewers across the wide spectrum of car reviewers and car enthusiasts. This review of the Subaru Wilderness is no exception. Regarding the Wilderness vehicles, the thought seems obvious that Subaru has diverged dramatically from their long held game plan. Subaru can proclaim themselves as providing love for the environment (as is the theme of their advertising) or they can push the Wilderness line of vehicles as being capable of travelling over terrain that is not meant for vehicular traffic. Subaru can love the environment or they can have disdain for the environment, but they cannot do both. As an added thought, the current Subaru Outback- especially the Onyx XT- is in many ways a very beautiful vehicle. With its graceful flowing lines coupled with its marvelous capabilities, the Onyx XT is really quite remarkable. The Wilderness vehicles, from an esthetic view, look like they were designed by a 6th grader with a crayon. The Outback's flowing lines are completely broken up and goofy, and the "go where no vehicle other than a Jeep has gone before" capability of the Wildernes makes no sense. Wilderness owners will perhaps have the feeling that they can go over rocks, untracked hills, valleys and rivers, but to do so they will be tearing up land that is meant to be pristine. Besides, there will be no grocery stores and quick stop stores in the "Wilderness". Once the Wilderness owners do get to a destination which is vastly more suitable to visitation by horseback, why would they want to sleep on top of their cars? The purpose of being in the wild is to enjoy the wild. That is hard to do on top of your car. It would be a long reach, for example, to roast that marshmellow over a crackling fire dangling from the roofrails of your "Wilderness". And, it would be a long step down to pee in the woods. One would have to attempt that maneuver from the roof of the car. Back spray would be unaccepatable. Although that 6th grader would love it. What were you thinking, Subaru?

Alex, I see you cleverly snuck the cat into this video, I predict the KZfaq Cat Video Algorithm® will drive views of this wagon video sky high. And speaking of wagons, you certainly made a cogent argument delineating the superiority of wagons over CUVs.

I love how you compare so many different aspects of the vehicles.

Probably the best car review channel I've found. Please continue to do what you do.

Great video as usual, Alex. The discussion of Subaru's AWD design and its advantages and disadvantages compared to others should be required viewing for both Subaru fans and the brand's detractors. Detailed and balanced. Kudos. Based on my experience with two KIA Sorentos over the last decade, if I were shopping in this category I'd opt for the Santa Fe over the Outback, as well. The Santa Fe's AWD design, identical to the Sorento's, offers a driver controlled center locking differential that I've found to be especially useful in adverse conditions such as deep snow. In fact, I'd reluctantly sacrifice the Sorento's occasional use third row and select the Santa Fe vs the KIA as well. Unfortunately, KIA has decided to drop the second row bench in favor of captain chairs from all but the lowest trims of the current Sorento, a decision that also means the 2.5L turbo engine cannot be combined with a second row bench. That's a deal breaker for me. Even so, while I'd opt for the Santa Fe, the Outback represents a tempting compromise for a substantial consumer segment whose priorities don't include serious off-roading but who do want a vehicle that can tackle comfortable commuter duty comfortably as well as longer trips that involves unpaved roads and well maintained trails. Moreover, while the Outback's AWD design isn't the most capable in extreme conditions, it's an excellent choice for families like mine who live in the Pacific Northwest where winters are often messy if not extreme.

Great review and haircut Alex!

1080i Prelim

Nice review thank you. I just got rid of my 2020 Land Rover Defender and leased a Wilderness Outback.

the AoA cat wants to ride shotgun for the test drive

This thing looks so industrial from the rear. I really like it.

1:00 ground clearance and cat clearance! 🐈‍⬛

Really like the sensible and objective review of this vehicle. You truly understand the target market for this car and are not trying to sell it as some super off-roader.

I always love when Beatrice makes an appearance.

The cat should be in more videos! 😩

Hi Alex I was waiting for this video great Video. Now my question is Alex what about the RAV4 2019 adventure how is it for comparing to the wilderness? Such as AWD off road deep snow?

Diggin the haircut. Makes the video more pleasant and interesting, and somehow, more credible 😀

Anyone else seeing the 1080i Prelim text?

Santa Fe, at least my 2019, has a locking center diff; makes a big difference in the slippery stuff.

There’s lots of cool looking Lifted Outback/Forresters out there...( I’ve entertained the thought on my XC70)..nah.....Wagons rule..

It would look a lot better if the black body cladding was done more like the old Isuzu VehiCROSS.

Hey Alex, for the Santa Fe I honestly could not find any deals for it (CA). The dealers are charging 5k to 10k markup over msrp so GL to anyone who can even find it for msrp.

Locking diff is $500. I’ll be adding it when I get my Ironman 2 inch lift. Pick up my 24 wilderness tomorrow. $4k off sticker. Take that Kia dealer who wanted over msrp.

Coming up on my 1st year owning my 2021 Outback.

I've been looking forward to this!

Thanks for the comparison to the Grand Cherokee. However, I didn't think there was a rear locker available on them, rather a limited slip differential, even on the Trail Hawk.

What is that 1080i Prelim on the upper right corner of the screen?

The main reason I have 2 Outbacks is because of station wagon styling.

I'm very satisfied with my 2019 Forester.

best review. thanks!

Subaru actually put on a nice oem wheel. I'd get those for my winter wheels on my subaru

Hi Alex, did you cancel your R1T preorder, or should we expect to see it later this year in your garage?

I really like this, and the fact I can tow my small boat with it. The only issues I have are, CVT (dealbreaker) and that at $40k plus, there are SO MANY other vehicles I’d rather buy…

In some countries they have a rare locking diffs for the Outback. Im curious if they will make this more universal one day.

Great Review

I find the lack of at least a rear lsd on the Wilderness perplexing. I spent some time in the late 2000’s using an ‘05 Outback XT fir pretty extensive backcountry trips in the west. It had a slightly larger than stock set of Geolanders on it and a RTT. With the auto trans, the rear lsd, and the really capable center diff they incorporated at that time it could put traction down so smoothly, even in situations where a tire was well off the ground. Granted it didn’t have the clearance of these new Outback’s, especially the Wilderness, it went to a lot of places with little drama. In fact, at the time, showing up at one of the first Overland Expos it was pretty clear people hadn’t really seen a RTT on a car before like that. Fast forward to today and with the rubber band like CVT, which I detest, not having a rear lsd, the traction control systems in these use the brakes which further hinder the rubbery feeling CVT. I think that has a lot to do with the lack of low speed finesse here you refer to. Add a front and rear lsd on this Wilderness and I bet it would be a pretty potent setup despite the CVT effects.

I had a vision of this review taking an epically dark turn when the cat, unknowingly, walks under the car

0:55 Aww cute cat. Has it been roaming the Mountain Garden for a while already?

Subaru comes from an off-road rally background. Yes, it does Off-road but it's designed to go off-road at speed, not slow crawls. I think many Americans are thinking jeep and truck off-road and not rally racing off-road. When you compare the Subaru to fast off-road driving cars then it's basically in a category with very few other vehicles. These were never meant to crawl over rocks but rather haul butt on gravel and dirt roads. In that, the Jeep will not keep up at all.

This I’ve been waiting for I only wish they could configure a third row seat in this but I’ll trade that for an actual full size spare

0:55 Outback getting Cat scanned. I like the Outback, station wagon or whatever.

And I thought it was just Priuses that needed cat guards!

Let's face it, most Wrangler owners have never taken them off road...and the furthest most people will go off road in their wrangler/bronco is the beach, or their driveway, or worse still, the mechanic's shop.

What do you guys think about the color? Just curious 🤔

I don't know how Alex made it, but he found a way to give facts about this car Ryan Douthit didn't give in his million videos about the Wilderness. You two ever tought of a collab? That'd be absolutely great.

Hey Alex, I haven't heard anybody talk about highway road noise with those tires, did you measure it?

This is the best car format ever. Its all you ever need. Aka audi allroad a6

What's better for off-roading? Outback or Forester?

Ultimately it is a great compromise. KO2 tires would make this even more capable. The street biased tires here are not ideal if you go off pavement a lot. I think the Outback is a great car, but you have to keep it in perspective of the Outback's mission. Snow bunny or River rafting and so is great. The secret camp site is easy to get too with this Outback but there are other choices too, but this is more car than a truck. I am glad Subaru made this.

1080i prelim.....?

Anybody else noticed how wide the hood opens? Never seen any hood open that wide.

1080i Prelim?

No limited slip differential from side to side? Is that new? Didn’t they use to have this feature?

I love station wagons!!!

A video a day? Pls do another multi episode series. Whatever segments!

Does the kitty cat come with it too? Lol!

You need to introduce the kitty to us! :D

Gold seat belts! I'm glad they didn't put gold seat belts in mine.

Wouldn't the Outback Sport be competitive with the Bronco Sport? The Bronco Sport has less ground clearance at 8.8". The Outback Wilderness does have a skid plate. Thanks for the awesome review.

Great review! I'm in the process of looking for a new vehicle right now that can be my daily driver and take me to campsites or skiing on the weekends. The Outback Wilderness may do the trick. Now, will my two 6'+ teenagers be comfortable in the back seat for a 10-12 hour road trip in the summer?

Great review as usual. Having owned five Subarus and living in the Pacific Northwest I’m a great fan of this car. However also as a retired tree hugger, I’m looking to buy a hybrid vehicle. Too bad Subaru does not have a hybrid outback. I’m strongly considering a hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe blue edition.

Orange seat belts and orange accents? I can happily do without both, thanks. Pick A color, and the gold is fine.

Get this or the soon to be released Forester Wilderness?

@Alex on Autos, Thank you for your awesome car presentations. There is a weaker engine version with 182 hp. I could find some videos which show that the weaker versions have much less off capabilities in comparison with the onyx and the wilderness. Can you confirm that?? Thank you and have a nice day, Tobias

Now is time to bring back Baja before Hyundai act like they invented this segment(the Baja Ridgeline combined)

No 360 camera option?

0:56 🚨😻🐈‍⬛😻🐈‍⬛😻🚨

Alex is that your hell kitty hanging out under the car??

Your explanation of low speed crawling vs this type of awd (brake managed) with no lockers is right on spot, and valide for all non-locker cars. The fact of braking wheels in order to go forward is quite wierd. If they could have electronically controlled clutch pack up front and rear it would be miles better as fully locking 2 wheels together does not brake the car momentum. These should be optionat even on subarus as being stuck in deep snow and the awd system not engaging is pretty frustrating. No need to be a full on off roader to appreciate great mechanical engineering.

Absolutely priceless when the cat just leisurely walked under the Outback!!! #CatApproved

More cowbell, more kitty, more cladding. What's not to like? How about the 2.3L Ecoboost has 310 hp, 350 lb ft torque and gets better mpg. Subaru silly boxer engines are not up to snuff. Nice station wagon but needs a better engine. I always enjoy your drive through the woods. 🙂

Bring the Ascent Wilderness Edition.

Jeeo GC doesn't have a rear locker, a Cherokee trailhawk does.

3:39, the 4runner has a ground clearance of 9.6” no?

That car checks so many boxes. Room for days, quite punchy, sips regular gas, can go about anywhere you'd normally go with a car if you don't offroad it...it's a good pick. However... That CVT transmission. If Subaru would offer a regular auto or a manual box on this, i'd buy one in a heartbeat. But I hate, hate, hate, hate CVTs...

Alex, a Jeep Cherokee has a true rear locker. The Chrysler 200 Dodge Dart based one not the grand Cherokee. You don’t need a wrangler or a grand Cherokee in the jeep lineup to get a rear locker. A REAL rear locker.

Love the wilderness went with the cheapest premium

The Blazer's interior was already outdated when it came out in 2019. IMO, that interior screams 2008.

Too bad that Subaru doesn't build a true small pickup truck. I bet they'd do well.

Does this come with a manual as an option?

no more cat accidents on highway.😂😂😂😂

My 2014 4Runner has 9.5 inches of ground clearance.

Alex on Cats

I have no idea why Alex and many other people think Outback and Grand Cherokee are competitors or even comparable. I owned both and there is no comparison

If I were in the market for a new crossover, I'd consider this if it didn't have a CVT or a dual clutch transmission. I saw one recently (a much older model year) and I liked how it looked.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner