Subaru Outback Wilderness vs. Ford Bronco Sport

The 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness is designed to go anywhere. It features standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, as well as advanced, dual-function X-MODE®. This versatile system makes your Outback adaptable with selectable driving modes like Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud. The Bronco Sport has similar tech for the trail as well as standard 4-wheel drive.

It’s safe to say both options will make excellent companions; however, which provides additional reassurance when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place? Well, the Outback Wilderness is built with a 9.5-inch ground clearance, while the Bronco Sport is available with an 8.8-inch ground clearance. With lower ground clearance, you may think twice about what trails the Ford can tackle.

The Outback Wilderness runs on a 2.4L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that gets up to 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. With that kind of output, you can power through the elements and hitch some extra cargo to your SUV. What will you tow with this SUV’s 3,500-pound towing capacity?

The Ford Bronco Sport gives you two engines to choose from, and neither is as powerful as the Subaru engine. The standard 1.5L engine only generates 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. Its 2.0L EcoBoost® engine offers a similar 250 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque; plus, it can only haul up to 2,200 pounds when properly equipped.

With all the adventures you have in mind, you’re going to need ample cargo space. Good thing both the Subaru and the Ford have over 32 cubic feet of trunk room for groceries, camping gear, or your 4-legged friends!

When it comes to maximum cargo space, the Outback Wilderness takes the cake. This model opens 75.6 cubic feet of space when the second row is folded. Think of how much stuff you can fit in that space! Kayak oars, coolers, umbrellas, fishing rods, you name it.

The Bronco Sport, on the other hand, produces 65.2 cubic feet of space with the second row folded, which will take some guesswork where packing is concerned.

Messes happen. Whether your pup shook off water and mud in the cabin, your 3-year-old spilled ice cream in the second row, or adventure time got a little more wild than usual, the Subaru Outback Wilderness makes it easy to leave without a trace.

The Subaru comes with StarTex upholstery, which is water repellant and stain resistant! Its integrated all-weather floor mats make cleaning up muddy footprints, rainbow sprinkles, or dog hair easy. On the other hand, the Bronco Sport equips cloth upholstery as well as carpet floor mats, which may be more susceptible to stains.

Whether you're out off-roading or running errands, you'll want to find the fastest way home. The Subaru Outback Wilderness can help you find it and guide you every step of the way. It's available with the STARLINK® Multimedia Navigation system.

It can provide you with turn-by-turn directions, making it easy to see where your next turn is coming up, thanks to its large 11.6-inch touchscreen display. This system also includes lots of features that'll make your drive more convenient, including wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.

The Ford Bronco Sport comes with the same smartphone compatibility and offers a navigation system. However, its standard touchscreen is eight inches, which reduces your visibility.

As mentioned, both SUVs have comprehensive infotainment systems and wireless integrations that make tuning into your go-to playlists, your favorite survival-themed podcast, or your latest audiobook obsession effortless.

This begs the question: which model allows for the best listening experience? The Subaru and the Ford both have six standard speakers and an optional advanced sound system. The Bronco Sport’s Bang & Olufsen® sound system features 10 speakers. The Outback Wilderness’ available Harman Kardon® premium sound system goes two steps further with 12 speakers!