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Subaru first capitalized on the usefulness of its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system a few decades ago. In a television commercial, the men’s Olympic ski teams from Italy and France were featured pushing their team cars stuck in the snow. The U.S. team men’s drives through the drifts in a wagon with ease and without stopping.

The Subaru then passes the Swedish women’s team, also stuck. In about a second, the Subaru driver stops, backs up the car and the women’s team gets in. A man in a passenger seat wearing a cowboy hat says, “Howdy, ma’am!”

However old and outdated the commercial is today, it worked. And Subaru has kept at it. It caters its wagons and crossovers toward active consumers who often drive in mountainous and in inclement conditions. It offers specialty kits for traveling safely with dogs.

For 2022, Subaru expanded its Outback lineup to further emphasize its appeal to buyers who venture deeper off-road. The Wilderness trim features 9.5 inches of ground clearance, a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, and re-tuned transmission gearing with revised front and rear gear ratios.

The 260-horsepower engine is propelled with a continuously variable transmission with an eight-speed manual transmission shifting mode.

The Outback Wilderness also has 17-inch wheels with a matte black finish, standard all-terrain tires, enhanced body cladding and synthetic upholstery. The increased ground clearance hampers gas mileage, with the Wilderness trim achieving an estimated 22 miles per gallon city driving and 26 mpg on the highway. The Outback Touring XT trim is rated the best in the lineup with 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway averages.

With its off-road persona, the Wilderness trim is further embellished. Consider: a dual-function front skid plate, 180-degree front view monitor, raised ladder-type and increased weight capacity roof rails in a black finish, and a full-size matching spare wheel and tire.

Notable exterior additions include anodized Copper-finish accents, an anti-glare hood decal in the matte-black finish, badges, headlight bezels and window trim with black finishes, and wilderness badges on fenders and rear gate. The Wilderness theme is continued by logos on the front headrests and all-weather floor mats.

Sometimes, too much technology and innovation get in the way of vehicles, particularly sedans. A return to simplicity would be welcome. It’s not the case for a utilitarian vehicle heading into the mountains or deep off-road with other wilderness considerations.

The rugged new trim also features a 10-way power driver’s seat including power lumbar support, 12-volt power outlet in the rear center console, 2.1A USB ports (dual) in the rear center console and LED fog lights with hexagon pattern and LED lights on the rear gate for cargo area.

Dark tint privacy glass, hands-free power rear gate, Illuminated inner door handles, rear center console A/C outlets, single-touch lifting cargo cover, shifter handle and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are all also standard.

With its spacious, efficiently designed interior, the Outback is a less pretentious option to rival sport utility vehicles. Its lower profile and comfortable balanced driving prompt confidence, particularly in the weather and road conditions in which the vehicle is touted.

Performance vehicles are mostly in the spotlight based on increasingly quick acceleration times and torque ratios. The Wilderness trim of the 2022 Subaru Outback will never satisfy speed freaks. Its performance when driven in the rain, sleet, snow or ice is its strength.

Subaru has also simplified the Outback’s purchase. With its lengthy list of features included and without any package options available, the Wilderness trim is priced at $36,995. The $1,125 destination and delivery charge push the tally to $38,120.

It’s a best-buy vehicle with one caveat: Owners may be called upon to find their inner Olympian to assist other wilderness enthusiasts in distress.

James Raia, a syndicated columnist in Sacramento, publishes a free weekly automotive podcast and electronic newsletter. Sign-ups are available on his website, theweeklydriver.com. He can be reached via email: james@jamesraia.com.

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