Subaru Outback Is A Star With Its Best April Thanks To The Hot New Wilderness

The 2022 Subaru Outback is back on top of Subaru's all-wheel-drive SUV lineup again. Subaru of America (SOA) announced April sales, and the Outback had a record month and moved back on top as SOA's best-selling model.

In March, the hot Subaru Crosstrek was the best-selling model, but Outback edged out the hot subcompact by two model sales. Subaru retailers delivered 16,510 models to customers in April compared with 15,728 in April 2021 and a 5.0 percent increase.

The Outback has 49,482 sales in the first four months and nudged out the 2022 Crosstrek with 49480 models delivered to customers. The Outback is down 13.5 percent for the year, while Crosstrek is in positive figures, up 3.5 percent in 2022.

The up-and-down ride is due to the ongoing microchip shortage and supply chain issues. If not for the lingering problems, Subaru of America would likely be reporting record sales of the Outback.

The record April is partly due to the new Wilderness trim

Subaru launched the all-new rugged 2022 Outback Wilderness trim level for outdoor enthusiasts, and it's been a big hit with customers with active lifestyles. Subaru says customers are willing to wait for the longest to get the new outdoor-themed models.

Why are customers buying the Outback Wilderness?

What sets the Wilderness trim apart from the standard model are 9.5 inches of ground clearance (versus 8.7-inches), an off-road-tuned suspension, Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, an aluminum engine skid plate, and a steel rear differential skid plate.

The upgrades allow the Wilderness model to trek further and tow more. The 2022 Outback Wilderness will tow up to 3,500 lbs. vs. 2,700 lbs for the Outback with the 2.5-liter engine.

What is the price of the 2022 Subaru Outback and new Wilderness?

The 2022 Outback comes in eight trim levels and with recent price increases, the the base trim is priced from $28,820, Premium ($31,020), Limited ($35,470), Touring ($39,370), Onyx Edition XT ($37,020), new for 2022, Outback Wilderness ($38,870), Limited XT ($39,870), and Touring XT ($41,820). Pricing includes $1,175 destination and delivery fees.

What's next for the Outback?

For the 2023 Subaru Outback model change, the midsize SUV gets a refresh in the fourth year of its product cycle. The 2023 Outback receives a new front fascia, a more prominent grille, redesigned LED headlights and fog lights, and a more rugged front bumper cover. Subaru says the wheel arch cladding has been updated to improve functionality.

For the 2023 model change, Outback gets the latest version of EyeSight safety technology and a new wide-angle mono camera. Subaru also updated the Outback's multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The recently released Outback Wilderness does not get the new styling upgrades.

When does Outback get a redesign?

The complete remodel from the ground up will come in 2024 for the midsize SUV. Check out the full Outback report below.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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Photo credit: Subaru USA