So, Subaru has an entire portfolio of great selling crossovers, but most likely the first product you think of is the Outback. For years, this has not only been one of their best-sellers, but it’s also their flagship that sets the bar for the rest of the models in many ways. That’s why this refreshed 2023 model is such a big deal. So, did Subaru improve on the winning Outback formula? Keep reading to find out!
What’s New for 2023
- Updated design all throughout the exterior
- New and updated features on the Interior
Trim Structure
LX -> S -> GT-Line -> EX
Detailed Exterior Review
The most obvious changes to this refreshed Subaru Outback can be found by looking at the exterior of the vehicle. The Outback retains the same overall design, however; the grille is larger, and the cladding has been updated and extended to make the Outback look much more rugged. Each trim will have a slightly different “face,” with more off-road oriented trims sporting more aggressive looks. The ground clearance on this Outback will be 8.7-inches on the mainstream trims and a whopping 9.5-inches on the Wilderness. LED headlights and fog lamps will be standard on all Outback trims, including a new sharper design with this refresh.
Heading to the side of the Outback, you will find each trim level with a different set of wheels, varying between 17 or 18-inch options depending on the trim chosen. Up to the mirrors, you will find standard blind spot monitoring on the Onyx trim and above as well as available auto-dimming on all trims. The side retains a similar design from last year, measuring in at 191.1-inches. Similar to the front end of the vehicle, more rugged cladding has been placed around the wheel arches to sharpen the appearance, which pair well with the standard raised roof rails. The rear of the car has not seen as many changes. LED taillights will continue to be standard on all trims, and towing is rated at 2,700 lbs for the 2.5i and 3,500 lbs, the most ever offered, on the XT.
The Outback will be equipped with Subaru’s long-lasting 3 year, 36,000 mile basic warranty and a 5 year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty. As Subarus are known for safety, the Outback for 2023 will come standard with all of Subaru’s basic EyeSight safety systems, which has been enhanced for this year. The systems include:
- Standard: automatic pre-collision braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and auto high beam headlights
- Limited trim and above: reverse auto braking
Next, we’ll head to the interior, where Subaru has continued to throw in some more updates.
To get inside this refreshed 2023 Subaru Outback, smart entry and push button start will be standard on the Onyx trim and above. When it comes to interior materials, the Base through Premium trims will be cloth only, the Onyx and Wilderness will come with a waterproof StarTex material, the Limited will have leather seats, and the Touring will be equipped with full Nappa Leather seats. The Base seats will be 6-way manual adjusting and 10 to 12-way power on the other trims with 2-way lumbar. Memory is offered with the Limited and Touring trims only.
Specs: Legroom: 42.8-inches | Headroom: 40.1-inches
The 2023 Outback will have a standard 4.2-inch digital display alongside analog gauges. Sitting in front of the gauges will be a leather wrapped steering wheel on all but the Base trim and heated on the Limited XT and both Touring trims. The Outback will come with a standard shifter and standard paddles on all trims.
Technology will be plentiful within the Subaru Outback’s cabin, starting out with standard automatic climate on and two-zone automatic on the Premium and above, with wireless charging as an option on all trims. Heated seats will be standard on the Premium trim and up, with ventilation on the Touring only. The Limited and Touring trims will come standard with a premium 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, while the lower trims sport a 6 or 4-speaker system. At the center of the Outback’s cabin is a large 11.6-inch digital display on the Premium trim and above, and dual 7-inch screens for the base trim. A backup camera is standard, along with a Front View monitor on the Onyx XT, Wilderness, and both Tourings, yet no 360 camera, to assist with parking. The touring now also offers a camera mirror for 2023 as a new feature. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now wireless for 2023, with Navigation on the Touring 2.5 and Limited/Touring XT. A moonroof is standard on the Touring trims and all XT models, however; due to the large roof rails, is only available in a smaller, standard size.
Rear Spaces
The rear seats will continue to capitalize on the Outback’s design:
39.5 inches legroom | 39.1 inches of headroom
The rear seats will come 60/40 folding with reclining abilities and heating on all XT models and the 2.5 Limited, Touring, and Wilderness. For the second row, passengers will also be pleased standard rear vents and USB ports on all but the base trim. The tailgate will be hands-free power opening on the Onyx and up, with 32.6 cubic feet behind the 2nd row and 75.6 cubic feet as a maximum.
Powertrain & Driving Impressions
Subaru has no changes here in the engine department for this refresh. If you opt for a 2.5i model, you will have a 2.5L Boxer 4-cylinder pushing out 182 hp and 176 lb ft of torque. The XT model sports a 2.4L Turbo Boxer 4-cylinder, upping the power to 260 hp and 277 lb ft of torque. The turbo is also standard on the Wilderness trim and optional on the Onyx, Limited, and Touring. Paired with these engines is an 8-speed CVT automatic and standard AWD. The Outback will consume fuel at 26/32/28 MPG for the standard model, 22/29/25 MPG for the XT, and 21/26/23 on the Wilderness model.
Behind the wheel of the Outback, we found the driving dynamics to be pretty much unchanged for this refresh, which makes sense with no changes under the hood. It’s not the fastest car in the world, but it will get you where you need to go, and quite comfortably at that. To get an in-depth perspective on our full driving impressions and more, watch our full review down below!
Pricing
Prices have increased by about $1,500 for 2023.
- Base: $28,395
- Premium: $30,695
- Onyx Edition: $33,495
- Limited: $35,295
- Touring: $38,845
- XT Oynx Edition: $38,595
- XT Wilderness: $38,445
- XT Limited: $39,695
- XT Touring: $42,295
Overall, this refreshed Subaru Outback continues to impress when it comes to practicality and value, offering quite a few features for its price point. The refresh continues to build upon an already attractive vehicle, and more standard features on the interior will be sure to give this car even more buyers than it already had before. Compared to the competition, the Subaru Outback sure seems like a winner to us!
Recent Comments