2023 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a notable facelift, featuring a redesigned front end with new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback a more aggressive appearance, especially with the addition of a jutting simulated skid plate, fog lights in oversized housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold cladding, making it a more appealing choice for those who preferred a darker paint color to tone down the design's excesses. The Onyx Edition also became more accessible in 2023, offering a non-turbo powertrain option at a starting price of $33,495, a significant savings compared to the turbocharged version.

Inside, the 2023 Outback Touring trim impressed with its upscale Java Brown leather interior, contrasting beautifully with the black dashboard and door panels. The interior's cohesive design was further enhanced by light gray contrast stitching and premium Nappa leather upholstery. Despite the use of hard plastic in some areas, the materials did not feel cheap, and the flat, textured door sills served as practical steps for accessing the roof rack. However, the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim on the center console were prone to collecting dust and smudges, which was a minor drawback in an otherwise well-appointed cabin.

The 2024 Subaru Outback retained the facelifted look from the previous year, with minor tweaks to the Wilderness trim, including a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted nicely with the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Touring XT model, giving it a unique and appealing appearance. The various trims offered different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Touring trim featuring tasteful chrome accents. Wheel sizes and designs varied by trim, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black wheels and the Onyx Edition upgrading to 18-inch black wheels.

Inside, the 2024 Outback's top-trim model boasted a luxurious interior with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of comfort and style unexpected from a brand known for its capability. The Limited trim featured standard leather seating surfaces, while the Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims came with Subaru's StarTex synthetic leather. The base and Premium trims offered cloth seats. Overall, the 2024 Outback's interior was a pleasant surprise, combining comfort and practicality with a touch of luxury.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed engine, commonly known as a boxer engine, which contributed to a lower center of gravity and characteristic grumble. The standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, but the 3,781-pound test vehicle felt underpowered, especially during passing and climbing. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) made good use of the engine at lower speeds, but the lack of power was evident on highways. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 28 mpg, but real-world testing returned only 25.6 mpg. The Outback XT models, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, offered better performance and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. However, the XT models were less fuel-efficient, with most rated at 25 mpg combined.

The 2024 Subaru Outback continued with the same engine options, with the base 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured the more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine improved the vehicle's performance, making it a better fit for the Outback's weight. The CVT mimicked the sound and feel of an eight-speed transmission, and the electronic brake booster enhanced pedal feel. The Outback's suspension provided a comfortable ride, and the base model offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, while the Wilderness trim increased it to 9.2 inches. The advanced X-Mode system with selectable modes further enhanced the Outback's off-road capabilities.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a robust roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Touring trim offered a comfortable interior with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and heated and ventilated front seats. The rear outboard seats were also heated, and the steering wheel was heated for added comfort in cold climates. The Outback's spacious interior accommodated four passengers comfortably, with ample legroom and storage options. The cargo area offered 32.6 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up and 75.6 cubic feet with them folded down. The flat, textured door sills served as practical steps for accessing the roof rack, and the cargo area was easy to load with full-size suitcases.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its spacious interior, offering more headroom and legroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The cargo area measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback's feature availability was impressive, with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat standard on most trims. The Limited trim added a powered front passenger seat and heated rear seats, while the Touring trim offered ventilated front seats. The heated steering wheel was available starting with the Onyx Edition. The hands-free power liftgate was optional on the Premium trim and standard on higher trims, and the Onyx Edition came with a power moonroof. The raised roof rails with retractable cross bars were standard across the lineup.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all trims except the Base, which had a 7-inch screen. The system included physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control, while other functions were embedded in the touchscreen. The base model offered Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Higher trims provided wireless connectivity for Apple and Android platforms, along with access to Starlink connected services and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. A navigation system and Harman Kardon premium audio system were available on select trims. The voice recognition system was limited in functionality, and the digital rearview mirror and front-view camera added convenience.

The 2024 Subaru Outback continued with the 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen on all but the base trim, which retained the dual-7-inch-screen system. The Starlink multimedia platform offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting with the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Touring trim included a CD player, and USB-C and USB-A ports were available on all but the base trim.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including in the new side-impact crash test. The EyeSight suite of safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Automatic Emergency Steering system and Wide-Angle Mono Camera enhanced pedestrian and cyclist detection. The rear automatic braking system was incompatible with some driveways, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems felt artificial.

The 2024 Subaru Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The EyeSight suite remained standard, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Onyx Edition. The Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor. Reverse automatic braking became standard starting with the Onyx trim.