2023 Subaru Outback ‘s lifted ride height and rugged-looking exterior makes it blend in among SUVs. What’s best when the always-remembered brand for off-roading gives us a heavy-duty set? Fetches a name of a station wagon but is no less than an off-road wanderer. But its station wagon-like body adds, additional feasibility. While it can easily venture further off-road than a traditional station wagon.
But won’t see the Outback tackling heavy trails in Moab next to Jeep Wranglers or Ford Broncos. Buyers have the choice of either a non-turbo or turbocharged four-cylinder engine. All Outbacks come standard with all-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Rivals like the Audi A4 Allroad and the Volvo V60 Cross Country have similar looks, but the Outback has the lifted-station-wagon feel and capability for thousands less than those luxury cars.
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Subaru has made quite a few alterations to the 2023 Outback. Tweaks in the front-end styling include a larger grille, revised headlamps, and a new front bumper. The driver-assistance features are improved by cameras with a wider field of view. The Outback shares plenty of its interior with the Legacy, and both have comfortable accommodations and quality materials. The cabin design is boring, but it’s functional and has a high seating height. Aside from the base model, every Outback has dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and USB ports.
Engine & Performance
The Outback family houses a pair of flat-four-cylinder engines. A 182-hp 2.5-Liter is standard, whereas the 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-Liter is optional. Both are paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) mimicking an eight-speed gearbox to mitigate. All the Outbacks have standard all-wheel drive, which is a Subaru staple. The car delivers unremarkable acceleration and lethargic transmission behavior. While the turbocharged version is considered quick, it is plagued by the same recalcitrant transmission.
Still, most owners are more concerned with ride quality and the car’s ability to handle light off-roading. With the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive, the wagon can easily navigate inclement weather and even muddy, rutted roads. For maximum go-anywhere capability, select the Wilderness model, which boasts 9.5 inches of ground clearance. As well as beefed-up suspension, skid plates to protect its underside and a drive mode selector with Snow and Mud modes.
Fuel Economy
| 2023 Subaru Outback Mileage | City | Highway |
| Standard | 26 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Turbocharged | 23 mpg | 30 mpg |
The EPA estimated the standard Outback to deliver 26 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. The turbocharged version has a significant dip in efficiency, with ratings of 23 mpg city and 30 highway. While its Legacy counterpart has thriftier powertrains. Its base engine is expected to earn 27/35 mpg city/highway and the turbocharged option has estimates of 24/32 mpg city/highway.
Dimensions & Space
| 2023 Subaru Outback Dimensions | |
| Length | 191.3 in |
| Width | 74.6 in |
| Height | 66.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.1 in |
| Cargo Volume | 33 ft3 |
| Airbags | 7 Airbags |
Pricing
| 2023 Subaru Outback Pricing | Price (USD) |
| Base | $29,620 |
| Premium | $31,920 |
| Onyx Edition | $34,720 |
| Limited | $36,520 |
| Wilderness | $39,670 |
| Limited XT | $40,920 |
| Touring | $41,070 |
| Touring XT | $43,520 |
We would recommend the Premium model, as it has the best set of standard and optional features for the price. The Outback Premium comes standard with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, a 4G LTE mobile hotspot, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, more USB ports, and more. Among those, we’d opt for the more affordable package that adds blind-spot monitoring, a hands-free power liftgate, and passive entry with a push-button start.
Specifications & Top-Speed
| 2023 Subaru Outback Specifications | Specs |
| Engine | turbocharged flat-4 |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Horsepower | 260 hp |
| Torque | 277 lb-ft |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.8 sec |
| 0-100 MPH | 15.8 sec |
| 1/4 Mile | 14.6 sec |
| Top Speed | 117 mph |
