Item: 2023 Subaru Outback
Rating: 3.4
Author: Joel Patel

Overview

What's New

The 2023 Subaru Outback receives a refresh that includes a more rugged front fascia, revised lower body cladding, and an updated infotainment system with wireless smartphone integration. The Onyx Edition is now available with the line's optional turbocharged engine. The Outback's upper trims gain a 180-degree front camera for enhanced pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Choosing Your Subaru Outback

The Outback continues in nine trim levels: Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Bases prices range from $29,620 to $43,520 including destination.

Engine Choices

The first five trims carry a normally aspired four-cylinder engine. The Wilderness and XT models get a more powerful four-cylinder turbo. All-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) are standard across the board.

Towing capacity reaches 2,700 pounds with the base engine and 3,500 pounds with the turbo.

Engine Type	Horsepower	Torque	Fuel Economy (Combined)
2.5L 4-Cylinder	182 hp	176-lb-ft	29 mpg
2.4L Turbo 4-Cylinder	250 hp	277 lb-ft	26/24 mpg (Wilderness/TX)

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

The Outback is a midsize, two-row crossover with legitimate room for five. Cargo space is typical for this class of vehicle. Buyers get 32.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 75.2 cubic feet with it folded.

Safety Features

The Outback offers an impressive array of diver assistance technology from the start. Every example gets adaptive cruise control with lane centering, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency steering and braking. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is available in a $1,400 option package for Premium and standard on subsequent trims.

The Limited, Touring, and XT models also get reverse automatic braking, which is included in a $1,845 optional package for the Onyx Edition and Wilderness. Driver alertness monitoring is available on the Limited as part of a $2,050 package — and standard on the Touring, Limited XT, and Touring XT.

The new 180-degree front camera debuts on the Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, and Touring XT. Subaru doesn't yet offer surround-view cameras or a head-up display on the Outback.

Connectivity

The Base trim's infotainment setup includes upper and lower 7-inch touchscreens, four speakers, a USB port, satellite and HD radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. All other trims carry a single 11.6-inch touchscreen, four USB ports, and wireless smartphone integration.

The Premium, Onyx Edition trims, and Wilderness feature six-speaker sound. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon system is reserved for the Limited and Touring trims.

Navigation is available on all trims except Base. It's standard on the Touring and XT models — and included in option bundles for the other trims.

2023 Subaru Outback Base — MSRP From $29,620

The entry-level Outback offers a cloth interior with manual seats, paddle shifters, adaptive LED headlights, LED fog lights, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels. There are no factory options for the least expensive Outback.

2023 Subaru Outback Premium — MSRP From $31,920

The Premium adds popular features like heated front seats, a 10-way power driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and the aforementioned audio upgrades. For $1,400, buyers can add blind-spot monitoring, push-button start, proximity key access, and a hands-free power liftgate. These items are also available in a $2,995 package with navigation and a sunroof.

2023 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition — MSRP From $34,720

The Onyx Edition offers a terrain selector, water-repellent upholstery, and black 18-inch wheels. The Premium's smaller option package is standard. The sunroof, navigation, and reverse automatic braking are available together for $1,845.

2023 Subaru Outback Limited — MSRP From $36,520

The Limited goes upmarket with leather upholstery, an eight-way power passenger seat, heated rear seats, and the Harman Kardon system. Outside are machine-finished black wheels. The Limited's $2,060 option package adds the sunroof, navigation, a heated steering wheel, and the driver alertness monitor.

2023 Subaru Outback Touring — MSRP From $41,070

The Touring comes standard with the Limited's options — plus a Nappa leather interior, ventilated front seats, power-folding side mirrors, and the 180-degree front camera.

2023 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT — MSRP From $39,820

The XT version of the Onyx Edition comes equipped with the turbocharged engine, plus the sunroof, navigation, and reverse automatic braking as standard.

2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness — MSRP From $39,670

The Wildness reports for off-road duty with the turbocharged engine, a raised suspension, all-terrain tires on 17-inch matte black wheels, and the terrain selector. Buyers also get high-capacity roof rails, water-repellent upholstery, copper interior accents, and unique front and rear fascias. The sunroof, navigation, and reverse automatic braking are available bundled for $1,845.

2023 Subaru Outback Limited XT — MSRP From $40,920

The Limited XT picks up the turbocharged engine and everything available on the regular Limited as standard.

2023 Subaru Outback Touring XT — MSRP From $43,520

The ultimate Outback combines the Touring's high level of equipment with turbocharged power.

Compare Outback Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

The 2023 Subaru Outback Premium is a worthy upgrade over the base model, which is simply too austere for this class. The Limited offers the best balance of equipment to price for those who can afford the extra cost. The XT variants deliver eye-opening performance, though the turbo power doesn't come cheap in this case.

Get Custom Price Quote

John Diether

Automotive Editor - August 22, 2022

Read Less

Expert Review

Pros

Standard all-wheel drive
Above-average off-road
Excellent safety scores
Versatile interior

Cons

Underpowered standard engine
Poor fuel economy
Not much small-item storage
Boring interior design

Expert Rating

3.4

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Joel Patel

Automotive Editor - August 03, 2022

Now With A Sharper Design. Subaru has updated the Outback’s exterior design for the 2023 model year. Instead of last year’s humdrum design, the wagon has a much sharper look that matches the Forester.

At the front, the headlights have a more angular design thanks to a triangular piece that sits at the lower portion of the lights. The grille has grown in size, as has the front bumper, gaining a more angular section that connects to the headlights. Beyond a slightly larger rear bumper, things remain the same at the back.

We think the updated exterior design helps the Outback’s appeal, though Subaru hasn’t touched the interior, which is an odd decision. The interior design of the Outback is boring, especially on lower trims that aren’t equipped with the massive vertical display. Simple lines, black trim, and durable plastics create a dull cabin.

Something For Everyone. The Outback is offered in a total of eight different trims, resulting in an available trim for a wide range of consumers. From the simple Base trim to the luxurious Touring and the rugged Wilderness trim somewhere in the middle, most consumers will be able to find an Outback that fits their needs.

The Premium trim might be toward the lower end of the lineup, but it stands out as the most value-packed option. For $31,920 (with destination), the Premium trim brings LED fog lights, wireless smartphone compatibility, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and an 11.6-inch touchscreen.

For consumers looking to go off-roading, the Wilderness trim that was introduced last year returns and stands out as the clear choice for adventure seekers. With all-terrain tires, 17-inch wheels, an upgraded all-wheel-drive system, a heavy-duty skid plate, increased ground clearance, a rugged body kit, and an upgraded roof rack with a 700-pound limit.

Subaru Outback

Roomy, Versatile Interior. The Outback is roughly a foot longer than the compact Forester, which results in a roomier cabin. There’s plenty of room for five people and the wagon has a large cargo area. Not to mention the Outback’s low load floor makes it far easier to load cargo into the wagon than in an SUV.

The Outback offers passengers in the back 39.5 inches of legroom and the rear seats recline for added comfort. When it comes to cargo capacity, the Outback has 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. With the rear seats folded, the wagon has 75.7 cubic feet of total cargo space.

Subaru knows its consumers and offers the Outback with water-repellant synthetic leather upholstery that’s easy to clean. Of course, Nappa leather upholstery is available, though it doesn’t match the Outback’s rugged character.

Pristine Safety Score. Subaru is one of the leaders when it comes to automotive safety, packing every one of its cars with an extensive list of advanced safety features and ensuring its vehicles earn excellent crash-test scores.

In IIHS testing the 2022 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick+ award. Without any major changes to the Outback or the way IIHS tests vehicles, we expect the score to remain the same for the 2023 model year. The NHTSA gave the 2022 Outback a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2023 Outback comes with a long list of safety features which includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, automatic high-beam assist, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Upgrades include blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

For the new model year, Subaru has fitted the Touring, which is the range-topping model in the lineup, with a new wide-angle camera that helps the EyeSight system’s dual cameras. Subaru claims the new camera helps expand the system’s field of view and helps the vehicle better recognize bicycles and pedestrians. We’re not quite sure why Subaru limited the new camera to the Touring trim, but we could see lower trims benefit from the system in the future.

Final Thoughts. There aren’t too many wagons to choose from, which is a shame, because the 2023 Subaru Outback highlights just how good wagons can be. With a roomy cargo area, great safety scores, impressive safety equipment, and high-tech features, the Outback blends the lines of being a family-friendly utility vehicle.

For comparison, the Volvo V60 Cross Country is an upscale wagon with a rugged touch. It has comfortable seats, a high-end interior, and a smooth ride. The Audi A4 Allroad is a lifted, rugged version of the A4 sedan in wagon form. It has high-tech features, roomy seats, and a 261-horsepower engine.

Check 2023 Subaru Outback Prices Near You »

Read Less

Get Custom Price Quote

Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

2.5L H-4 / 182 HP / 176 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Lineartronic 8-spd sequential shift control CVT w/OD

Drive Type

Full-time Subaru Symmetrical Awd All Wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

26 / 32 / 29 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	2.5L H-4 / 182 HP / 176 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Full-time Subaru Symmetrical Awd All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	26 / 32 / 29 Mpg
Brakes	4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Independent Double Wishbone
Spare Tire And Wheel	Compact Steel
Fuel Tank	18.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$71

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	75.6 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume	109 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length	191.1 "
Exterior Width	73.0 "
Exterior Height	66.4 "
Front Headroom	40.1 "
Rear Headroom	39.1 "
Front Legroom	42.8 "
Rear Legroom	39.5 "
Front Shoulder Room	58.1 "
Rear Shoulder Room	57.4 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	3,641 Lbs.
Wheel Base	108 "
Turning Radius	18.1 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	17.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Clearcoat Monotone With Decal
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote
Bumpers	Body-colored / Front Body-colored With Metal-look Insert
Grille Moldings	Black W/metal-look Accents
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Cloth
Front Seat Type	Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	4-way
Front Armrests	6-way
Rear Armrests	Center
Rear Seats	60-40 Bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Siriusxm Am/fm/hd/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers	4 / 6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control	Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror	Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Driver And Passenger
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors	Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	2

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag	Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front And Rear
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning	Eyesight Pre-collision Braking Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning	Eyesight Lane Keep Assist Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control	Lane Centering Hands-on Steering Assist
Pedestrian Detection	Eyesight Pre-collision Braking Front Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert	Eyesight Sway Warning Driver Attention
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams	High Beam Assist (hba) Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights	Steering Responsive Headlights (srh) Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors
Security Systems	Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Immobilizer

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months	60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation	60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Insider Information

We have information you must know before you buy the Outback. We want to send it to you, along with other pricing insights.

Sign Me Up

I agree to receive emails from CarsDirect. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. We will not spam you, and will never sell your email. Privacy Policy.

Thank you. You are now subscribed to our Pricing Insider updates.

2023 Subaru Outback

Overview

What's New

Choosing Your Subaru Outback

Engine Choices

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

Safety Features

Connectivity

Prices & Deals

Expert Review

Specs & Features

Recent Articles on Subaru Outback

Find Your New Subaru Outback

Other SUV Deals

Other Cars You Might Like

Insider Information

All Model Years

Find More Information on Subaru Vehicles