The 2023 Subaru Outback is available for a base price of $27,645 and comes with a few changes from the 2022 model. Offered in eight trim configurations, the 2023 Outback is a pretty versatile mid-size crossover that offers impressive space and features along with loads of standard equipment, its infotainment is pretty massive and is one of the better ones out there. Show
However, the powertrain comes with no changes from the outgoing model year, and the symmetrical AWD drivetrain is standard for all the trims of the Outback, too. Even though the acceleration is nothing to brag about, the 2023 Outback is a comfortable daily driver and a capable handler. The only change for this 2023 model is the inclusion of subtle upgrades to the front fascia and improved cameras. Competing with the likes of Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo V60 Cross Country, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2023 Subaru Outback. 10/10 Plenty Of Cabin Space
All the generations of Subaru Outbacks were excellent in terms of cabin space and cargo capacity, and the same holds true for the 2023 Outback as well. The front seats are very supportive and offer the best in class headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The seats come covered in leather or cloth, and all the basic features like dual-zone climate control and heated and ventilated seats improve the comfort factor even further.
Being a pretty wide car, we also love the spacious rear seat, which can easily accommodate three adults comfortably. The seats offer more than enough under-thigh support, and the transmission tunnel is on the smaller side. Even though the rear seats feel a bit upright in comparison to the rivals, it is not all that bad. The headroom and legroom are superb too. Open the trunk, and you would be met with a reasonably large 32.5 cu ft of space. There is a 60/40 split rear seat facility too. 9/10 Loaded With Safety Features
Subaru offers the Eyesight suite of driver-assistance techs as standard with all the trim configurations of the 2023 Outback, and buyers will be impressed with that. Being a family wagon, the features like forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning coming in as standard is a boon.
The lower trims could also be had with the blindspot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert if you opt for the optional packages. Even though the 2023 model hasn't been crash-tested, the outgoing 2022 model received top-notch scores in both the NHTSA and IIHS crash tests. 8/10 Lethargic Acceleration From The Base Inline-4 Motor Coming with two different engine options, depending on the trim that you opt for, we would highly recommend you to go with the turbocharged motor offered with the higher trims. The base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat-4 motor mated to the CVT automatic transmission and symmetrical AWD drivetrain feels very lethargic and takes its sweet time to reach highway speed. Push hard on the throttle from a standstill, and the 2023 Outback with the less powerful motor feels very strained from the get-go. The low-end torque is quite dull, and the motor sounds coarse as the revs climb. The CVT with simulated gearshifts isn't exactly meant for the driving enthusiasts either. 0-60 mph takes 8.5 seconds and the quarter-mile run can be done in 16.7 seconds, both of which are slower than the RAV4 and CR-V. 7/10 Impressive Ride And Handling
We have always loved the Outback for its decent driving dynamics without compromising one bit on the ride quality, and the same ethos is carried forward to this model year as well. The suspension absorbs even the biggest of the potholes with ease and never jostles the passengers around.
As a result, you could take the 2023 Subaru Outback on the country roads, highways, and off-road terrains without batting an eyelid. The precise steering coupled with a well-calibrated suspension system and the coveted symmetrical AWD system makes sure that you have enough grip while taking corners. The body roll and understeer are well under control, too. 6/10 Tough Exterior Looks
The Subaru Outback is one of the few station wagons out there, and it looks very different from the SUVs that you would normally spot plying on the American roads. The rugged exterior of the Outback is highlighted by the black cladding, beautifully incorporated LED headlights and taillights, and the revised front bumper and grille, all of which helps in making it look more macho.
If you get the mid-spec Wilderness trim, the Outback looks even better with many subtle upgrades like the gold accents and the beautiful 18" alloy wheels, giving it more than enough character. In comparison to the rivals in the SUV segment, the 2023 Outback is definitely going to turn heads when out on the open roads. It also gets the best in class length, height, and ground clearance, giving it the look of a car from the segment above. 5/10 Turbocharged Motor Offers Adequate Gas Mileage The fuel efficiency offered by this flat-4 turbocharged motor under the hood of the 2023 Outback is not as bad as we expected. It can do 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway, equating to a combined fuel efficiency rating of 26 MPG.
With an 18.5-gallon fuel tank capacity, the tank range is better than all the rivals, too. However, if you want even better gas mileage, the base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated motor is the one to get, as it could do 26 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. 4/10 Infotainment And Audio System Will Impress You
The Subaru Outback comes with two different infotainment systems based on the trim that you opt for. The lowest two trims come with a smaller 7" touchscreen infotainment system and come packed with all the relevant features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, and voice recognition. The bigger 11.6" infotainment gets all these features too.
The bigger infotainment system is reasonably slick and intuitive to use. There are multiple knobs and buttons on offer too. We loved the large icons and the lack of any major learning curve offered by this system. The top-of-the-line Limited and Touring trims get the excellent 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and the audio quality is exceptional for the segment.
The warranty coverage and reliability of the Subaru Outback are not as impressive as the rivals from Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai lineup. However, it turned out to be quite similar to the likes of the Volvo V60 Cross Country and Audi A4 Allroad, both of which are priced significantly higher than the Outback and belong to the premium segment.
The 2023 Outback comes with 3 years or 36,000 miles of the limited warranty and 5 years or 60,000 miles of powertrain warranty. There is no complimentary maintenance on offer. When it comes to reliability, the outgoing 2022 model received quite a lot of customer complaints, and that is not the case with the rivals. JD Power also gave it a mediocre score of 71 in the quality & reliability section. Thankfully, it received no recalls. 2/10 Brakes Have More Than Enough Bite
The braking of the 2023 Outback is handled by the ventilated 12.4" front rotors and 11.8" rotors at the rear. Other braking features like ABS with EBD, automated emergency braking, hill hold control, and brake assist are standard too. We found the brake pedal to be firm, and it also offered more than enough feedback to the driver.
The brakes do not feel grabby, and we loved the initial bite and progression it offers. Ventilated rotors also mean that the heat dissipation is excellent, and the brake fade is minimal. The front-end dive was lower than we expected, especially when considering the 3,896 lbs curb weight. The car doesn't feel twitchy under hard braking either. 1/10 Refinement Is Not As Good As The A4 Allroad The flat-4 motors from the Subaru stable have never been renowned for their refinement. Even though the refinement level offered by both the motors that reside under the hood of the Outback weren't as good as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4, it is not going to be a deal-breaker.
The motor sounds a bit rough as you give the revs and there are quite a lot more vibrations that could be felt through the pedals. The wind noise and tire noise were on the higher side too, especially when equipped with the 18" wheels. Sound deadening is not as good as the rivals, and that could be noticed from the louder external noises creeping into the cabin. When can you buy 2023 Subaru?Subaru offers the 2023 Ascent in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring. The SUV's powertrain carries over from 2022, but it's still one of the few SUVs that come standard with AWD. The U.S.-built 2023 Ascent will go on sale in fall 2022.
Can you order a 2023 Subaru?If you want to get your hands on the 2023 Subaru Forester as soon as it becomes available, you can reserve it now at Star Subaru. Simply contact us if you are interested, and we will get back to you shortly to confirm the details. It's that easy.
Will Subaru Outback be redesigned in 2023?The 2023 Subaru Outback redesign includes nine distinct trim levels. New Subaru Outback shoppers can choose from the following trims for the 2023 model year: Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT, and Touring XT.
What will be new with the 2023 Subaru Outback?The updates on the 2023 Subaru Outback include a wider field of view, better control, and enhancements to automatic braking and throttle control. Some models include blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency steering, and a wide-angle camera.
|
