SubaruOutback

　　

2023 Subaru Outback Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The 2023 Subaru Outback straddles the line between wagon and SUV, drawing upon the strengths of each to provide you with a pretty versatile vehicle. Its wagon-like profile doesn't allow for quite as much maximum cargo space as some rival midsize SUVs do, but the upside is a lower-than-typical roof that makes it easier to load gear up there. As for the SUV stuff, you get standard all-wheel drive and impressive ground clearance, which are great for discovering new off-road trails or just driving in inclement weather.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$133/mo  for Outback Base

　　Outback Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $28,395 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $30,695 MSRPOnyx Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,495 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $35,295 MSRPWilderness 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $38,445 MSRPOnyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $38,595 MSRPLimited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $39,695 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $39,845 MSRPTouring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $42,295 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2023, the Outback receives a slight appearance change, with new plastic cladding under the headlights as well as around the wheel arches that are similar to what's on the Wilderness trim that debuted last year. Oddly enough, that Wilderness trim does not receive these new treatments as it returns with an almost unchanged look. In-car tech also gets an upgrade, most notably with an updated infotainment system that allows you to wirelessly connect your smartphone into the center 11.6-inch touchscreen without having to use a USB cord. Finally, the Onyx Edition now offers either the base or turbo engine, the latter now called the Onyx Edition XT. Like before, it's the most affordable turbo option in the lineup.

　　The Outback's distinctive design presents you with some interesting shopping decisions. Even among the many SUVs available, only a handful have comparable off-road capabilities. These include the Honda Passport and Jeep Cherokee. For more challenging terrain, the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner could be intriguing alternatives, albeit with noticeably compromised ride quality on pavement. As it stands, the 2023 Subaru Outback's unique traits should appeal to a wide variety of shoppers.

　　

What's it like to live with?

For more in-depth coverage, check out our long-term test of the Subaru Outback. There, you'll get a clearer picture of the ownership experience and read what our experts discovered after driving an XT Onyx Edition for a year.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating may change slightly once we test the Outback's updated touchscreen for 2023.

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Outback drive? The Outback is slow, but that's about the only negative in this category. Our test vehicle, an Outback Limited with the base four-cylinder engine, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. You'll want to upgrade to the turbocharged engine to get power similar to what rivals such as the Honda Passport and Ford Edge are capable of. At least the transmission shifts quickly and promptly to help you keep pace with traffic.

　　There's some noticeable body roll when making turns, but in general the Outback is well behaved. The steering offers good on-center feel and feedback from the road. The best part? With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, the Outback can go pretty much anywhere its SUV competitors can — and some places they can't.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Outback? You'll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable vehicle for the money. The front seats are great. They're soft but supportive, offering a decent amount of bolstering without feeling tight. Overall, these are welcoming seats, pleasant to settle into when you're tired and easy to stay in for a long time.

　　The Outback's ride quality is also excellent overall, even if certain road surfaces can create some vibrations in the cabin. Potholes, speed humps and drainage ditches are absorbed easily, yet there's no real floatiness to the vehicle. It's an impressive balance of compliance and control.

　　The climate system works well to regulate cabin temperature. Unfortunately, making any adjustments beyond temperature requires using the complicated touchscreen interface.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below