Subaru adds turbo to 2023 Outback
Subaru Australia has announced the 2023 Outback range will be enhanced with the arrival of a turbocharged engine option, bringing more power and torque, while the rest of the MY23 lineup will receive updates in the areas of tech and driver convenience.
The arrival of a turbocharged engine comes in response to customer demand and plugs a gap in the Outback range previously filled by the six-cylinder 3.6R that was discontinued in 2020.
“We have heard our customer’s request for a turbocharged Outback loud and clear, so we are extremely pleased to add two all-new, turbocharged Subaru Outback variants to the MY23 Subaru Outback line-up,” said Subaru Australia’s Managing Director, Blair Read.
“A more powerful turbocharged engine, coupled with the latest intuitive technology, impressive interior and of course the all-terrain capability of Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD, makes the Outback XT the perfect vehicle for any Australian road trip.”
Outback XT
While significantly smaller in terms of capacity compared to the previously available 3.6-litre Boxer six, the new 2.4-litre turbocharged Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine produces equivalent power and identical torque – 183kW and 350Nm.
These numbers are also well above the 138kW and 245Nm maximums offered by the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre Boxer petrol four that carries over unchanged for the 2023 Outback range.
The turbo trumps the naturally-aspirated engine in terms of acceleration, too, and while no specific times are quoted, Subaru says the turbo reaches 100km/h from standstill 22 per cent quicker.
The turbo option - identifiable by an ‘XT’ badge and offered on both Sport and Touring trim levels - will also deliver improved towing capacity, up from 2,000kg to 2,400kg braked. Modifying the rear diff ratio and introducing more efficient brake pad material helps achieve this, with a secondary benefit of the latter being improved parking brake performance.
The CVT transmission and Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system are unchanged for the turbo Outback XT, but suspension tuning has been recalibrated to suit the new powerplant and support the towing capacity increase. Subaru says the suspension delivers both driving stability and ride comfort.
Other standard features, familiar from the current Outback range, include SI-Drive and X-Mode selectable driving options, Subaru's Vision Assist and Eyesight Assist suite of safety technologies, a driver monitoring system, comprehensive SRS airbag set, a hands-free power tailgate, auto stop-start function, power folding door mirrors, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and an 11.6-inch central touchscreen.
Beyond the badging, identifying features on the Outback XT include dual tailpipes and six LEDs in the front foglamps, said to be inspired by the six stars in the Subaru logo.
Six paint options will be offered on the Outback Sport XT, with a further three available on the Outback Touring XT. The Touring XT also gets auto exterior mirror adjustment and auto driver seat adjustment that the Sport XT doesn’t.
Range Improvements
For the rest of the 2023 Outback range, which covers base, Sport and Touring variants with the 2.5 engine, there are new-look 18-inch alloy wheels, with additional and enhanced features applied, too.
New convenience features include the aforementioned wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the 11.6-inch infotainment screen has been redesigned to make it more user-friendly, with new shortcut buttons, updated climate control operation and full-screen Android Auto.
A USB-C terminal has been added to the front aux input station (one USB-A port remains) and has a higher current output for faster device charging, while the steering wheel buttons have been redesigned.
Voice command recognition capability has been increased to include auto start-stop, cruise control, seat heater and ventilation settings, lane departure warning and navigation ‘search for closest location’ function. In line with the latter, a modification of the existing navigation system allows address/point of interest searches to be performed with a single input.
Christmas Gift
Subaru Australia are expecting the first units of the 2023 Outback range to reach Australia in December, with dealers taking orders now.
With the additional and improved tech, pricing for the 2.5 Outback lineup has increased by $1,200, while the new 2.4 turbo Outback will top the range in terms of pricing, starting at $52,190, pus ORCs.
All MY23 Outback variants are backed by Subaru Australia’s five-year/unlimited km warranty, with 12 months complimentary roadside assist.
See your Subaru dealer for more details.
2023 Subaru Outback pricing*
Outback AWD $42,690
Outback AWD Sport $47,190
Outback AWD Touring $50,990
Outback AWD Sport XT $52,190
Outback AWD Touring XT $55,990
*manufacturer’s list price, excludes on-road costs.