2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback is truly something different. Whether you want to call it a wagon or an SUV, the Outback has the practical benefits of a roomy and flexible interior, excellent safety scores, standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and all of the quirky charm we love about the Subaru brand. Many cars and SUVs have AWD, but the Outback has some serious off-road capabilities, especially the adventurous Wilderness model. The Outback is one-of-a-kind to some degree, but it competes as Subaru’s offering in the 2-row midsize SUV segment. In the Subaru lineup, it sits between the smaller Forester and larger, 3-row Ascent in size and price.

We’ve tested several examples of this generation Subaru Outback since it debuted for the 2020 model year. The test vehicle seen here near Mammoth Lakes, California, is a 2024 Outback Touring XT in Autumn Green Metallic with a sticker price of $44,231.

The Subaru Outback just got a mid-cycle refresh for the 2023 model year. The 2024 model brings the Wilderness model up to speed with updated styling in-line with last year’s update. Another update this year is a standard heated steering wheel on the Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition XT, and Wilderness trims.

Before buying an Outback, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay.

Resale Value Champ

The Subaru Outback is the reigning champion for our Best Resale Value award in its class. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

In our experience, the Subaru Outback strikes an excellent balance of on-road comfort and off-road capability. Even if you never venture away from the pavement, the Outback serves a compliant ride and easy driveability. In slick conditions, we’ve found it to be as sure-footed and unflappable as Subaru’s reputation would lead you to believe.

The performance from the standard engine is, shall we say, relaxed. We find it adequate for daily commuting and errand running, and it’s strong enough to be comfortable on the highway. But while we often recommend the more affordable and efficient engine when there’s a choice, in the Outback’s case we strongly recommend upgrading to the 260-horsepower turbocharged unit. On one 700-mile trip to the mountains, this engine didn’t just deliver ample power from start to finish, it also returned about 28 mpg over the entire trip. Hybrids notwithstanding, that’s better efficiency than you’ll find among most vehicles as roomy and powerful.

We’re always impressed when we have the pleasure of driving a Subaru Outback off-road. The Outback’s tall ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and favorable approach and departure angles make it slightly more advanced in its off-road skills than the average SUV. It’s especially adventurous in the Wilderness trim with even higher ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and enhanced X-Mode.

As for driving assistance, the adaptive cruise control is good, but the lane centering system is disappointing.

The wagon-like body of the Subaru Outback yields a spacious interior. We can confirm that the rear seats are spacious enough to be comfortable for adults, and there’s tons of cargo space. Fold down the rear seats — which you can do via seatback releases in the cargo area — and you can fit some big stuff in the Outback.

The interior materials vary depending on the trim. Cloth upholstery is standard, leather is optional, and durable StarTex water-repellant upholstery comes with the Onyx Edition and Wilderness models. Regardless of trim, the Outback is a comfortable car.

A vertically-oriented infotainment system with an 11.6-inch screen is standard on all but the base trim. While the graphics evoke something designed for preschoolers, we like the list of features that includes SiriusXM, HD Radio, and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

The Limited trim offers extendable thigh support on the driver’s seat, which is uncommon outside of luxury vehicles. Subaru’s execution results in a bit of a disjointed seat bottom, but we’ve found the seats exceptionally comfortable overall.

Subaru admits that the aesthetics of the Outback are inspired by a hiking boot. This wagon-like SUV has a rugged look with standard raised roof rails, generous body cladding, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The Wilderness trim has an even more outdoorsy look with revised bumpers, more ground clearance, yellow accents, and black wheels with all-terrain tires.

Standard AWD
In classic Subaru fashion, all-wheel drive is standard on every Outback, giving it the capability to back up its go-anywhere aesthetic.

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
Every Outback features a comprehensive set of driver assist and safety tech, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

Starlink Multimedia system
The Starlink infotainment system is available with an 11.6-inch screen loaded with features like SiriusXM, HD Radio, and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay. It’s full-featured, but not the most intuitive to operate at first.

X-Mode
X-Mode comes standard on every Outback, and it optimizes the AWD system to maximize traction in off-road driving. The Onyx Edition and Wilderness models have a more advanced Dual-Function X-Mode with more off-road drive modes.

Available turbo engine
The turbocharged engine in the XT and Wilderness models makes the Outback more exciting to drive on-road and off.

Wilderness model
The Subaru Outback Wilderness is more than just an appearance package. It improves its off-road chops with more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, improved angles, and Enhanced X-Mode.

The Subaru Outback has two engine options, both of which come standard with all-wheel drive. The base engine is a 4-cylinder that gets pretty good fuel economy, making it the economical choice. A gutsy turbo engine is available for drivers craving more power and willing to take a hit in efficiency.

2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine
182 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
176 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/32 mpg

2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
260 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
277 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg (Wilderness: 21/26 mpg)

More Outback fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Subaru Outback is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. These warranties are on par with the industry average.