Even more than minivans, wagons are a dying breed in this country. It's hard to find a new model for sale, though a few automakers remain firmly involved in the wagon game. Subaru is one such company, and the Outback is an iconic, long-running wagon model. The woodsy, outdoors-friendly Outback has been carrying families, pets, and gear well off the beaten path for almost 30 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
Updates to the Outback for 2023 include mild styling refreshes, updated safety tech, and new infotainment software. Six trim levels are available, including Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. The new Wilderness trim debuted for the 2022 model year as a more hardcore off-road-ready version of the Outback wagon.
- New front fascia and protective bodywork
- Subaru's latest EyeSight safety tech is on board, including a wide-angle rearview camera
- A new infotainment system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
For 2023, the Outback Onyx Edition gets unique 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim. Except for the new Wilderness, all versions of the new Outback get an updated grille and redesigned headlights. Prominent black plastic body cladding now runs beneath the headlights, around the lower front fascia, and outlines the wheel arches and rocker panels.
The rugged Wilderness version already came with miles of black plastic body cladding. Its black front bumper comes accented with orange tow hook covers, and the wagon comes with a unique black grille design.
The Outback features seating for five people on standard cloth upholstery, but higher trims add water-resistance materials and even leather at the top end of the model line. Subaru offers a giant 11.6-inch infotainment screen that dominates the dash and incorporates many physical controls. The resulting look is clean and uncluttered without all the buttons. However, interacting with the system can sometimes be frustrating.
Subaru offers two powertrain choices for the 2023 Outback. The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder making 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. An available turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque. The XT and Wilderness variants come standard with the more powerful engine, and the Onyx trim is available with the upgrade. All 2023 Outbacks come with a continuously variable transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD).
Subaru's AWD system features active torque vectoring, which shifts torque between the wheels that need it most. Hill-descent control and selectable driving modes are also standard. The Outback offers 8.7 inches of ground clearance in its standard format and 9.5 inches of clearance in Wilderness guise.
When equipped with the 2.5-liter engine, Subaru estimates that the Outback will return 33 mpg on the highway and have a range of more than 600 miles per tank. According to the automaker, the turbocharged 2.4-liter engine returns up to 30 mpg on the highway and offers a 3,500-pound towing capacity. According to Subaru's estimates, the Outback Wilderness is slightly less fuel-efficient, returning up to 26 mpg on the highway.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hasn't yet crash-tested the 2023 Outback, but Subaru says it expects the car to achieve the same great results as its predecessor. For its part, the 2022 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick+ award, including "Good" scores in all IIHS crashworthiness categories, "Superior" scores for front crash prevention, and a "Good+" score for LATCH system ease of use.
Subaru EyeSight safety tech is standard and comes with DriverFocus distraction mitigation. Available tech includes rear automatic braking and a head-up display. Subaru offers a front-view camera that creates a 180-degree front view for easier maneuvering off-road and in tight parking lots.
Dual 7-inch touchscreens come standard in the new Outback. The top display runs audio controls, while the bottom unit handles safety and climate settings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, voice controls, and more.
The 2023 Outback is available with an 11.6-inch touchscreen running the latest version of Subaru's Starlink infotainment interface. The large display incorporates controls for climate settings and other vehicle options. It comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and over-the-air updates.
Subaru says the new Outback is the first of its models to use what3words (W3W) navigation. The system divides the world into 10x10-foot squares and assigns a unique 3-word combination. The intention is that users can find almost any point of interest or location using a 3-word input.
The Subaru Outback is one of just a few wagons on sale today. They include the Audi A4 Allroad, Audi A6 Allroad, Volvo V60 Cross Country, and Volvo V90 Cross Country. Buyers may also consider wagon-like alternatives such as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, and others.
Subaru is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of April 14, 2022, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
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