Checking in as one of the longest tenured vehicles from the Asian-Pacific automaker Subaru, the versatile 2024 Outback marches on part of its sixth generation introduced in 2020 underpinned by Subaru’s newish Global Platform. It’s a sturdy off-road capable five-door crossover/wagon with a mid-size attitude.
Outback continues as the volume leader at Subaru with U.S. sales in the 2023 calendar year reaching 161,814, an almost 10 percent jump from 2022 which drew 147,262-unit sales. Outback narrowly outperformed the up-and-coming compact Crosstrek crossover with 159,193 sold units. For the 2023 calendar year, Subaru generated 632,086 sales, up a healthy 13.6 percent from the previous year.
Expect zero mechanical updates in 2024 from Outback with a touch more standard equipment once found optional in selected trims. The off-road specialist trim, Wilderness now enjoys a slightly higher ground clearance, receives exterior styling upgrades.
No full-size pickup trucks or heavy body-on-frame sport utilities dot Subaru dealers, just small-to-midsize wagons, sedans, crossovers and a low-volume two-door coupe based upon a uni-body, car-ish frame, the largest 2024 Subaru being the relatively new three-row Ascent crossover. Subaru does a stellar job of stuffing the lineup of uni-body framed crossovers full of off-road abilities approaching a few body-on-framers. Raised roof rails come standard across the trim lineup with built-in tie downs.
A whopping nine trim levels await suiters starting with Base and moving up the trim level ladder with Premium, Onyx Edition, Wilderness, Limited, Touring, Onxy Edition XT, Limited XT and Touring XT. Base units start at $28,895. All Outbacks assemble about two-and-a-half hours from Chicagoland in Lafayette, Indiana, the sole Subaru production facility in the U.S.
With the exception of the tiny rear-drive BRZ two-door coupe, all Subarus enjoy all-wheel drive all the time, an added bonus for those residing in the snow belt. Four-cylinder engines remain lineup prominent with no six or eights offering steadying fuel economy readouts delivering decent mpg considering all-wheel drive formats utilize a bit more gas.
Outback and all Subarus are fertile ground for permanent all-wheel drive, always active and integrating with the transmission, sending a balanced distribution of power to all wheels at the same time, eliminating under and over steer. Many rival all-wheel drive systems pitch a simpler ‘part-time design,’ also known as ‘on demand’ where the vehicle defaults to two-wheel drive until slippage gets detected, after which all-wheel drive is engaged.
Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) builds into Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive upgrading handling. When sensers detect a loss of traction in a particular wheel, engine output gets distributed to the wheel’s maintaining the most traction keeping Outback on course.
Outbacks employ a smooth-shifting continuously variable transmission (CVT) with infinite forward gear ratios rather than a finite number of planetary gears. That said, Subaru built into this high-torque CVT eight pre-determined points mimicking a traditional eight-speed ‘manumatic’ style automatic transmission. Finger-friendly steering wheel paddle shifters select these eight points, or simply employ the tall-standing vertical-shifting transmission grab knob to sashay over to the ‘M’ position left of ‘D’. This CVT works in tandem with an Active Torque Split continually varying front to rear torque based on acceleration and steering angle inputs proactively transferring more torque to the rear wheels in response to wheel slip.
Adding another layer of gripping technology: X-Mode. Workable at speeds below 18 miles per hour, and selectable from the touch-sensitive center screen, X-Mode adds peace of mind during dicey low-speed conditions such as a muddy buddy encounter or icy inclines optimizing engine output and CVT ratio positioning. Hill decent control builds into X-mode steadying steep slow-speed descents without employing the brake pedal. Think of X-Mode as a low-gear on steroids. Wilderness and Onyx Editions upgrade even further to a two-mode X-Mode design. For those seeking sure-footed driving within the context of unibody structure and competitive pricing, Subaru dealers remain top of mind.
With 191.1 inches of length, the five-seat Outback measures in at the smaller end of the mid-size parameter, but offers greater volume of interior room than popular, sometimes better recognized names including Toyota RAV-4, Honda CR-V or Jeep Grand Cherokee. Subaru’s three-row Ascent occupies the segments larger end.
Two four-cylinder engine choices return in 2024; one naturally aspirated, one turbocharged. Different trim levels get assigned a specific engine. The 2.5-liter 182-horsepower four comes standard within Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited and Touring.
The 2.4-liter turbocharged four upping horsey excitement to the 260 orbit inhabits Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT and Touring XT. Both drink up regular, 87-octane fuel occupying the rather sizeable 18.5-gallon tank. If budgets allow, grab the turbo four as it provides notable power punctuation especially from a standing start; welcome especially if multiple riders join pilots frequently.
Both engines build upon a horizontally-opposed ‘Boxer” design, yet another notable identifier separating Subaru from mainstream selections. Also tagged as ‘Flat Four,’ pistons lay flat at 180 degrees, riding shallower in the engine compartment. The result… a lower center of gravity improving handling and agility. None of the nine Outback trims feature an all-electric format. At this point in time Subaru offers one all-electric vehicle, (Solterra).
Outback pricing starts at $28,895 for a Base model. Subaru supplied a top-level Autumn Green Metallic Touring XT with the turbo four and just about every bell and whistle offered. At $42,795 this vehicle comes fully loaded ‘as is’ with no factory option packages. The bottom line with dealer added floor mats ($141) and a $1,295 destination charge reached $44,231.
The comparatively high 8.7 inches of ground clearance found within the majority of trims builds upon a raised four-wheel suspension blending off-road ready height with manageable egress and ingress into the vehicle. For aging baby boomers or those with mobility issues, Outback eases the transition from outdoors to indoors. The Wilderness trim’s 9.5 inches of clearance offers good service too when tested recently in Subaru’s compact Crosstrek and its off-road Wilderness edition.
Exterior styling tilts comfortably conservative, or at least what passes for conservative within a five-door crossover. No sharp edging of the likes found in Toyota’s RAV4, with Outback boasting smooth curves. Expect decent sight lines with minimal blind spots when driving. In front, a prominent six-sided grille includes the six-star logo. Front LED lights within wrap-around housing move with the groove touting ‘steering response,’ moving in time with steering wheel activity. Also standard, LED fog lights. Round wheel wells include protective composite black cladding which extend to lower side doors and front/rear bumper bottoms.
The instrument panel blends analog and digital systems within an easy-to-grasp-at-a-glance layout. Two circular, largely analog gauges (left-side tachometer, right-side speedometer) feature two smaller half-moon inserts at about seven-o-clock (left-side temperature, right-side fuel gauge) In between, a digital message and graphics region supply additional tidbits.
While Base and Premium trims enjoy a seven-inch-sized center screen, all other trims including our tester supersized the portrait style touch-sensitive Multimedia Plus screen to 11.6 inches featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The bright screen includes large icons with a lot of information at fingertips. Most touch-sensitive temperature controls reside along the bottom, although front/rear defrost buttons locate along the screen’s side columns. Give yourself a little extra time to learn the ins and outs of the system. This luddite took two days to locate the in-screen ‘Home” button (In my defense, the drab icon needed serious ‘Love It or List It' renovation intervention). Two tactile twist knobs (on/off/volume and selection) made the journey a bit easier.
Seating materials differ upon trims selected. Touring and Touring XT offer the ultimate comfort with Nappa-leather-trimmed upholstery. Subaru offers easy-clean Star Tex water-repellent upholstery within the two Onyx editions and Wilderness with a cloth covering in Base and Premium. Row two measures large enough to hold three adults in relative comfort. Behind row two, 32.6 cubic feet of usable room opens for business, decent, but not class leading due to the curved roof structure above the hatch door.
Removable and washable mats in the cargo and leg regions spruce up splendidly and effortlessly with soap, water, a garden hose and elbow grease. Plug ports of USB A and USB C varieties are available in most trims. A hands-free, foot-activated power rear liftgate is available in all but Base and Premium trims. Warranty coverage and time horizons return a reliable grade, but not industry leading.
2024 Subaru Outback
Price as tested: $44,231
Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbo
Horsepower: 260
Wheelbase: 108.1 inches
Length: 191.1 inches
Height: 66.4 inches
Width: 74.2 inches
Curb weight: 3,946 pounds
Fuel Economy: 22 mpg city/ 29 mpg highway
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Assembly: Lafayette, Indiana
