It might wear SUV dress-up, but there’s nothing deceitful about the turbocharged 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT’s driving experience. Read on for the full review and find out why.
2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT
Make no mistake, the 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT is a wagon. That Subaru markets the Outback as an SUV, and the fact that it sits in the large SUV category for sales data, is sly, but there’s no denying its long-roof styling is station wagon-adjacent.
The model has graced Australian roads for well over two decades, but until now it has drawn criticism for a lack of turbocharged power. That problem is no longer, with the introduction of the XT variant that introduces a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine to the proven Outback package.
This is the car you buy if you’re staunchly against buying an SUV, but still require a reasonable towing capacity, practical interior features, and a spacious five-seat cabin. Read on to understand why it excels in these areas.
How much does the Subaru Outback Turbo cost in Australia?
Subaru launched the turbocharged Outback in early 2023. It joined a pre-existing range of three Outback variants; the range kicks off from $42,690 (plus on-road costs) and now extends to $55,990 (plus ORCs) with the new turbo-powered options.
There are just two variants with the turbo engine – the $52,190 (plus ORCs) Outback Sport XT and the $55,990 (plus ORCs) Outback Touring XT. It’s the former we’re focusing on with this review, painted in Autumn Green metallic and fitted with no extra options.
In fact, there are few ways to spend more money on an Outback without stepping up to a better model grade – aside from some dealer-fit bits and pieces such as floor mats and kick plates.
That’s no bad thing, because the Outback Sport XT comes well equipped straight from the factory for its $52,190 price. In addition to the new 2.4-litre engine (which brings a hearty 183kW/350Nm powertrain), it ships with dual exhaust tips, sports pedals, matte-black badging, green accents for the exterior and interior, front and side cameras, water-repellent upholstery, power tailgate, heated front (and outboard rear) seats, and automatic LED headlights.
Turbo variants also get 400kg extra towing capacity and retuned suspension. Of course, the Outback gets the symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Though, it’s less of a unique selling point for Subaru these days, with several other brands offering all-wheel-drive technology across their ranges as well.
| Key details | 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT |
| Price | $52,190 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Autumn Green metallic |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $52,190 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | $57,897 (Melbourne) |
| Rivals | Skoda Superb | Toyota Kluger | Nissan Pathfinder |
How much space does the Subaru Outback Turbo have inside?
It doesn’t take long to realise the Outback takes up less space on the road than an SUV equivalent, but there’s no shortage of cabin comfort – the interior is huge.
Driver and passenger up front are treated to a huge amount of space around the legs, while the electrically adjusted seats (for both driver and passenger) work a treat to get stuck into a comfortable driving position. Storage abounds in the first row – a slot beside the transmission tunnel, a pair of cupholders, a phone cubby above the gear selector, a fair-sized centre console bin, a shallow shelf above the glovebox, and door pockets for bigger bottles.
The water-repellent upholstery is a mix of dark grey and black colours, while it’s accented by some lime green stitching. The fabric doesn’t feel particularly premium to hand, but there’s no doubt it’s hard-wearing and will shrug off spills without much argument. I’m not a big fan of the lime green accents throughout the car, but that’s just me.
The car feels well put together and there are no creaks or squeaks to mention.
Back seat passengers open the doors wide to reveal a spacious footwell and a comfortable seat base that extends the entire length of your thigh. I had three passengers seated in the back seat and all remarked at the impressive space side to side, plus the expansive headroom as well.
Passengers get two USB-A ports to charge devices with, plus heated outboard rear seats and a set of air vents. Much like the row up front, the build materials and cabin quality are finished to a high degree in the second row.
The boot opens electrically to reveal a huge, square-shaped 522L space. It’s very simple to load in items over the flat floor (there’s no loading lip) and the space is basically unencumbered by wheel wells, which makes life simple. There are load hooks and netted storage cubbies to secure your luggage, while the second row can be folded down with a latch on the wall. There’s a 12-volt port for powering accessories and a cargo blind to keep prying eyes away.
| 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 522L seats up 1267L seats folded |
| Length | 4870mm |
| Width | 1875mm |
| Height | 1670mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745mm |
Does the Subaru Outback Turbo have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Subaru is one of a few manufacturers that are beginning to offer their infotainment systems in portrait orientation. In Subaru’s case, not only does it integrate well with the surrounding dash layout, but the ease of use is very straightforward when prodding the screen.
It’s an 11.6-inch display that can run wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in full-screen. Layout of the controls is good, with a home button positioned at the bottom and a persistent banner across the top that can show various settings or modes at a glance.
Annoyingly it uses infotainment-based air-con controls, but I’ve got to say it actually works without much fuss in this instance. You have, at least, got physical buttons to change temperature, it’s only the finer detail that you have to delve into the infotainment for.
There are a series of icons to represent different functions of the home menu. They’re all big, blocky icons that you can’t mis-press. The navigation system uses Tom Tom maps that present nicely on the big screen.
Wireless Apple CarPlay functionality never faltered while I was using it, which isn’t always the case for the software.
There are USB-A and USB-C ports up front to provide power to devices, while there’s a small TFT display in front of the driver that shows information like vehicle speed, fuel economy, and distance travelled. It also contains a little Subaru Outback graphic that shows brake lights when the car itself is braking.
Is the Subaru Outback Turbo a safe car?
Subaru has a reputation for producing safe vehicles and the 2023 Outback is no exception – it scores a full five stars from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2021.
Breaking it down, the Outback nets scores of 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 91 per cent for child protection, 84 per cent for pedestrian protection, and a lofty 94 per cent for included safety assistance features.
| 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2021) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Subaru Outback Turbo have?
Even from the base variant, Subaru fits the Outback with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitoring, and a rear-view camera.
The Subaru driver monitoring system is on the ball, constantly checking whether your eyes are on the road or if your attention has fallen away momentarily. It can be turned off in the infotainment system.
Likewise, the adaptive cruise-control system with steering intervention holds the car largely at the right speed limit, though it can drift by a few kilometres. It leaves a safe distance to the vehicle in front.
How much does the Subaru Outback Turbo cost to maintain?
Subaru offers a common five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with the 2023 Outback. It’s matched by up to five years of pre-purchase service planning, which runs to $2577 for a full five-year plan.
For roadside assistance, Subaru pairs its program coverage with the Motoring Clubs of Australia. If you’re a part of a club, Subaru offers 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance.
We researched an insurance quote for the Subaru Outback Sport XT and were provided with a $1469 premium per annum based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1355 (3 years) $2577 (5 years) |
Is the Subaru Outback Turbo fuel-efficient?
Claimed fuel use of the turbocharged Subaru Outback stands at 9.0L/100km on a combined cycle. In our case, the Subaru used a comparatively frugal 8.0L/100km.
However, our use favoured highways over longer distances (extra urban) where Subaru claims a 7.3L/100km consumption. With that, the Outback isn’t far off the claim.
Do note the car requires premium unleaded fuel, so no skimping at the petrol pump, and the fuel tank has a 63-litre contains 63L.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 9.0L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.0L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 63L |
What is the Subaru Outback Turbo like to drive?
All of us at the Drive office have spent time behind the wheel of the Subaru Outback over the past few years and come away impressed every time, but the one thing we’ve all been crying out for is more power. With the advent of the turbocharged engine under its bonnet, the Subaru Outback now presents a phenomenal package across the board when it comes to the driving stakes.
It no longer feels out of its depth when you put your foot down, with a wave of turbocharged torque providing a reassuring shove in the back whenever you lean on the throttle. The 1730kg wagon accelerates encouragingly from a standstill thanks to the healthy 183kW/350Nm outputs. Simply, it’s the engine the car has always deserved.
Power is routed through a continuously variable automatic transmission that doesn’t exhibit those tell-tale pitfalls of being thrashy and noisy under throttle. Paired to the turbocharged engine, the CVT is wholly refined and responsive when you need. There are a set of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel to change theoretical ‘gears’.
Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system remains confident in all weather conditions and power is put to the road confidently even when you venture off the beaten track. The Outback does have a series of off-road modes to get stuck into if required, though the traction never wavered over the light gravel section I took the car on.
Unlike some ‘on-demand’ systems in other SUVs, the Outback sends 60 per cent of torque to the front wheels and 40 per cent to the rear as a static split, meaning it’s less likely to be caught playing catch-up if conditions change.
Around corners, the Outback holds its composure and doesn’t lean nearly as much as an equivalent large SUV. If it’s space and a car-like driving character you’re after, the Subaru Outback is a far better option compared to a traditional SUV.
The steering is heavy and befitting of the car’s size, while remaining light enough to be able to manoeuvre the car into parking spaces. With that said, the turning circle is surprisingly small as well.
Though it’s the turbocharged engine that steals the show, the underlying hero is the Outback’s impressive ride quality. There’s no brittleness when traversing minor imperfections, and the suspension is wonderfully absorbent of larger impacts like speed humps. With the raised ride height it feels as though you could monster over speed humps without even slowing down – it’s that good.
| Key details | 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT |
| Engine | 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 183kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque | 350Nm @ 2000–4800rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Continously variable automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 107.5kW/t |
| Weight | 1743kg |
| Spare tyre type | Full-size spare |
| Tow rating | 2400kg braked 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.0m |
Should I buy a Subaru Outback Sport XT?
The ‘SUV’ that isn’t really an SUV already had our hearts before, but with the new turbocharged engine the 2023 Subaru Outback XT now presents the complete package.
Power outputs now befit the large body, and it retains the car’s impressive ride qualities and composed handling character that would see larger SUVs feeling a little unwieldy by comparison.
Not to mention, it’s actually affordable for what it is too. You might miss out on seven seats, but the space on offer for an entire family, for the price you pay, is hugely capacious. It’s backed up by a simple and effective tech suite, plus the model’s renowned safety too.
The Subaru Outback XT really is a jack-of-all-trades. Drive colleague Susannah Guthrie was really onto something when she bought her own Outback a couple of years ago, so perhaps an upgrade to a turbo version is in order?
The post 2023 Subaru Outback Sport XT review appeared first on Drive.
