2024 Subaru Outback 2.4 Touring XT Review

The Subaru Outback is the brand’s second-best selling vehicle as of late, slotting in behind the same-ethos-but-smaller-and-less-expensive Crosstrek. And yet, the Outback still feels like the heart of Subaru, embodying the notion that weather conditions don’t matter, you don’t need low-range to go into the woods, and the wagon lifestyle is better than that brought with the downsides of owning an SUV.

I’ve always liked the Subaru Outback. It’s extremely versatile, moderately comfortable, all-weather capable, quite safe, and it flies under the radar in my home region of the Northeast. It’s gotten bigger and more powerful over the years (as has effectively every continuously-running nameplate, save for the Mazda Miata), but it still is uniquely an Outback. This sixth-generation (!) model was launched in 2020 and received some mid-cycle updates for 2023, but the most notable change was the addition of the ultra-outdoorsy Wilderness trim for 2022. That’s not the one we have here; instead, we tested the top-trim 2.4 Touring XT, which starts at $42,795.

For that money you get a pretty healthily-sized “lifted” wagon, which Subaru for some reason calls an SUV, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged SUBARU BOXER® 4-cylinder that makes 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It’s unfortunately paired to Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT that does make an attempt to replicate the sensation and performance adjustments of a traditional automatic transmission’s shifts, but it’s not a particularly pleasant gearbox even if it does its job well (and that’s not to mention that buyers likely couldn’t care less about the Outback’s transmission type).

Fuel mileage is rated at 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway, neither of which are particularly good. Outbacks with the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter engine do 26 MPG city and 32 MPG highway, but it’s probably time for Subaru to implement some kind of hybrid system here.

Perhaps more attractive are the ever-important Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and included EyeSight suite that award the Outback five stars at NHTSA and gain it an Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS. This plus a healthy 8.7 inches of ground clearance (with the Wilderness boasting a truly impressive 9.5” of GC) makes for a vehicle that is deeply comforting and reassuring in everything it does.

Two gripes we have with the Outback after our time with it are both technology-related. The StarLink infotainment screen and control unit continues to be excessively-encompassing, slow to respond to inputs, and unintuitive. Additionally, the reverse auto-brake proved to be extremely overactive, frequently applying the emergency brake in thinking we were about to back up into something when we had full control of the vehicle. EyeSight is great, but it isn’t perfect.

As expected, there isn’t much to write about as far as the Outback’s driving experience goes. The suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps and road imperfections as far as vehicles in this price bracket go, undoubtedly helped by the suspension and tires’ sidewall, both of which are fairly generous. There’s no hustle about the Outback’s method of getting you where you’re going, but it’ll do it without fuss and in relative peace.

The Subaru Outback is a testament to the fact that you don’t need an all-out three-row body-on-frame SUV to brave inclement weather and go to your favorite hiking or fishing spot. It could do a few things better, but the Subaru Outback is a vehicle to hit the “jack of all trades, master of none” right on the bullseye, and the niceties and power that come with the 2.4 Touring XT trim make it feel a punch above what most expect of the nameplate.

Yay

  • As safe as the day is long
  • Good ride quality over broken, poor roads
  • Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is a staple of northern climates for a reason
  • Isn’t an SUV or CUV (yes, wagons still rule)
  • Reasonably affordable as far as new cars with this level of equipment go

Nay

  • Middling fuel efficiency
  • StarLink continues to frustrate
  • Overactive automatic rear braking
  • CVT is unpleasant to interact with
  • Bland styling and driving dynamics

The Takeaway

The Subaru Outback is as the Subaru Outback does; it marches to the beat of its own drum and, while that means it suffers on the fronts of fuel efficiency and curb appeal, it’s a very easy vehicle to recommend for a whole slew of reasons that have given it strong staying power over six generations.

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5 responses to “2024 Subaru Outback 2.4 Touring XT Review”

  1. George G Avatar
    George G

    My god cars are so boring right now.

    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      There are a handful of borings cars, certainly – but even the boring ones are inherently “good” for day to day stuff. That said, I’d argue there are a ton of fun machines out there right now. Affordable sports cars like the GR86 and BRZ to the wild rally GR Corolla on up to the always excellent stuff from Porsche.

      The Mustang GT makes 480 hp. You can buy a 710-hp Durango. And there are still a handful of wagons available.

      1. George G Avatar
        George G

        To clarify, I’m referencing cars that are attainable for the middle class, exotics are always available to the well to do. BRZ/GR86 are 1 car. The GR Corolla are essentially unobtainable. They are limited edition, and massively expensive for what they are. Nissan doesn’t have a performance car anymore (don’t count the Z, it’s been out for 3 years now, and I have never seen one, not one, in California no less), Mazda, nope, no manual in the 3 with the big engine, and no Mazdaspeed anymore. No Camaro. No challenger/charger. And when the mopar’s do get released, they will be substantially more costly than before, substantially. The Subaru WRX, while I’m happy it’s still around, is not an attractive vehicle, but, I guess if you can find one in base form, they are probably still affordable to a working man. Honda, no Fit (this was a fun, light, affordable functional vehicle), they still have the SI. Good luck finding one, they are out there, but, you’ll never find one at list, at least not within 100 miles of where I live in the middle of Cali. Mitsubishi doesn’t really exist any more, no Lancer GTS’s or Evo’s, or Ralliarts. Sure they’ll sell you a CUV, but no fun cars available.
        The Durango you bring up. Incredibly limited edition, getting bid up sky high, hell, I think they start at $100k. An average person can’t buy that. They don’t even make the RT anymore, my wife has one, it is a truly fun functional vehicle, I bought it new for her in 2018, loaded with everything for $48K. Hell, even the Mustang you mention, the working class sports car, they upped the money on that as well, I can’t see how you could get into a GT for under $60,000 otd now. I have 2 mustangs now (2013 Boss 302, 2016 GT350), they were good deals for what you got, I’m keeping them. But $60K for a GT? I can’t justify that.

        1. George G Avatar
          George G

          Also, porsche counts as an exotic now, wayyyy expensive.

        2. Jeff Glucker Avatar
          Jeff Glucker

          yeah the mustang pricing has certainly gotten to eye watering levels, that’s true.
          I disagree that the GR Corolla is massively expensive for what it is, if you can get it at MSRP. Which you can now if you shop well. I believe Longo Toyota in LA stands by a non-markup policy which is great to see.

          That price you brought up is part of the reason I didn’t connect with the Dark Hors actually… the one I tested was 76k. Bonkers.