Long-term test! 2024 Subaru Outback XT review: Sport | Turbo wagon alternative to Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2024 Subaru Outback XT signalled a return to higher-performance vehicles for the Japanese brand, as it introduced a punchier turbocharged petrol boxer four-cylinder engine to the current generation of the high-riding wagon when it launched, exciting buyers along the way.
But how does the new Outback XT handle day-to-day family duties? Well, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Andrew Chesterton has spent three months living with its Sport flagship to find out. After all, it needs to offer genuine practicality on top of its performance to succeed.
In this long-term expert review, he also deep-dives the Hyundai Santa Fe rival's pricing, features, safety, design, efficiency and after-sales support as well as sharing his driving impressions. But, ultimately, is it worth buying? Watch this video for the answer to that all-important question.
#Subaru #Outback #Review
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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:29 Pricing and features
01:16 Design
01:56 Practicality
04:05 Under the bonnet
04:54 Efficiency
05:29 Driving
07:19 Safety
07:54 Ownership
08:27 Verdict
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CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive

[GeneLake]

My non turbo version also watches my eyes and lets me know when I’m not paying attention . I played a game with it recently and (safely) took my eyes off the road making it continually tell me to keep my eyes on the road. After about 5 times it took another tack, turned the radio down and said - ‘you appear to be tired, would you like me to find somewhere to rest’. Impressive.
At 66 years of age and having owned cars since the tender age of 15, this is hands down the best and safest car I have ever owned.

[RadioSaigons]

Yup, 12/100 in the city. Can’t be arguing with that. I’ve had my 2023 Touring XT for just on 6 weeks now, see the same in the city. Get her out on the road though, I’m usually seeing 7.5/100, have seen it as low as 6.7/100. Overall consumption since new, 6000km to date: 8.3/100 combined. None too shabby, I reckon.

[sandgroper]

As the main person who is doing the driving, the family has just picked up the non turbo engine( brand new 2024 model) outback sport. Have had it for a week, and although no freeway or highway driving yet. I have yet to find it wanting and yes the safety tech is a bit daunting. But then again coming from a 2000 model Toyota RAV 4, the whole drive by wire is new, with the feel of the steering, and yes it still feels huge, yet overall I believe the dimensions are the outback is like 5 cm’s wider and like 10 cm’s longer.

[colonelquickshifter]

Dad sleeeper wagon - got mine ! XT - same colour - very excited

[wazakiYEAH]

I want the wilderness version of this to bring to Australia. I don't want to buy a big 4x4 Suv or a ute this is enough for a soft roader terrain.

[wayneschenk]

Just had a close look at the Xt 2023 model build quality is great.

[mrdpwr]

US does not have the Sport XT. Today I just closed a hell of a deal on a 2023 touring XT fully loaded.

[stephenmuller]

Great review, forget to use the indicators on a few occasions? I see that daily.

[FneWne]

I am in my second month with my 2024 Outback XT Limited. Driving normally and in the City and commuting to work... I get about 10.7 L/100KM pretty consistantly. I am not feathering it or anything. I sometimes give it the juice to pass people (takes off real nice too) but I would consider myself a conservative driver that can get aggressive with the Turbo every now and then. I really think 11L/100 would be the average for most people.

[marcusnz]

My Turbo Touring here in New Zealand was not far short of NZ$80, 000! We seriously get ripped off. We only get a 3 year warranty as well.

In US models (which are identical really) that centre cubby where the USB plugs are is also a wireless charger. They also have a camera in the back of the antenna on the roof and a screen for a rear view mirror that shows that camera - meaning you have a clear view behind even if the boot is full of stuff!

Aussie and NZ XT engines are also less horsepower (slightly) than the US ones for some reason.

Your foot must be heavy. I have done 3, 000 kms and averaged 8.2/100

[jmginthent]

It’d be nice if they offered an option with no rear carpet. Just like the INEOS

[subazealand]

Why is Australia so much cheaper than in New Zealand the XT? :(

[Mububban]

Outback has been my dream car for ages, but I'm already paying >$100 to fill the 50L tank on a Kia hatchback with 91RON 😞 I'm hoping some EV wagons with >450L boots come into the Australian market in the next few years, I'm sick of getting reamed at the petrol station when I'll have solar panels shortly. It costs roughly 1/3 to "fuel" a car with electricity vs the same distance driven with petrol.

[christopherludlam]

Petrol consumption way worse than my 8 year old, 200, 000km - 6 cylinder Outback. That would stop me buying one I’m afraid, despite knowing how great mine has been.

[rajTrondhjem]

Would be good to do a comparison between this and the WRX Sport wagon?

[bortron]

Other Subaru creepy feature is the emergency steer function which starts turning on its own when it thinks your veering out of lane (and not recognising road tar lines)

[rockygoodfellow]

We've got a 2017 Outback 3.6R. Similar power and torque to the new turbo. Runs happily on 91ron, uses about 8.0 lph hwy and 9.9lph around town.
Pity Subaru killed off this brilliant engine.

[shadowhound]

It seems awesome, I just wish it was slightly closer to the ground and came in a hybrid version. A mpg of 30 would be awesome.

[Jasperjames]

Anyone had experience with having dogs in the back? Me and the wife is expecting so trying to look for a car that separates the dogs from the passengers but avoiding to big of a car

[roscored]

does it have stop start engine? And if it does can you switch it off?