2024 Subaru Outback Touring XT - POV Review

MSRP: From $42,795
MPG: 22 city / 29 highway
Engine: 2.4 L Turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 260 hp
Transmission: Continuous variable transmission
Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs

Vehicle was provided by the manufacturer for testing and review.

The audio in this video was recorded with in-ear binaural microphones, headphones are highly recommended!

Here's the equipment I use (affiliate links, commission earned on sales):

Thanks for watching!

[TheTopher]

For comparison here’s the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness - POV Review

[davem.]

Thanks man I work at the factory good to see a review!

[calfolkionized]

Did not know the touring has digital mirror! Thanks for the nice review!

[christianohms]

Nice wagon, but definitely not 44k nice. Insane!

[rightlanehog]

Chris, The Outback has kept the mainstream wagon dream alive for many years. Hopefully the arrival of the Crown Signia will help that dream grow. 😁

[thatoneotherotherguy]

It’s a shame that the YouTube reviewers only touch the press fleet. The non-turbo Outbacks are the real value play. We LOVE our 2023 Outback Premium. It was like $32, 000 after destination. Ton of car for the money. And Subaru does factory orders, often below MSRP, which is nice to get EXACTLY what you want.

[kimcloud]

We have a 21 Onyx XT. With some Geolander tires (same as wilderness edition), its the most comfrotable all weather, go almost anywhere, road trip vehicle / daily driver.

[adams]

3500lb towing in that cvt 4cylinder turbo.. man these new engines are amazing coming out. Crazy where tech is today.

[Dusty]

Always a good evening when Topher posts 😮🎉

[hanhanhanhan]

Have had it for a year now, been loving it 👍🏻👍🏻

[TheHersonCastillo]

a CD PLAYER in the center storage 🙂😂💿🎶

[efk]

Great to see an unbiased review of the Outback and not comparing it to something it wasn't designed to be.
I don't have the turbo in my year old Touring and there's no issue with power. I like the safety features and the unique look of the wagon style, especially with the amount of cargo area. I think this vehicle is a good balance between an SUV and sedan. Can't be compared to either one. I suspect this vehicle will be my choice again in two years unless they go berserk with the plastic cladding.

[spathotan]

Great review as always man. Me and the wife have test driven basically every Subaru, during her hunt before she landed on the Santa Cruz, and mine before I landed on the GLI. Every Subaru ive ever drove feels incredibly slow and choked out, even the WRX.

[timothycoyne]

Nice review. I had an Outback Premium for a few years back in the mid 2010s. It was a great family car, if boring to drive.

$44K is getting up there for an Outback, but I think you’re getting a nice and very capable family truckster for the money.

[JonM]

My dad has the 24 xt in white. Loves it

[JOE-wxtm]

you should drive a lucid. would be awesome if you could get your hands on one and do a pov! Amzing content btw

[Zangle]

Outbacks are great. I owned an older one years ago and loved it. I'd like to find a 2013-2014 Outback with a manual.

[scottanthony]

I think the turbo is now able to run on regular. The XT (turbo) choice is one of feast or famine. In this 4, 000 lb car, the normally aspirated 2.5 L is underpowered when trying to merge, especially if a hill is involved. (I test drove both). In trying to find a suitable replacement for my '14 Forester XT, I drove this and was underwhelmed. With the Forester XT, they upgraded the suspension, added bigger wheels and brakes, and created 3 drive modes, with buttons on the steering wheel, where easily accessible. There is a "sport" mode in this Outback, but it is buried two screens deep on that big screen. Hardly useful when driving. I thought the Outback felt a bit floaty on the road, less nimble than my Forester XT, and like there was a bit of lag waiting for the real power to tip in. It has a lot of nice equipment, but in the end, I didn't think it was worth the extra money and fuel consumption penalty. The 2.4 has more power and torque vs my old 2.0L XT, but it carries a lot more weight. I found the 2.5 Forester lacking in power too. Accelerating past about 50 mph, it just screams for more power. Hoping the hybrid brings a nice compromise in the future with some needed torque and better mpg. I don't have to have all the power of the XT, but the 2.5 isn't enough.

[scott]

I wish transmissions just did what they needed to do without the fake shifting BS. The best way to confuse a naive owner is having the person at the desk tell a customer, "yeah, that weird shifting you've been having? You don't actually have gears. They're just programmed to sound like it does so you don't bring your car in to say it shifts weird..."

[Jay-sbxs]

Am considering a Legacy Touring XT with Java Napa Brown including and cosmetic blue color