2023 Subaru Outback Review

The Subaru Outback is a perennial fan favorite. It does a fine job straddling the line between crossover and wagon, which is likely why it's so popular. In fact, Subaru's hold on the Outback's segment is so strong it hardly has any direct competition. So it's no surprise that only small changes will dot the interior and exterior on the 2023 Outback.

Of the revisions, the most obvious are no doubt the slight nip and tuck to the Outback's bodywork. There is some new plastic body cladding that flanks the headlights on the car's reworked front bumper. The wheel arches also get some beefier cladding — closely matching the bodywork revisions we've seen from the more off-road-focused Outback Wilderness model. It's worth noting, however, that the Wilderness trim won't get these exterior changes, and it'll look exactly as it does now for 2023.

Subaru says it's also reworked its standard EyeSight safety tech by making the field of view wider and reworking the software behind the system. Hopefully the sudden stops we've become used to from Subaru's safety tech will be mitigated or done away with altogether. Interestingly, only top-spec Touring models get a new wide-angle mono camera that Subaru says further expands the camera field of view to better detect pedestrians and cyclists when you're entering junctions at low speed.

The smallest of changes will greet 2023 Outback's interior space. The car's infotainment gets updated to the latest version of Subaru's Starlink system, and it now includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility. Other details, including pricing, will be revealed later this year, but we expect prices for the new Outback to largely mirror those for the current car when it hits dealerships this fall.

We don't love the Outback's sluggish base engine, and Subaru has made no revisions to the Outback's powertrains for the new model year. Thankfully, the optional turbocharged powerplant with 260 horsepower is a substantial improvement and didn't need changing. The Outback also comes with an impressive interior and surprisingly adept storage capability, and the whole package makes it a solid competitor against vehicles such as the Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Atlas Cross.

The 2023 Subaru Outback is not quite an SUV in its capabilities, but it blends comfort with plenty of ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive and a smooth ride for a character uniquely its own.