2024 Subaru Outback

The Outback gets only minor revisions for 2024. The ruggedly styled Wilderness trim features a redesigned front bumper with a new grille design and LED foglights, while a handful of options become standard features depending on trim. The Onyx Edition, for example, adds a heated steering wheel and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. What the Outback truly needs — more power from its base engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission to replace the standard continuously variable unit — may have to wait until a full redesign, perhaps as early as next year. You won't find them in this year's update. It's one of the reasons we recommend opting for the Outback's optional turbocharged engine.

The Outback's distinctive design makes it something of an outlier. Only a handful of crossover-style SUVs can match its off-road skill, such as the Honda Passport and Jeep Cherokee. More hardcore, truck-based SUVs like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner offer better off-road capability but aren't as comfortable on the road. The Audi A6 Allroad is a luxury alternative with an adventuresome spirit, but it isn't built to withstand the abuse that the Outback can endure. Buyers resistant to SUVs but seeking all-weather or all-terrain readiness will find plenty to like about the 2024 Subaru Outback. Check out our Expert Rating to get our test team's full take on the Outback.

Check out our long-term test of the Subaru Outback for a deeper look into what our experts discovered after driving an XT Onyx Edition for a year. Note that while we tested a 2020 model, the 2024 Outback is of the same generation and many of our observations still apply.