First Drive: 2023 Subaru Outback

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Details are important. There is even a saying, exact origin unknown, that God lives in the details. The mid-cycle refresh of the 2023 Subaru Outback crossover, the Japanese automaker’s No. 2 best seller in Canada last year behind the Crosstrek, is all about improvements to the small things — relatively speaking — that its very loyal customer base will come to appreciate.

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So, there is no headline-generating news about new powertrains. The two engines offered are the same ones that came with introduction three years ago of the sixth-generation model, a base 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder putting out 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and the significantly more powerful, turbocharged 2.4L boxer four that pumps out a stalwart 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Ditto the Lineartronic CVT, replete with eight-speed manual mode function and steering wheel paddle shifters, along with Subaru’s highly touted symmetrical full-time all-wheel drivetrain — both found in every trim level.

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But there is a new trim for 2023, the mid-level Onyx, which brings the total count to seven, starting at $32,695 for the Convenience and topping out at $46,395 for the Premier XT. The Onyx, kind of a Wilderness lite model designed for more “urban sport” than “off-road sport,” features black-finish exterior pieces, 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, black badging, a rear bumper step pad as well as an exclusive grey two-tone interior. Further, the seats are wrapped in a soft-touch, all-weather material. The Onyx ($38,695) is built off the Touring trim and adds heated rear outboard seats, alloy pedals and dual-function X-Mode.

And, excepting the recently released Wilderness, the rest of the Outback lineup receives a bolder look thanks to a new front fascia incorporating a more prominent grille, redesigned LED headlights and fog lights, and what Subaru says is a “more rugged” front bumper cover. On the sides, the expanded wheel arch cladding adds to the vehicle’s toughness while providing extra protection.

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Safety features also see a makeover, the 2023 Outback getting an updated version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technology. Thanks to a wider field of view, updated control software, plus the addition of an electric brake booster, the enhanced system operates more smoothly and under a greater range of conditions.

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Those forking out the biggest bucks for the top-trim Premier XT trim get a third wide-angle mono camera that works together with the dual-camera EyeSight system. The additional camera expands the field of view to recognize pedestrians and bicycles sooner when the crossover enters an intersection at low speed. EyeSight gives an alert to the driver, and, when necessary, applies the brakes to avoid collisions. Also new for the Premier XT is a full LCD “smart” rear-view mirror with auto-dimming, compass and Homelink. Oh, and a bit of extra chrome bling.

On models equipped with rear/side vehicle detection, EyeSight includes automatic emergency steering, which works in conjunction with pre-collision braking to help avoid collisions at speeds less than 80 km/h.

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That’s a concise listing of the changes and upgrades. What hasn’t changed is the Outback’s quiet competency no matter the road or weather conditions. Spending the morning in the Onyx, exploring the highways, byways, backroads, trails — and fall colours — of Ontario’s Muskoka region, the new trim proved to be a pleasant ride, with a well-damped suspension and a jaunty agility, especially notable on the tight, undulating cottage roads when the standard active torque vectoring held up its end. The closest thing to a negative is steering that is light to the touch though a bit remote. The car-like handling that Subaru touts as an Outback positive is a valid description if we’re talking family sedan and not sports car.

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The Outback’s 2.5L four-cylinder is pretty smooth and quiet for a horizontally opposed layout. Its biggest issue is a paucity of solid mid-range urge, the engine requiring a solid prod of the gas pedal when accelerating onto highways from a sideroad or passing slower-moving vehicles on steeper, longer inclines. The topline Premier XT, which, along with the Wilderness and Limited XT trims, comes with the turbo-four and an additional 78 hp, renders any passing issues moot. This is a sweetheart of an engine, with plenty of zip, imbuing the Outback, which is first and foremost a family wagon/crossover, with a decidedly more sporting attitude. An added plus is that the turbo engine is engineered to perform on regular 87 octane.

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The car-like ride and handling doesn’t come at any expense to the Outback’s SUV-like capability either, its full-time all-wheel drive, active torque vectoring, vehicle dynamics control and X-Mode with hill descent control all contributing to its four-season readiness. There’s also 220 millimetres of ground clearance (230 mm for Wilderness), greater than most compact crossovers. Yet the Subaru also has a low step-in height, making entry and exit for both front and rear passengers very easy.

Oh, there is one more piece of high-tech news to the 2023 Outback. It is the first vehicle in the Subaru model lineup to integrate what3words (W3W), an innovative location technology that provides a simple way to communicate precise locations using just three words. W3W has divided the world into a grid of three-metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three words — a what3words address. Drivers can navigate to and share trailheads, scenic overlooks and other hard-to-find places with precise accuracy using just three words. As a demonstration, I was given relentless.undrafted.smiled to be put into the navigation system, which was supposed to take me to a specific tree at a specific park some 10 kilometres away. And, yes, it did work, though I was given an instruction to turn left from the highway where there was no road to turn onto. This necessitated a farther two-km trip down the highway before I could make a corrective turn. Though probably a rare glitch, it’s a technology I could do without. Feel free to disagree. Nonetheless, the feature is standard on models equipped with the StarLink 11.6-inch multimedia navigation system.

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More than 25 years ago, the Outback was a fresh and bold idea for a burgeoning new segment of small sport-utility vehicles. Now, it’s one of the elder statesmen — along with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, models Subaru classifies as direct competitors, as well as the new Mazda CX-50. Even though it might not generate the same buzz as some of the vastly more competitive number of soft-roader models, the Outback name still has a solid rep. The upgrades to the sixth-generation version, while not individually shout-out worthy, nonetheless cumulatively keep the wagon-styled ute solidly in the game and ready for new outdoor adventures.