Millennial Mom’s Review: 2023 Subaru Outback

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Back in October 2021, Stephanie Wallcraft and I compared the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness to the 2021 Honda Passport Touring. While Steph chose the Outback as the winner of the two, I just wasn’t feeling it and preferred the Honda Passport. More recently, we brought the Outback back for another showdown, this time against the 2023 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition.

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After a long-term test with the CX-50, I truly thought the Mazda would get an easy win, but the 2023 Subaru Outback put up a really good fight — but of course, you’ll have to head over to that comparison if you want to know which vehicle came out on top.

Honestly, maybe it’s the top trim that pulled me in, but there’s just something about driving the Outback this time around, something that I like a whole lot more than when I drove the 2022 model in 2021. Yes, there are some upgrades for 2023 — a newer version of the EyeSight safety suite, full-circle heated steering wheel, rear USB-C and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging pad — but nothing mind-blowing. 

In fact, one thing that hasn’t changed, but very much needs an update, is the backup camera. I thought Toyota cameras were bad, but Subaru’s takes it to a new level of horribly blurry. The weird thing is that the Outback’s digital rearview mirror is so clear that it almost makes up for the blurry backup camera. Almost. The blurry backup camera isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, mainly because we shouldn’t be reliant on it. However, new vehicles are so expensive these days. Hence, shouldn’t a quality camera be included in the price? 

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Granted, the Subaru Outback does have a starting price of $32,695, which is much lower than the average price of many other SUVs on the market. That said, the base Outback doesn’t have all the same features as the tested Premier XT. For $46,395 (plus $1,995 freight and PDI) you also get a sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated back seats, and memory seats. I could live without those things if I’m saving over $10-grand. But, if I’m going to opt for the highest trim, then I’d appreciate a quality camera. When Driving contributor Stephanie Wallcraft drove the 2023 Subaru Ascent, she mentioned it had a “significantly improved camera” and “comes with a standard camera washer that operates when the rear wiper washer is activated.” I can only assume that means the Outback will eventually get the camera update, but when?

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I want to hate the 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen, but it’s actually not horrible — well, it’s definitely not the worst. The vertical screen is a waste of space when it comes to the camera. It’s just blank space at the bottom when it could have been another camera view or something similar. However, what’s worse is how many fingerprints I can see after one car ride. 

The screen is big and basic, and we like basic, especially when it comes to modern technology. I’ll admit it doesn’t start off feeling basic, but playing around with the different settings will quickly allow you to find and get used to the different functions and settings. The great thing about those harder-to-find functions is that you’ll probably set them once and never need to go back to them again.

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Once wirelessly connected to Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto), everything becomes much easier to use. If CarPlay isn’t your thing, connecting to other audio sources like the radio is really simple. In addition to the tuning knob, there’s a direct-tune option that lets you key in a specific station without needing to scroll through favourites. As an avid radio listener, and someone who frequently changes stations to find a song I love, I can appreciate that feature. 

Within the climate options is an added touch to send more heat to specific places. But you’ll have to be quick to decide what you need to do on that screen — after a few seconds, that screen disappears. That is one of the main reasons I prefer physical buttons to the touch options — the physical buttons won’t disappear to display other options on the screen. Not to mention, to open up the complete climate controls, you’ll have to tap the lower centre, but it’s a bit slow to respond. 

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In the EV world, many shoppers are opting for plug-in hybrids because they make a great option for those not wanting to take an all-electric deep-dive (wow, that sounds terribly dangerous). But this isn’t an EV. You’ll need to spend a bit more for gas with the Subaru Outback Premier XT. The base trim has a combined fuel consumption of 8.3 L/100 km (9.2 city, 7.2 highway). This tester houses the optional 2.4L turbocharged H4 that makes 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, pushing the combined fuel consumption up to 9.5 L/100 km (10.6 city, 8.1 highway). 

But I’ve gotten completely off-topic. What I meant to say with that little EV anecdote (at the beginning of the previous paragraph) is that there are some shoppers who aren’t anywhere near the EV market, but instead, are merely transitioning into the world of modern technology. The Subaru Outback provides a great way to go from basic to moderately-high-tech. For example, there’s a CD player! Instead of taking up valuable touchscreen space, it’s hidden in the centre storage — and that is, by far, the best surprise I’ve ever encountered in a tested vehicle.

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While CD players may not be modern tech, Subaru’s EyeSight is pretty nifty. It’s no Super Cruise, but in the same way that GM’s sensor watches you to ensure your eyes are on the road, so does EyeSight. Where GM has a sensor on the wheel, Subaru’s version watches you from the sensor above the centre screen. It’s a fairly sensitive system that takes safety to a somewhat obsessive level. A couple times, I merely looked back to check my blind spot, or took a quick look at the kids, and the vehicle beeped and showed a “keep your eyes on the road” reminder. You can turn it off from the vehicle settings, but that totally defeats the purpose of these important safety features. In this top trim, EyeSight also includes a wide-angle mono camera that can recognize pedestrians and bicycles sooner, thanks to its expanded view. It can alert the driver, as well as apply the brakes, if needed, at speeds under 80 km/h.

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The Outback drives smoothly, but almost too smoothly, if that makes sense. It’s not that you won’t feel bumpy roads, but the steering is extremely loose and almost makes it comparable to making a sharp turn in a video game where all of a sudden you’re on the opposite end of the road. It’s not quite that dramatic in the Subaru, but my point is the steering is quite loose.

If you’re the adventuring type, then you’ll be happy to know the roof rails are standard. If you’re not the adventuring type — like myself — then the roof rails don’t mean much. However, if you’re the “I hate cleaning snow off my car” type, then this one makes it slightly more difficult to clean the snow off the top of the car, since the roof racks make it impossible to do a quick swipe. First-world problems? If I’m being really nit-picky, the front cupholders are too low. A small Tim Hortons-sized cup doesn’t feel secure, as the lid rests on the rim, while the bottom of the cup doesn’t quite reach the bottom. It’s a mess waiting to happen.

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And speaking of a mess, let’s talk about how the Subaru Outback would be great as a family car — one that is likely to get rather dirty, if you’ve got three kids, which I do. When we compared the Outback to the CX-50, I noticed that it was easier for my kids to get into the Outback. Despite the CX-50 having a lower ground clearance than the Outback, the Subaru has a lower step-in height, which in fact would make it easier for little passengers to get in and out. Bonus points to Subaru.

The Subaru Outback isn’t necessarily a family-hauler; it isn’t a full-size SUV or minivan. However, its size doesn’t make it any less of a family vehicle, especially if you have one or two kids — there’s a lot more space than the average sedan. As I mentioned in the Outback and CX-50 comparison, both vehicles were a bit squishy for my three car seats, but I did manage to fit all three of mine. The Outback has more hip room (1,393 mm) than the CX-50, as well as many other crossovers.

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Cargo space is more than generous at 920L. Sure, SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 might have over 1,000L of cargo space, but the main difference is that the Outback’s less space is more practical — depending on how you usually cargo space. For example, while the RAV4 might be able to stack a couple suitcases, the Outback has a wider floor, meaning more room for groceries that don’t need to be stacked on top of each other; no one likes bruised fruits.

I know this review comes across as mostly negative, but that’s not at all what I want the takeaway to be. The 2023 Subaru Outback is a great SUV/wagon/crossover — the company may as well market it as a “wagon coupe” — or whatever you want to call it. It’s a great bridge between older models and modern technology. It takes a bit of time to get used to its driving feel, but once you’re settled, it’s smooth sailing and simplicity at its best. The main takeaway should be if you’re interested in the Outback but also looking for an awesome backup camera, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.

Check out the latest model of the Subaru Outback.