When someone says the word Subaru, there’s a good chance that the image that pops into your head is the 2023 Subaru Outback. The brand’s go-anywhere, do-anything image was built largely on the strength of the Outback.
Blurring the line between wagon and SUV, it’s a midsize vehicle with great cargo space and comfortable room for adults in both rows of seats. Standard all-wheel drive (AWD) makes it capable off-road, while the unique Subaru driving manners that come from a low-mounted boxer engine make it fun to drive on-road.
The Outback won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick Plus award — its highest honor. It also took home the federal government’s top safety award with five stars. And Subaru has won our Most Trusted Brand award for eight consecutive years.
All of that makes a powerful argument for the Outback over midsize SUVs from other mainstream automakers.
But it’s possible to order an Outback that feels almost like a luxury car. Starting at $42,295, the Outback Touring XT adds luxuries like a more powerful engine, plush Nappa leather upholstery, and heated and ventilated front seats.
Here’s what you get on a top-of-the-line Outback Touring XT.
Turbo Power
Subarus get their well-known planted feel partly from their symmetrical AWD system and in part from flat, boxer engines mounted low to the road that gives the cars a low center of gravity.
The Outback lineup starts with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 182 horsepower, and it’s more than enough for most needs. But higher trim levels get a turbocharged engine making 260 horsepower. The added grunt does a lot to make the Outback feel more capable and still earns up to 29 mpg in highway driving.
A Finer Grade of Leather Upholstery
Subaru offers four types of upholstery on various Outback models. Leather is available on the Limited XT.
But the Touring XT gets a finer grade. Nappa leather goes through a more complex tanning process and is both softer and more durable than less expensive hides. Mainstream automakers rarely offer it, but luxury automakers almost always do.
Subaru’s pricing puts it in the former group, but the Outback Touring XT comes with Nappa upholstery like a luxury car.
Comfortable Heated and Ventilated Seats
Speaking of seats, the Touring XT gets the best thrones Subaru has to offer. The power-adjustable driver’s seat adjusts 12 ways, with four power lumbar support settings. The front passenger gets eight adjustments.
The seats in the front row are both heated and cooled. Outboard rear seats get heaters, too.
The driver gets a heated steering wheel. If you haven’t experienced that yet, you’ll be amazed at the difference a heated steering wheel makes on a cold winter morning.
Advanced Infotainment Technology
The Outback Touring XT comes with Subaru’s most advanced infotainment system — an 11.6-inch Starlink Multimedia Navigation System. It includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
That navigation system introduces a new technology that may come in handy if you’re buying an Outback partly for its off-road prowess. It’s the first Subaru to use the navigation tech known as what3words.
It breaks down the globe into 10-by-10-foot grid squares, assigning each a unique address. This lets owners get directions to specific spots, not just addresses. Looking for a particular trailhead or scenic overlook? The Outback can navigate you right to it.
The Outback Touring XT also buyers get a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system with a 576-watt GreenEdge amplifier.
Tailored Suit Look
Most of the advantages of the Outback Touring XT are inside. But it looks more sophisticated, too. It’s the only Outback with chrome door handle inserts, and satin chrome-finish power folding mirrors with integrated turn signals. It rides on 18-inch aluminum-alloy black machined-finish wheels. These small details lend it a more polished look than other trim levels.
More Subaru Outback
Read our full review or build and price your own Subaru Outback. If you’re ready to take some action, check out the Subaru Outback models for sale near you.
