Throughout its 30-year history, the Subaru Outback has always been hard to pinpoint what it is. It takes on the duties of a crossover-utility vehicle, but in reality, it's a Subaru Legacy wagon, and in some countries, it's even badged as one. But regardless of what it's called and what it is, one thing is for certain - it's quite an impressive vehicle.
Walk up to the five-passenger Outback and you’ll immediately recognize it as a Subaru. The current Outback has been out since 2020, and since then, not much has changed. It is a station wagon first and foremost, which gives it a casual, friendly personality but ensures a car-like ride and handling, while the wagon format provides plenty of cargo area, all sticking to the Subaru formula.
Part of that formula is a ground clearance of 8.7 inches, which is better than most SUVs. It’s great for off-road capabilities but so not so high that it makes entry/egress difficult. The key element to this Subaru and every Subaru (sans the BRZ sports car), is their Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System. This system consists of full-time All-Wheel Drive (AWD), a horizontally opposed boxer engine, and a four-wheel independent suspension. All three pieces working together provide a confident feeling behind the wheel of the Outback, no matter what the road conditions are. A nice thing about the All-Wheel Drive system is that because it is working all the time, you never have to worry about it. Drivers can rest assured that the Outback will respond automatically to the road’s surface.
Under the Outback's hood, two engines are available. The standard engine is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder that makes 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. This engine comes in the base model, Premium, Onyx, Limited and Touring models. Opting for the Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT or Touring XT, and the Outback gets a 2.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is good for 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a Lineratronic CVT transmission.
The cabin of the Outback is nicely done, with Subaru aiming more towards function and simplicity as opposed to trying to impress. It works, as the interior is straight-forward, yet comfortable. The dash is dominated by a huge 11.6-inch infotainment screen that controls most of the interior controls, from the sound system to the HVAC.
Passenger room is in abundance, especially those in the backseat where there is plenty of legroom and with seat backs that recline - features that families will enjoy. Lowering those seats, the Outback earns its utility nature by providing an impressive 75.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With the rear seats in place, cargo room is still plentiful at 32.5 cubic feet.
The Outback has always done well in the safety department, and for 2025, that trend continues. Every Outback is fitted with EyeSight Assist Monitor - a heads-up display projected on the windshield for EyeSight warnings and status information. Other standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure mitigation and a lane centering system.
Driving the test vehicle, an Outback 2.4 Touring XT, the one thing that stood out immediately is just how refined it feels. The chassis that the Outback rides on soaks up bumps and broken pavement with ease. With the turbocharged engine, the Outback moves with plenty of pep, unlike the base engine which is much less urgent when it comes to accelerating.
When it comes to handling, the Outback does have some body roll, but in general it is well behaved. The steering offers good on-center feel and feedback from the road. And if that road turns off the beaten path, well with the Outback’s ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, it can go where most of its SUV competitors can - and some places they can't.
The 2025 Subaru Outback starts at just $30,430 while my top-of-the-line Outback carries a price tag of $44,331.
Whether you're looking for an SUV, SUV alternative, or a wagon, the 2025 Subaru Outback should meet your needs nicely and will gladly accept any adventure you may encounter. It offers an abundance of rugged versatility as well as a level of comfort and refinement perfect for long drives - regardless if those long drives are on the highway or on some dirt trail. Think if the Subaru Outback as the jack-of-all trades in the car world.