2023 Subaru Outback Onyx Video, Review, And Pricing

By: Joshua Lee
April 14, 2023

We wished that more people could see the benefit of getting a station wagon rather than your typical SUV. It’s a rare body type to see now, but wagons are just as practical as an SUV and handle like a car. If you like the ground clearance of SUVs, some wagons have about the same and even more in off-road versions. Maybe the idea of a wagon finds you yawning as it might remind you of a lame family hauler, but hopefully we can change your mind.

Subaru Canada has given us the keys to their 2023 Outback Onyx for the week. The Outback has a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder BOXER engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400RPM. This is the engine most buyers would go for, but it is very underpowered; there is an optional 2.4L turbocharged engine on higher end trims. Despite this, the CVT is smooth, and mimics shifts quite well. All Outbacks come standard with AWD and 8.7 inches of ground clearance (the off-road oriented, Wilderness, gets 9.5-inches). Driving the Outback is responsive, provides great steering feel, and offers a comfortable ride. The Outback has a towing capacity of 2700 pounds (1225 kilograms).

The Subaru Outback receives a new front fascia for 2023 with a larger grille, redesigned LED headlights, and fog lights. It also gets extra plastic cladding for the wheel arches and front bumper. This wagon always looks ready for adventure. If you want more style, you can go for the Onyx trim. Our Outback Onyx came with a Cosmic Blue Pearl paint finish, black-finish exterior trims, badging, and 18-inch gunmetal finish wheels wrapped in 225/60R18 Bridgestone Blizzak DM V2 winter tires.

Subaru has fitted the Outback with swing-in-place crossbars to the standard roof rails for extra versatility. It’s very easy to set up and is a great feature to have. With Subaru Symmetrical Full-Time AWD, the Outback Onyx has dual-function X-MODE, Subaru’s own traction control system. With settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud, you can determine how much traction you would need.

There’s plenty of space inside the Outback. Up front, you’ll find a 4.2-inch colour display in the gauge cluster and an 11.6-inch tablet-style touch screen infotainment system. This new infotainment system looks very modern in the Outback and is quite easy to operate; however, it can be laggy at times, and the climate control settings at the bottom would operate faster if they were physical buttons. This system does have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a wireless charging pad, and a six-speaker audio system.

It was easy finding the perfect seating position with the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seats and necessary winter comforts like heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. We also like the unique green and silver accent stitching fitted only on the Onyx trim. Rear passengers will find it pleasant back here with their own air vents, USB ports, and the ability to recline the seat backs. Cargo room with the 60/40 split rear bench is 923L and expands to 2141L when folded down. There is even a place under the cargo floor to stow the tonneau cover.

All Outbacks come with the latest generation of driver-assistance technologies that Subaru calls, EyeSight. The Premier XT trim is fitted with an additional wide-angle mono camera that further enhances the detection of cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles.

According to Subaru, the fuel economy ratings for the Outback are 9.2L/100KM city, 7.3L/100KM highway, for a combined 8.1L/100KM. We were experiencing harsher winter conditions during our test, so 9.8L/100KM was our official rating.

The Subaru Outback starts at $32,695 for the Convenience trim, $36,995 for the Touring, $38,695 for the Onyx, $40,995 for the Limited, $43,195 for the Wilderness, $43,995 for the Limited XT, and $46,395 for the Premier XT.

All-round capability is what loyal Outback owners like. The Outback is in a class of its own, doing anything an SUV can do while maintaining the driving dynamics of a car. With its refreshed look, upgraded cabin, and suite of safety features, the Subaru Outback holds its reputation for being a reliable vehicle that’s both comfortable in urban and off-road driving.