What is the Outback?
Long before SUVs like the Ascent and the Forester were mere twinkles in the eyes of Subaru, the automaker made adventuresome wagons. The Outback midsize SUV is the heir to that rugged legacy and offers all of the same advanced driver aids, comfort and technology as its larger stablemates. With spacious seating for five, a generous cargo area and more ground clearance than most crossovers, the Outback blurs the lines between SUV and wagon in a compelling way.
Subaru gave the 2023 Outback a slight styling tweak and a few electronic upgrades so we don't think there's much new, if anything, in store for 2024. There will still be your choice of engine, either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (182 horsepower) or a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder (260 hp, and our choice) and standard all-wheel drive. Also among the offerings will be the Wilderness package, which adds even more ground clearance, skid plates, a low range for more rugged off-roading, and a host of other overlanding-friendly mods.
Finding a direct competitor for the Outback can be a bit difficult. SUVs like the Honda Passport, or its truck sibling, the Ridgeline, will offer a similar car-like driving experience. If you want to go a bit farther off-road and don't mind losing some on-road comfort, you should look at the likes of the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Bronco.