2.5L is a non starter for me. I am willing to sacrifice some level of performance and 2.4L is sufficient for my needs and gives good enough mileage

To be clear - the 2.5 is the base engine, the 2.4 turbo is the performance engine and is the one you want for towing. For what it's worth, I find the 2.5 to be absolutely fine for my needs, and I'm on my second. I have no trouble merging on an uphill onramp, though I DO need to get my right foot into it to do so in really heavy traffic. But, for towing pretty much anything other than a lightly loaded utility trailer the Turbo is the way you want to go.

I need wireless carplay and I am told the infotainment system is improved in 2023 and I am willing to wait a few months (even up to spring 2023)

At the very least the interface will be updated (us 2020-2022 folks hope we get the new interface back-ported) and wireless CP and AA added (which can't be back-ported). You will want the 2023.

1. Is there a way to turn off beeps for lane control departure, keep your eyes on the road dummy stuff? This could get old!

This may be an unpopular opinion - pay attention while driving and don't drive like you're under the influence and the beeps don't get annoying. Yes, some road conditions cause a beep or two (I have a couple on my daily commute that I can predict/anticipate) but as long as I'm paying attention and keep to my lane I don't get beeps.

2. Does auto lane feature work well at all speeds? Inclement weather?

I have mine set to only use the lane keep assist when I'm cruising on the highway, it's off (with no annoying light) all other times, and that setting sticks. It works well enough, I've found it quite a pleasure to drive on the 2 road trips I've taken it on over the last year.

3. The CVT seems to slam/thunk (not sure how to describe it) if I throttle hard and step off the accelerator pedal quickly. This seems to be a driver mistake as I feel I could learn to do it more elegantly or is this CVT clunky? I only drove for 15 minutes so look for some thoughts here

There's a throttle learn procedure floating around the forums, some have had good luck taming the CVT after doing that process.

 

You can tame the CVT behavior with Throttle Calibration

The 2023 has an improved eyesight system on all trims, but only the Touring trim of the Outback has a new THIRD camera for what it's worth.

SUBARU Enhances Preventive Safety Function of 2023 Outback for North America | NewsRelease | Subaru Corporation

SUBARU Enhances Preventive Safety Function of 2023 Outback for North America | NewsRelease | Subaru Corporation

www.subaru.co.jp

If you want the latest and greatest from Subaru then spring for the Touring.

 

Thank you.

 

Appreciate your response hallux. I am used to 4.5 seconds 0-60 and I'll accept 6 seconds on the 2.4T . I got the sense that the suspension just about keeps up with the peppy engine and its performance is nothing to sneeze at. The ride is actually more plush which I know I'll appreciate on long trips. I was happy but I guess there's nothing wrong with testdriving the 2.5L as well. It's cheaper, less can go wrong, let's see.

I understand there can be a fine line between safety features, what they do for you and become overbearing. I saw that I could at least minimize the beeps. My 5 series vibrates the wheel which I got used to so don't view Subaru's implementation as a showstopper, perhaps they'll offer it in an update but I doubt it.

Is there a link to a manual, even a service manual? If not, I'll look something up on the Subaru website. There are some confusing settings which while scrolling didn't make sense to me. Example, Lane departure prevention function had four selectable options. What is all functions setting vs some of the others? And, can you make the adaptive cruise control more aggressive / less so? It seemed to always stay back the same distance no matter what setting I tried.

 

Is there a link to a manual, even a service manual?

Go to subaru.com click on Owners, then vehicle resources. Fill in the year, make, model drop-down (you'll need to use 2022 as a placeholder) and you can find the literature. Of course, the 2023 is going to have some differences. Note that there are several books, one covers the Eyesight system in detail.

 

1. Yes, but it's not recommended. Like anything, you get used to it and tune it out until you actually want to concentrate on it. Instead, consider just turning down the beep volume in settings.
   
   
2. Generally yes. It does rely on the front-facing EyeSight cameras, so if you are finding it difficult to see through heavy rain or fog, EyeSight will too and it will disable itself (and notify you to take over manually) if it cannot reliably see.
   
   
3. The CVT works great, and the only clunk I get in mine is switching from reverse to drive. I don't get clunks in day to day driving. Unfortunately your market does not get SI-Drive for Outbacks. In my market, SI-Drive is a dream with the CVT when you want extra power at the push of a button.
   
   
4. The Subaru CVT is generally considered to be the "best", and having driven others, I wholeheartedly agree. The general arguments against CVT definitely do not apply to Subaru. If it was really that bad, they wouldn't be making them because customers would be returning the cars in disgust hand over fist.

 

...Unfortunately your market does not get SI-Drive for Outbacks. In my market, SI-Drive is a dream with the CVT when you want extra power at the push of a button.

hmm, that's a shame that it's not offered in the U.S., especially for the Turbo models.

 

You can definitely turn off the Lane departure warning. It's the first thing I did. The lane keep assist is great when not in traffic, but I turn it off when other cars are around. Ultimately it won't override your steering input, but it is forceful at highway speeds. I don't mind the cvt. It's the best ive driven The infotainment is definitely laggy. Once I set up everything the way I wanted it, I haven't had to go digging for anything. If you cn wait for wireless carplay I would wait.

 

One thing to consider is that a new generation of eyesight may have some early teething problems. Personally, I think the 2023 will be much uglier because it has even more black plastic than the 2022. I do find that the lane centering is very unhelpful in traffic because it fights you when you to bias yourself to one side of the lane or the other.

 

I agree, The 23 Outback , WRX, Solstice have way to much plastic- I guess sales figures will determine if they still work for the public. I am kind of thinking an Ascent for my next car but not if that huge front fender flare goes on it.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

I also heard a major refresh in 2024, more based on RAV4 prime hybrid power train and a DCT?


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I also heard a major refresh in 2024

Subaru, historically, is on a 5 year cycle for the Outback with a minor facelift mid-cycle. The current model started in 2020, is getting the facelift for the 2023 model year and would be due for a clean-sheet design for the 2025 model year (usually releasing sometime in the middle of the calendar year before).

 

Main thing I’ll add is that you won’t get much more than 23 MPG with the 2.4L Turbo. I have the Touring XT (and really like it) and average about 25, much less when towing. That said, it is better mileage than most v6 SUVs, which is one reason I bought it (and it’s faster).

 

Thanks Markal, appreciate the real world mileage figure. 30 would be nice but I'll take 25.

 

For the life of me, I don't understand the fascination of zero to sixty times in a Subaru.

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Ha. Some of us like a little practicality and a little speed!

 

My first car (1978) did 0-60 in 11.6 seconds and it did just fine every day including on the freeway but climbing grades with a full load not so much, and in that context 8.5 is plenty quick.

A 1978 Corvette did 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. A 1978 Aston Martin V8 did 0-60 in 7.8 seconds.

 

I wish I could find it, but there was an article about a car guy driving an older Porsche and trying to beat a modern V6 sedan off the light. I don't think most people realize that a lot of modern cars are the equivalent of the muscle cars of yesteryear.

 

Quoting from an article…
“So I don’t really know where this 0-to-60 escalation is going to end, and I’m not really sure what’s going to happen next. I do predict, however, that someday deep in the future, I’ll be telling teenagers that the fastest Ferrari of my youth did 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds — and they’ll giggle at me as they climb into their self-driving Civics that instantaneously reach 100 mph.”

Also, no disrespect intended to anyone who has a 2.5L engine or drives a 1994 or a future Civic or whatever else. We all have our own reasons to buy what we want and I appreciate manufacturers who give us the choices.


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Test drove a 2.5L Limited version today. Take my heated steering wheel away, navigation and I am sure after a while I will learn to ignore the warnings and beep and maybe even live without all that but XT seals the deal for me on this car. Now the waiting game begins for dealers to get desperate and sell me a 2023 (I got my sunglasses on, waiting for him to fold) . I know I might be waiting a while.

 

I’ve been driving with the Eyesight system for 7 1/2 years. The last time I killed the battery and lost all my settings, I didn’t bother turning off all the nanny beeps. I don’t even hear them anymore. The “get your nose out of your iPhone” lane crossing beep is actually pretty useful. When it goes off, I look up and put the car back in the lane.

I’m waiting for an XT Touring. The 3.6 I drive now is similar horsepower and a bit less torque. The CVT behaves differently from 2.5 loaners I’ve had. It’s still much more appliance-like than a European performance sedan.