2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT AWD - What's New Review

2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT AWD model year update:

HASN'T MESSED WITH SUCCESS - SO FAR: Launched in 1995, originally a quirky Legacy sedan off-shoot, over three million of the quintessential ruggedized active lifestyle sport wagon have found homes in America.

Named after the vast Australian wilderness, the Subaru Outback needs no further introduction to the outdoor active set. Dating back to the debut of the third generation Legacy Outback in 2003, the details may have changed, but only in a typically evolutionary manner.

Should the godfather of off-road wagon-ing seem ubiquitous, especially in the Rocky Mountain range, it is a testament to packaging a raised station wagon with full time all-wheel drive. When Roadblazing.com editors last whiled away the miles in the latest Outback on a roadtrip to Door County, Wisconsin, it was a matter of simply becoming accustomed to a new advanced driver assist suite, infotainment suite and host of refinements. Consequently, the recent wheel time in what is expected to be the final year of the sixth generation Seven Stars of Pleiades sport wagon, became a matter of enjoying the quintessential qualities of the 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT.

IMPLEMENTED ON SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT IN 2023 (and continued for 2025):

Outside:

• Restyled black body cladding, headlight housing, fog light design, grille and front fascia

Inside:

• Enhanced EyeSight, wider angle stereoscopic camera road path detection, recognition software, braking integration,
  • New wide angle mono camera view (Touring only)
  • Automatic emergency steering (unavailable on Base)
• New LCD video feed rear view mirror (with auto dim & Homelink remote garage door opening transmitter)
• Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay phone app projection (with 11.6" Starlink media display)
• Illuminated power ports
  • USB-A, C, 3.5 mm x 1st Row, USB-A, C x 2nd Row

2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT - Bottom Line Review

BETWEEN PERTH AND SYDNEY: on the continent nation Down Under, lies a vast, predominantly desolate desert wilderness. The America’s Mojave and Sonoran, Africa’s Sahara and Mongolia’s Gobi deserts can fit within the Australian Outback with room to spare. Association with the resilience and durability needed to survive the vast Aussie

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

CARRIED ON, UNCHANGED ON 2025 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT AWD :

• two row, 5 occupant, five-door, all-wheel drive sport wagon
• turbocharged 2.4L (or standard atmospheric 2.5L) DI DOHC petrol H-4 engine + 8-shift point Linearmatic CVT transmission to symmetrical viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive.
  • XT turbo 2.4L engine power: 260 hp, 277 lb-ft = +78 hp, +99 lb ft vs. 2.5L atmospheric engine.
  • Hill descent control, X-Mode for low traction surfaces
• 23 miles per gallon, 0bserved combined driving fuel economy (4.3 gal. / 100 mi.). Highway range is 536 miles.
• Fully independent suspension + four wheel disc brakes, front vented.
  • 8.7" inches ground clearance, Yokohama AVID GT HT tires
• "Top Safety Pick" rated by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (2025 MY)
  • Eight SRS airbags, EyeSight ADAS, rollover detection door latching

BOTTOM LINE:

• $44,356 price, as tested 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT AWD in Cosmic Blue Pearl + Java brown Nappa leather (base 2.5 Outback CVT AWD from $30.290)
• 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty; 5 years, 60,000 miles powertrain warranty

LIKES ABOUT THE 2025 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT AWD:

• Quintessential active lifestyle sport wagon, for those who eschew SUV's
• Mostly the same raised wagon, with roof bars, look since 2003
  • Five-door wagon utility, easy for ingress and loading
  • Nicely finished earth-tone hues
  • Body cladding renders trail ruggedness
• Ample turbo power scoot, in the low to mid power-band
• Drives like a car rather than an SUV, with softer damping, yet decent body control
• Acceptable fuel economy
• Stereo camera EyeSight 2.0 advanced driver assistance suite
• Excellent headlight beam + available steering swivel
• Elegant interior trimmings, clear concise instruments, minimalized precision feel & action controls, remarkably isolated cabin
  • Traditional twin dial gauges
  • Intoxicating leather scent
  • Standard heated steering & front seats, w/ driver 2-memory setting power adjustment
  • Power folding mirrors
• Starlink 11.6" center upper dash embedded portrait touch LCD infotainment screen
  • Native TomTom navigation
  • Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay phone app projection
  • CD Player
  • Starlink apps
  • Sirius XM, TravelLink, Wi-Fi (by subscription)
• 12-speaker, 576 Watt Harman Kardon premium streaming audio + HD radio + CD player
• Logical, large font infotainment menu organization

NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2025 SUBARU OUTBACK TOURING XT AWD:

• Completely revised Outback due in MY 2026, rumored to be an SUV
• Limited cargo load height
• Devoid of steering feel, hoppy ride on concrete slabs
• Start-stop idle is rough
• Fuel consumption no better than some larger SUVs
• Infotainment display prone to sun-wash
• Eyesight 2.0 ADAS sets off alarms at moment's side glance away from road
• No surround camera view, despite forward and rear views
• Inductive charging pad remains option on top Touring trim

2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness - Upfit Outfitted Re-Driven Review

BACK TO WILD OUTDOORS: or Out to Wild Backyard is where the already active lifestyle focused Subaru automotive brand is branching. This year’s new Subie Wilderness trim available across model line touting extra roughing it robustness, joining a cornucopia of crossover competitors. In this current Re-Drive Review Roadblazing.com editors

RoadBlazingTomasz Paluch