2022 vs. 2023 Subaru Outback: What’s Different?

Subaru charges a premium for a facelift.

Beth Nichols | 

Sep 28, 2022 | 3 min read

Subaru | 2023/2022

Somewhere between a wagon and a crossover, the Subaru Outback captures the hearts of adventure-seekers and dog-lovers everywhere with standard all-wheel drive, a roomy cabin, a rugged visage, and commendable ground clearance. Revisions for the 2023 model year are minimal and largely cosmetic, but they are accompanied by a notable price hike.

Subaru | 2023

What’s New for the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Subaru restyled the Outback’s front end with a larger grille and some black body cladding below redesigned lights. (Incidentally, if headlamps are the eyes of the car, those new plastic pieces must be mascara-laden tears.) The wheel-arch cladding extends higher on the fender than before and juts out at interesting angles, presumably to add some flair and better-protect the sheetmetal from scrapes when you’re attacking a trail. Subaru also enhanced the forward-facing camera and image-recognition software of its EyeSight safety suite, and the available blind-spot monitoring system now features automatic emergency steering. Lastly, the lineup gained a non-XT (base-engine) Onyx Edition, bringing the trim-level count to nine.

Subaru | 2023

2022 vs. 2023 Subaru Outback: Powertrains

The lineup’s two engines carry over unchanged from 2022. The base model packs a 182-hp, naturally aspirated four-cylinder, but buyers will find a 260-hp, turbocharged four in any of the XT models, as well as the terrain-oriented (and differently styled) Wilderness trim.

Subaru Outback Pricing Increase for 2023

At the start of 2022, shoppers could order the 2022 Outback for as low as $28,070. Subaru upped that by $750 a few months later. And now, for the 2023 model year, the automaker has added another $800, making the new base price $29,620.

Most buyers will likely seek the one-step-up-from-base $31,920 Premium model, as it includes desirable features such as an 11.6-inch touchscreen display (versus the standard dual-screen setup), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, heated front seats with power adjustment for the driver’s chair, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The Outback Onyx Edition XT remains the cheapest way to get the turbocharged engine, but it costs a fair bit more than its 2022 counterpart—$39,820 versus $36,270. Some of that markup comes courtesy of additional equipment, including a power sunroof, built-in navigation, and a rear automatic emergency braking system.

If you want all the goodies Subaru has to offer plus the boosted powertrain, you’ll need to select the Touring XT, which costs $43,520. This Outback impresses with Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a Harman Kardon stereo, and a driver-facing camera that keeps an eye on your eyes to make sure you’re not tired or distracted.

Subaru | 2022

Fuel Economy

You’ll find fuel-economy numbers for the base-engine, turbo-engine, and Wilderness-trim Outbacks on the EPA’s site. Oddly, all three saw a 1-mpg dip on the combined cycle for 2023. They now boast ratings of 28, 25, and 23 mpg, respectively.

Beth Nichols

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Beth Nichols stumbled into automotive journalism and found her footing, jumping between a few car magazines before going freelance. Her head, once full of useless facts about literature and art history, now holds useless facts about vehicles. She edits, checks, and occasionally creates content for Capital One, and though she understands it’s customary to write a bio in the third person, I don’t like it.