The Subaru Outback remains one of our favourite value-for-money cars on sale today, and while all eyes are on the new Subaru Outback XT with the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine, the full line-up is receiving a host of technology upgrades for the 2023 model year.
We had the chance to attend the launch of the XT, and although we’re reserving the driving impressions for our upcoming in-depth review, these tech upgrades are small but significant enough to draw our attention.
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We spent the better part of a month driving the Subaru Outback Sport (non-turbo) over the Christmas break, and we were impressed by the car’s ride quality, interior space, and overall build quality. Above all, it was a nice place to sit on long road trips, but there were a few changes that we deemed necessary to bring the car up to our expectations for a 2023 model year car, e.g. full-screen Android Auto and punchier engine.
Of course, Subaru Australia couldn’t wait to launch the XT model with the horizontally opposed DIT Boxer 4-cylinder petrol engine that punches out 183kW of power to fix our complaints about the latter. However, they’ve done more than add a significant chunk of power to the engine.
The changes they’ve made to the interior and comfort features feel like more of a complete redesign than a face-lift. We can’t emphasise enough just how much better Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are to the overall ownership experience. The previous system displayed Android Auto on barely one-third of the screen, and while Statista estimates that 58% of Australians own an Apple iPhone, the previous system alienated a large proportion of buyers in the segment.
Thankfully, the new system utilises the majority of the available space on the 11.6-inch Full-HD infotainment system when using Android Auto. Combine that with the latest Android Auto update and it’s a winning combination. The new shortcut buttons, and updated climate control buttons on the screen are equally handy.
Changes go beyond full-screen Android Auto, we also love the addition of USB-C ports that have been added to the front seat USB port/auxiliary input station (replacing one USB Type-A port) which has a rated output of 3.0-amps. It’s great for camera gear when exploring the outdoors!
We’re not sure so sure about the relocation of MID steering wheel buttons from below the steering wheel to on the steering wheel, but we’re sure it’ll simply take some getting used to.
Also included in the tech upgrades on the 2023 Subaru Outback range are expanded voice command recognition that goes on to include, Auto Start-Stop, Lane Departure, Cruise Control, High/Medium/Low Fan Speed level settings, Search for the closest location, and Seat heater/seat ventilation settings. Small changes have been made to the address/point of interest searches through the integrated navigation.
It’s worth noting that all of the technology changes above will be across the range for the 2023 Subaru Outback model, and with pricing starting from $42,690 AUD before on-road costs, it’s looking like Subaru’s sale success story of the year. More information about the Outback can be found via the link below.
Stay tuned for our full in-depth review of the new Subaru Outback XT where we’ll explore the changes made to the X-Mode system and drivetrain, while also covering the safety features of the new model.
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