And so here we are, reaching the end of our Outback adventure. Ultimately, the question that remains is whether the extra cost for the turbocharged engine is worth it. If you’ve already considered the Outback as a potential new-car finalist, you likely have narrowed down your choices to just a few vehicles.
The Outback stands out in the modern automotive market as it is not quite an SUV nor a hybrid. Instead, it is a petrol-powered station wagon with surprising off-road capabilities thanks to its ride height and all-wheel drive.
Interestingly, the Outback’s biggest competitor might actually be another Outback rather than a vehicle from a different brand. Considering this, the biggest rival to the Subaru Outback Sport XT I’ve been driving for the past three months would be the Subaru Outback Sport, which offers similar features and practicality at a lower price.
The difference between the two is the addition of the letters “XT” in the name of the turbocharged engine variant, which is available on the Sport and Touring trims but not on the entry-level Outback.
Starting at $47,600 drive-away, the Subaru Outback AWD is the base model in the range. The non-turbo version of our test car, the Sport, is priced at $52,325 drive-away. Opting for the turbocharged engine adds around $5,000 to the price, making our Sport XT model cost $57,575 drive-away.
In my opinion, the extra money is worth it. As I mentioned before, my sister owns a Subaru Outback in the same green color, but with the non-turbo engine. While she is generally happy with the car’s practicality for her family, she has expressed dissatisfaction with its power when she needs to accelerate quickly, such as during overtaking maneuvers. This is not an issue in the XT version, which boasts 183kW and 350Nm of torque from its 2.4-liter turbo-petrol engine, compared to the 138kW and 245Nm of the non-turbo variant.
The additional power makes a noticeable difference in the Outback’s performance, making it a more engaging and capable vehicle in various driving conditions. I have taken the Outback on numerous long trips, and I can confidently say that it provides comfortable seats, a smooth ride, a mostly quiet cabin, and pleasant steering. It truly delivers a fuss-free motoring experience, which is commendable.
However, there is one downside related to the turbocharged engine: fuel consumption. Unlike the regular Outback Sport, the XT variant requires 95RON fuel. Subaru claims a fuel consumption figure of 9.0L/100km on the combined cycle, but I have been averaging closer to 12 liters per 100km over the past three months.
Fuel prices are currently high, and filling up the Outback’s 63-liter tank with premium fuel costing over $2 per liter has been quite expensive. Additionally, servicing the Outback can be costly. While there is a five-year, unlimited-kilometer warranty, which is decent but not exceptional compared to some competitors offering longer warranty periods, the servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km. Subaru does cap the servicing prices, but the total cost for the first five services is still close to $3,000. In comparison, a Toyota RAV4’s servicing cost for the same period is just over $1,100.
Despite these considerations, the Subaru Outback Sport XT has effortlessly integrated into our daily lives during the past few months. It has proven to be a reliable and enjoyable companion for our adventures. Acquired in July 2023, the Outback has covered a distance of 4,244km with an average fuel consumption of 12.0L/100km.
In conclusion, if you value the extra power and performance, the turbocharged engine variant of the Subaru Outback Sport XT is worth the additional cost. However, it’s important to keep in mind the potential higher fuel consumption and servicing expenses when making your decision.