Subaru Outback turbo confirmed for Australia

Subaru Australia is adding more firepower to the popular Subaru Outback, confirming a brawny turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol engine will be offered with the large SUV from early next year.

Vital statistics for the new 2023 Subaru Outback XT will be confirmed closer to launch, but it’s likely the 2.4-litre direct-injection four-cylinder turbo will pump out circa 195kW and 375Nm.

Compared to the only engine currently available with the Outback in Australia – an ageing 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine (138kW/245Nm) – the turbo-boxer mill represents a colossal boost.

“We’re very pleased to announce the Subaru Outback range will gain the 2.4 turbo engine from the 2023 model year, with production set to start in Q4 of this year,” said Subaru Australia’s managing director, Blair Read.

The extra muscle brought with the Outback XT will deliver improved towing capacity, up from the current Outback’s 2000kg.

“I can’t share the [towing] number but you can expect a sizeable increase,” said Read, although carsales understands that the capacity for the turbo models won’t be as high as 3000kg.

Read confirmed the news this week at the national media launch of its iconic new Subaru WRX, which is also powered by the same FA24 turbo engine.

The Japanese brand has previously suggested it is seeking to offer the newer, more potent 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine on more models, with the Subaru Forester XT expected to be next on the hit list.

But it’s not set in stone and could be a long way off, with Read noting that customer demand for a turbo Forester isn’t as substantial as it has been for the Outback.

“XT Outback will be the first focus. Nothing I can share on Forester XT at this point, but it’s good to see the expansion of that turbo engine,” he said.

“Forester is our top-selling model. This generation has done really great things in terms of customer offerings. Forester XT is not an option that’s available to us at this point in time. Outback is one we’ve been able to wrap our hands around and work with the factory on making happen.

“Never say never, but there’d be more work to be done in that space, and Forester is working well for customers at the moment.”

There’s also a slim chance Subaru could also turbocharge its only non-AWD vehicle, the rear-drive BRZ sports car, given it currently runs a naturally-aspirated version of the FA24 2.4-litre engine.

On that question, Read said: “No plans at this stage.”

The new 2023 Subaru Outback XT will be offered across several model grades, adding a price premium to the current four-model line-up that starts from $40,690 plus on-road costs and tops out at $48,990 plus ORCs.

It’s not yet clear if the MY23 Subaru Outback destined for Australia will get additional updates across the range, similar to the visual and safety upgrades announced for US-built Outback recently.

Full pricing and specification for the Subaru Outback XT will be announced closer to its local launch.

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