8 Features That Make The 2025 Subaru Outback a Reliable SUV With a Touch of Luxury

This week I got my hands on the 2025 Subaru Outback and am very impressed with this SUV. No wonder two weeks ago a friend of mine was telling me how his daughter and her husband are looking to buy a new Outback. When I said, "Consider the Crosstrek," which I was reviewing then, he said no, they want a bigger SUV and the new Outback is what they are looking for.

Friends, the 2025 Subaru Outback offers a unique blend of practicality, comfort, and all-weather capability. Here are some of its special features:

• Symmetrical all-wheel drive: The Outback comes standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive, providing excellent traction and stability in various weather conditions.
• Off-road capability: Its higher ground clearance and rugged design give the Outback better off-road capability than many of its competitors.
• Reliability: Subaru has a reputation for building reliable vehicles, and the Outback is no exception.
• Spacious interior: The Outback offers a comfortable and spacious interior, with ample legroom for both front and rear passengers.
• Generous cargo space: The SUV has a large cargo area, making it practical for transporting gear or luggage.
• Infotainment system: The Outback features a user-friendly infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
• Engine options: The Outback is available with two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, offering a range of performance and fuel efficiency.
• Safety features: The Outback comes standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

These features make the 2025 Subaru Outback a versatile and capable SUV that can handle both daily commutes and weekend adventures.

As a crossover that comfortably straddles the line between a traditional SUV and a wagon, the Outback has long been a favorite among those who seek visiting the nature without sacrificing everyday practicality. The 2025 model carries forward the Outback’s reputation, offering a blend of capability, comfort, and advanced safety features that appeal to a wide range of drivers and some of which I discussed above.

What's New in 2025 Subaru Outback?

While the 2025 Subaru Outback doesn’t feature a major overhaul, it does introduce several updates that enhance its appeal, especially in the Limited and Touring XT trims. The Limited trim sees significant upgrades, including a power sunroof, a heated steering wheel, driver attention monitoring, and an 11.6-inch infotainment screen with integrated navigation.

Additionally, the XT package, which includes Subaru's more powerful turbocharged 260-horsepower 2.4-liter engine, is now available in the Limited trim, bringing the potent performance to more buyers. Beyond these enhancements, the Outback remains largely unchanged, continuing to deliver the reliability, safety, and versatility that it’s known for.

The Nine Trims of The 2025 Subaru Outback And Their Approximate Pricing

The 2025 Subaru Outback is available in nine trims, ranging from the base model to the fully loaded Touring XT. Those trims are the Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, limited XT, ONly Edition XT, Wilderness, Tourin and Touring XT.

The Base trim model offers a good starting point with essential features like all-wheel drive, a 2.4-liter engine, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. As you move up the trim levels, you'll find additional features such as heated seats, a power sunroof, a larger infotainment screen, a premium audio system, and a turbocharged engine. The Onyx Edition and Wilderness trims offer a more rugged and adventurous look with unique styling elements and enhanced off-road capabilities.

The price of the 2025 Subaru Outback starts at $30,315 for the base model and goes up to $44,190 for the Touring XT. The Premium trim adds a few extra features for an additional $2,275. The Onyx Edition and Limited trims are priced higher, reflecting their additional features and unique styling. The Limited XT and Onyx Edition XT models are even more expensive due to the inclusion of the turbocharged engine. The Wilderness trim is priced slightly higher than the Limited XT, offering enhanced off-road capabilities. Finally, the Touring and Touring XT trims are the most expensive options, providing a luxurious and well-equipped experience. My Touring XT came with a $44,331 MSRP, which included the optional equipment and destination/delivery charges.

Exterior Design

The 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT retains the classic rugged design that has become a hallmark of the Outback series. Its bold and purposeful exterior is defined by high ground clearance, durable body cladding, and standard roof rails, all of which underscore its capability for off-road adventures.

The Touring XT trim adds a touch of sophistication with exclusive features such as satin chrome side mirrors, chrome-accented door handles, and LED fog lights, which not only enhance the vehicle's aesthetics but also improve functionality. The 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels further elevate the Touring XT’s appearance, giving it a refined yet tough look that stands out in both urban and outdoor settings.

Interior Design and Space

Inside the 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT, luxury and practicality blend seamlessly to create a cabin that is both comfortable and functional. The interior is outfitted with premium materials, including Nappa leather upholstery, which adds a touch of elegance. The front seats are heated and ventilated, ensuring comfort in all weather conditions, while the heated steering wheel and heated rear seats extend this comfort to all passengers.

Space is abundant in the Outback Touring XT, with ample headroom and legroom in both the front and rear seats. The second row offers generous legroom, making it a comfortable space for adult passengers even on long journeys.

Accessibility is another strong point, with wide-opening doors and a relatively low step-in height, making it easy for passengers of all ages to get in and out of the vehicle.

Cargo space is another area where the Outback excels. With 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, the Touring XT provides plenty of room for everything from grocery hauls to camping gear. The hands-free power liftgate, a standard feature on the Touring XT, adds to the convenience, making it easier to load and unload cargo.

The centerpiece of the Touring XT’s interior is the 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes equipped with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system. The system is intuitive and user-friendly, with large icons and responsive controls that make it easy to navigate through the various features without distraction.

Engine, Transmission, and MPG

The 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter DOHC Turbo Subaru Boxer engine, which produces a robust 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a continuously variable 8-speed transmission (CVT) that is designed to deliver smooth and efficient power delivery.

The turbocharged engine provides ample power for both city driving and highway cruising, as well as the extra muscle needed for towing and off-road excursions.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the Touring XT offers respectable numbers, with an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with a combined 25 MPG city/highway. These figures are competitive for the segment, especially considering the vehicle’s AWD capability and turbocharged performance. And in my real-world driving I managed to slightly do better than these figures. 

Competitor SUVs and the Outback’s Advantages

In the crowded midsize SUV market, the 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT faces competition from popular models like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Ford Edge. However, the Outback stands out in several key areas that make it a compelling choice.

One of the Outback’s most significant advantages is its standard AWD system, which is often an optional feature in competitor vehicles or not available at all. This gives the Outback a clear edge in terms of all-weather and off-road capability. The Outback’s ground clearance, at 8.7 inches, is also superior to many of its competitors, making it better suited for off-road adventures.

Additionally, the Outback Touring XT offers more cargo space than many of its rivals, which is a major consideration for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The inclusion of the turbocharged engine in the Touring XT trim also gives the Outback a performance boost that some competitors lack, providing a more engaging driving experience.

Ride Quality and Off-Road Capability

The 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT delivers a smooth and comfortable ride, with suspension tuning that effectively absorbs road imperfections and provides a stable, composed driving experience. Whether you’re navigating city streets, cruising on the highway, or tackling rougher terrain, the Outback maintains its composure, offering a ride quality that is both refined and capable.

While the Outback isn’t a hardcore off-roader, it does offer some limited off-roading capability thanks to its AWD system and X-Mode, which optimizes the vehicle’s performance in challenging conditions such as mud, snow, and steep inclines. The Outback’s off-road ability, combined with its comfortable on-road manners, makes it a versatile vehicle that can handle a variety of driving situations.

Subaru has a well-earned reputation for building reliable vehicles, and the 2025 Outback Touring XT is no exception. Known for their durability and long-term dependability, Subaru vehicles, including the Outback, are often praised for their ability to endure harsh conditions and high mileage. The Touring XT’s advanced safety features, which include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, further enhance its appeal as a reliable and safe vehicle for families and adventurers alike.

In terms of pricing, the 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT offers good value for its segment, especially considering the level of performance, luxury, and technology it provides. While it is priced higher than some base models of competitor vehicles, the Outback Touring XT justifies its price with a well-rounded package that includes standard AWD, a powerful turbocharged engine, a luxurious interior, and a suite of advanced safety features.

For those seeking a capable, comfortable, and reliable SUV that excels in both on-road comfort and off-road capability, the 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT is a top contender. Its blend of practicality, performance, and premium features make it a standout choice in the midsize SUV segment.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.