2023 Australian Subaru Outback 2.4L Turbo - Less HP? More Towing Capacity

Customers in the U.S. were the first to get the 2020 Subaru Outback with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine upgrade. At the same time, Australia and other world markets had to wait. Now Australian customers get the 2023 Outback turbocharged 2.4-liter XT trim level but are they created the same as U.S. models?

A new announcement from Subaru Australia reveals the Australian-specification 2023 Outback is quite different than the models sold to U.S. customers. Australia gets two new Outback turbo offerings; the 2023 Outback AWD Sport XT and the AWD Outback Touring XT trim levels.

The Australian Outback 2.4-liter engine produces less horsepower and torque than the U.S.-spec 2023 Outback XT. In the U.S., customers get the 2.4-liter engine that produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.

The Australian 2023 Outback 2.4-liter turbocharged engine only offers 183kW of power (or 245 horsepower). The Outback’s torque is also reduced. The Australian 2023 Outback 2.4-liter turbocharged engine only provides 350Nm of torque (or 258 lb-ft of torque).

The Australian 2023 Outback XT gets more towing capacity

But the Australian-spec 2023 Outback XT has more towing capacity than U.S. models. The 2023 Outback 2.5-liter engine sold to U.S. customers comes with 2,700 lbs towing capacity, and the 2023 Outback 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder XT and Wilderness term levels have 3,500 lbs maximum tow rating.

The Australian-spec 2023 Outback AWD Sport XT and the AWD Outback Touring XT trim levels with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine have a maximum tow rating of 2400kg (or 5,291 lbs). The 2023 Outback down under features a 2,400kg towing capacity with a trailer brake and requires the fitment of an electric brake controller, according to the announcement.

Subaru Australia says, “The Outback XT delivers greater towing capacity than naturally aspirated variants, increasing to a maximum of 2,400kg, which is certain to delight adventurous Australians keen to explore the country.”

The Outback models around the world are not created equal. The Australians get the new 2023 Subaru Outback XT 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with less horsepower and less torque than Outback models built in the U.S. for its customers. But the Australian models will tow a lot more.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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