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Subaru revealed new upgrades for the 2022 Subaru Outback ahead of its launch in the U.S. market. Subaru Australia announced its new Outback, and it comes with new engine upgrades, improvements in safety technology, and increased towing capacity. These improvements will likely come in the U.S. specification 2022 Outback when it's revealed sometime this spring.
The Outback is in the third year of its lifecycle after the wagon's full remodel in 2020. The 2022 Outback model year change will bring new upgrades. The Australian-spec model gets a "90 percent new" 2.5-liter direct-injection Boxer engine with more power and more torque than the previous engine.
Photo credit: Competition Subaru
The 2021 Outback 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The 2022 Outback 2.5-liter powerplant will come with 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. That's 7 percent more power and 4.2 percent more torque than the previous engine.
The new 2.5-liter Outback engine should also get improvements in fuel mileage compared with the 2021 engine. It currently has an EPA estimated 26/33 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg.
Photo credit: Irvine Subaru
Subaru will also increase the towing capacity of the 2022 Outback. Current models offer 2,700 lbs for the 2.5-liter engine and 3,500 lbs with the 2.4-liter turbocharged XT models. The 2022 Outback will come with 4,400 lbs of towing capacity. The Australian-spec Outback also offers dual-function X-Mode on the 2.5-liter variant. The U.S.-built models only get it on XT trims.
Next-generation EyeSight X
Look for the 2022 Outback to get the next-generation EyeSight X driver-assist technology. It will feature a new lane-centering function, autonomous emergency steering, and emergency lane keep assist.
It also comes with a new speed sign recognition with an intelligent speed limiter, lane departure warning with steering wheel vibration, lane departure prevention, and a pre-collision braking system with expanded support for collision avoidance at intersections.
The 2022 Outback will get a new passenger seat cushion airbag. Subaru says in the event of a frontal collision, this airbag is designed to push up the seat's front section, helping to prevent forward movement at the waist.
The new airbag can prevent the body from sinking below the seatbelt and improve the restraint protection performance, reducing chest injuries. Suppressing the front passenger's leg movement minimizes contact with the instrument panel and can reduce leg injuries.
Photo credit: LP Aventure
The 2022 Subaru Outback will get new 2.5-liter engine upgrades with more power. The 2022 model change will also bring increased towing capacity and improvements in safety technology. Look for Subaru to make the announcement this spring. Stay tuned.
You Might Also Like: Subaru will bring a new 2022 Outback Wilderness Edition to U.S. customers. You can read our full report here.
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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Photo credit: main image - Subaru of Portland, Competition Subaru, Irvine Subaru, LP Aventure
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Comments
This is just the release of
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This is just the release of the 6th Generation Outback (first release in the US MY20) in Australia. The engine numbers are so minimally different from the US version I think it is just differences in Australian measurement. Also AU measures towing differently so it is probably unchanged from the US rating.
The only item of real note I see here is "Speed Sign Recognition with intelligent Speed Limiter". This may be an actual and significant addition. It sounds like Toyotas Road Sign Assist that uses the cameras to see road signs and display them to you on the Instrument LCD. If true, this would be spectacular as it is something I'm really wanting.
182 to 185 HP is not a 7
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182 to 185 HP is not a 7 percent increase. Not even close. Absolutely no chance the tow rating goes from 2500 to 4400 lbs. The 4400 lb cited likely comes from the AU 2000 kg towing rating. Please fix the article.
... and still no hybrid
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... and still no hybrid option.
Sorry.........I will not buy
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Sorry.........I will not buy another outback unless they bring the 6 cyl back.....Don't let anyone fool you the 4 cyl even with the turbo is a pig.......4 time outback owner
I think the problem is with a
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In reply to Sorry.........I will not buy by Tony (not verified)
I think the problem is with a CVT transmission, I went to Colorado, my 2015 Outback 2.5 didn't want to run on the mountain roads, it was a shame to see when others passed you without any problem.
Turbo engines do better at
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In reply to I think the problem is with a by Paweł (not verified)
Turbo engines do better at altitude than the non-aspirated 2.5i. I will experience that this summer I'm sure and plan to upgrade to a 2022 Limited XT. Or the Wilderness if a wild hair grabs me. The 4.44 final gear ratio will help immensely in above treeline climbs.
I heard Subaru returned to 3
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In reply to Turbo engines do better at by Steve (not verified)
I heard Subaru returned to 3.6 engine in models 2022.
To me that would be good news
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To me that would be good news. If it happens I will definitely consider replacing my 2018 outback. The only thing I see is they’re adding a couple of horses to the 4 cylinder engine.
Subaru needs to improve the
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Subaru needs to improve the Starlink media interface. The driver monitoring system works 50 percent of the time, super irritating. The system crashes when using CarPlay, often. We need to be able to setup defaults for what we want turned on, and off, so we don't have to program our cars every time we start them; auto stop/start, park hold, driver monitoring, etc. They need to increase shortcuts, and increase size of some icon's; i.e. fan speed. Also need to streamline the programing, the system is slow to boot, and slow to react to screen presses. It needs a lot of work.
Thank you for mentioning this
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In reply to Subaru needs to improve the by Ron (not verified)
Thank you for mentioning this- it is the only reasonI do not buy an outback right now. I had high hopes that they would redesign the infotainment system for 2022. It totally dogs out their reviews on this vehicle. Even Honda listened to their customers and placed a volume knob on the Ridgeline!!
I own a 2020 Ridgeline with
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In reply to Thank you for mentioning this by Anna M. (not verified)
I own a 2020 Ridgeline with no volume knob. Don't really understand the problem with no volume knob when you have a more convenient control of the volume on the steering wheel? Now, A/C controls might be more of a headache. would rather have buttons/knobs & rockers for the temp control. have a 2019 touring Ascent and like the infotainment system and a/c controls. getting ready to buy a 2022 outback touring XT and am somewhat concerned of the new infotainment system design? hopeful that its something i can get accustomed to with it not being to cumbersome with the A/C controls
The 2021 Subaru infotainment
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The 2021 Subaru infotainment system is a dog. It crashes often, especially when CarPlay is used. The driver monitoring system does not work, I put tape on the camera so it would stop telling me to pay attention. It doesn’t like sunglasses or sunshine. The windshield washer level alerts continuously until you fill the resivour driving you crazy. So many things they should have done better.
Also takes the system a long time to boot, changes radio stations randomly, and you cannot set your own settings for auto start/stop and auto brake hold. I don’t want to program my car every time I start the engine. They need to hire a user experience expert, and someone to streamline the software so it’s not so sluggish.