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With The Subaru Outback It’s Too Little Too Late

The 2024 Subaru Outback is now Subaru of America's third best-selling model. See what happened in April and why it's too little too late for the midsize SUV. 
2025 Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is a top model for Subaru of America (SOA) and is about to undergo a complete overhaul. Before I explain why it's the next most important new model launch, let's look at what's happening with the midsize SUV now.

SOA reported that they delivered 13,131 Outbacks to customers in April. However, sales of the model dropped 14 percent compared with a year ago, when it had 15,263 models. For the year, the Outback is only one of three models that has increased in sales through the first four months. And there's more. 

Three Models Are Up In Sales This Year

It's not much, but Outback is up 0.7 percent in 2024. Forester, which I covered here, is smokin' hot (+65.8%), and the all-new surprising Solterra EV is also up for the year (+32.7%). 

Subaru says it's still happy with the Outback despite its decline in April and says, "Outback also continued to have a strong showing, with 13,131 vehicle sales."

Troy Poston, Senior Vice President of Sales at Subaru of America, says, "Car buyers are seeing Subaru's growing model lineup become one of the strongest in our history, and we look forward to offering them the value, reliability, and longevity that our brand is known for."

Outback Is Due For A Remodel

When will the Outback get a remodel? As I've said in a previous report, it is due for a remodel in the fifth year of its generational life cycle, but customers have to wait another year.

The Outback midsize SUV will not receive a complete remodel until the 2026 model year. The 2025 Outback will be a carryover model with no changes other than minor trim level adjustments.

It's Too Little, Too Late

I know why Subaru waited another year to bring out the next-generation Outback. The 2025 Forester is about to make its dealer launch, and they want it to be the significant design change for 2024. They want Forester to be in the spotlight, not the Outback. The Outback will get its turn next year.

It's Not All Bad

I don't think it's a bad thing the remodeled Outback is delayed a year because it gives Subaru of America and Subaru Corporation another year to get the new 2026 Outback right. The Outback is still Subaru's flagship model around the globe. 

The Outback has dropped to the third best-selling model in 2024 behind the Forester (66,396) and the Crosstrek (50,532). The Outback is a close third (48,344). 

The Good News For Outback

Customers who want to buy the current generation Outback can get a good deal now. Subaru says you can get a 2024 Outback for 2.9% APR financing for 72 months. Subaru says it's good through May 31, 2024, no down payment required." But from what I've seen Subaru do in the past, they will likely extend it. 

So, with that said, there's no advantage for customers to wait for the 2025 Outback models. 

IT'S YOUR TURN

Are you looking to buy a new Outback now, or was it for the next-generation 2026 Outback? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru Outback performance story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

Watch BEST Subaru to BUY! 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness Review

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News and Subaru reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time. 

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Photo credit: Tucson Subaru

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Comments

Charles Pinney (not verified)    May 4, 2024 - 10:45PM

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I have been waiting for a RAV4 Prime or RX450h PHEV competitor from Subaru in the Outback lineup for three years. Subaru is going to come up a day late and a dollar short for me.

Kevin C (not verified)    May 5, 2024 - 10:09AM

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I own a 2021 Subaru Outback that I bought new. It’s been a great car and we really enjoy it. I would really like to get another one some day, but I’d like it to be a hybrid. So here’s hoping Subaru adds that to the new generation out Outback!

Irv Ponderthus (not verified)    May 5, 2024 - 12:05PM

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Subaru needs to get rid of the excess cladding on the Outback. I understand it's less costly than a retooling but it's not a Subaru look. The front vertical piece just serves to break up any design flow. It does not give a sportier look.

sam (not verified)    May 6, 2024 - 10:42AM

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the outback is without a doubt the most car like SUV I've ever driven. considering it's really just a lifted wagon, that makes sense.

and then, because the wheelbase is so long, it really does well at providing a very compliant ride on the freeway.

but then the interior feels cheap and dated. all of the controls are through the iPad like monolith screen, which is very slow to act. what physical buttons there are feel like they were designed by a team at fisher price. the seats are nice, the steering wheel feels good, and since we have the wilderness, what little off tarmac use has been done has been a dawdle.

I hope before we plan on getting a new vehicle that they do some serious reconsideration of the infotainment and physical buttons, I really like the way it rides, but I really hate that interior design.

Roger from GVL (not verified)    May 7, 2024 - 8:48AM

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I agree that the extra cladding on the new Outback is very ugly. It makes the car look cheap and poorly designed.

I have a 2017 Outback. I am very happy with the performance, reliability and extremely low maintenance of the vehicle. The only two negatives with the 2017 Outback is the tinny sound when you close the drivers door. Also, the metal is so thin on the door panels that you can almost get a dent just by touching it.

Moygatron (not verified)    May 7, 2024 - 10:03PM

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I grew up with Toyota's, but am looking to get a Subaru Outback. I have been reading a lot of posts on Reddit about Subaru's. Interesting groups, unique individuals. Time will tell. I hope I do. For wife and kids, of course (ahem). :)

Steve Barner (not verified)    May 31, 2024 - 10:38AM

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We've been waiting since 2010 for the pendulum to swing back toward what made the Outback a great fit for us. We really need to replace our 16 year-old model and were hoping that the 2025 model would tone down the bizarre styling and possibly even return the functionality to the roof rack system that was abandoned in 2010. It would be too much to hope for a lowering of roof height. I haven't seen any photos of actual 2025 Outbacks yet--they all seem to be 2024s, but I'm losing hope that we're going to be able to stomach buying one, and I don't want to wait to see the 2026 redesign. I don't have statistics, but I'm guessing that only a tiny percentage of Subaru buyers drive their Outbacks the way shown in the ads, and I'm also betting that, of those who do, close to 100% of them quickly regret the damage they do to their cars blasting through rocky streams and screaching to a stop before 100' dropoffs. Sure, it's just marketing, but it speaks to Subaru's disconnect with their designers and their actual and potential customer base.