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Remember when the station wagon was the car no one wanted to be seen in and was definitely not cool? Well, a lot changed when the Subaru Outback wagon was born. U.S. News says the 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness is one of the twenty-five "coolest" family vehicles you can buy this year. Check the U.S. News list here.
The Outback is now Subaru of America's second best-selling new vehicle after the hot Crosstrek subcompact SUV, and the Wilderness trim is a big reason why. When other automakers are dropping their wagons like the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack wagon, Subaru is having fantastic success with the Outback.
Subaru introduced the outdoor-themed Outback Wilderness trim level in 2022, and sales of the off-road-ready model took off. In addition, the recent annual S&P Global Mobility Automotive Loyalty Awards revealed the most significant number of midsize SUV buyers (ranking all car brands) would return to purchase a Subaru Outback.
That's amazing considering the segment's top models like the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9, and Hyundai Palisade. None are wagons except for the Outback.
The Outback has a "secret" formula for success. So what sets the Subaru Outback apart from other midsize SUVs you can buy? First, the Outback is a unique model that rides like a car yet has the utility of an SUV.
All Outback trim levels ride higher with extra ground clearance than most family haulers. The Outback has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive, and X-Mode for all-terrain performance. The Outback also gets the highest safety scores from the IIHS.
But the Outback Wilderness takes the model up a notch in coolness. U.S. News says, "The 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness adds the extra capability to the five-seat wagon, with 9.5 inches of ground clearance, enhanced electronic traction management modes, and all-terrain tires. It's powered by a 260-horsepower horizontally opposed four-cylinder turbo and (like all Outbacks) comes standard with all-wheel drive."
U.S. News fails to mention that the Outback Wilderness comes with X-Mode for added off-pavement abilities. In addition, the Outback Wilderness also features Subaru's dual-function X-Mode for deep snow, deep mud, and deep sand capabilities.
What is the price of the 2023 Subaru Outback?
The 2023 Outback now comes in nine trim levels for U.S. customers; the base trim is priced from $29,620, Premium ($31,920), new Onyx Edition with a 2.5-liter engine ($34,720), Limited ($36,520), Touring ($41,070), Outback Wilderness ($39,670), Onyx Edition XT ($39,820), Limited XT ($40,920), and Touring XT ($43,520). In addition, pricing includes $1,225 destination and delivery fees.
What's coming in 2024?
Customers should wait for the 2024 Outback Wilderness upgrades.
For 2024, the Outback Wilderness now receives a more rugged look thanks to a new front fascia featuring a redesigned bumper and LED fog lights paired with a more prominent front grille. In addition, a 360-degree heated steering wheel is now standard on the Outback Wilderness.
What are the coolest cars you can buy this year? The wagon is still not cool, but the 2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness is now among the coolest cars of 2023. The remodeled 2024 Outback Wilderness is even more remarkable for families.
You Might Also Like: The 2024 Subaru Outback Pricing, Model Guide, And Its Most Significant New Upgrade
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: Subaru USA
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Comments
Wagons have always been cool
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Wagons have always been cool to me starting with my ‘41 Mercury Woody in the ‘60s, into a Datsun 510 in the 80s, two VW Passats in the 90s & 2000s and an Audi a4 Avant until 2015. Always stylish and practical, to me, they don’t disappoint and for more than 30 years they have performed better every year. Although the German makers continue to offer wagons to the US, Subaru missed the boat years ago by not offering the Levorg model which I saw in Italy in 2015.
The only thing that stopped
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The only thing that stopped me from getting the Outback Wilderness was the fact that it didn’t come in a plug-in hybrid (or plain hybrid) - I miss my Outback, but don’t miss only getting 20 mpg.
The only thing that stopped
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The only thing that stopped me from getting the Outback Wilderness was the fact that it didn’t come in a plug-in hybrid (or plain hybrid) - I miss my Outback, but don’t miss only getting 20 mpg.
Being a truck guy and all. I
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Being a truck guy and all. I did not mind driving the wife's Outback been impressed with it several times and the Wilderness took it a step closer to what I'd love them to do.