Subaru Outback Review

In Malaysia's current D-segment crossover market, consumers increasingly value "versatility" — a vehicle that provides comfort for urban commuting, mild off-road capabilities for the outdoors, and doesn't compromise on features or safety. The 2024 Subaru Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight, as an updated model in this segment, introduces refined power output, upgraded features, and retains its robust full-time all-wheel-drive system. Its core selling point directly addresses family users' demand for "balanced practicality." The main aim of this test drive is to verify if the vehicle’s performance in daily use scenarios truly lives up to its positioning and whether its advantages over the previous version and competitors in the same class are sufficient.

Approaching the 2024 Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight, the first impression is that its design appears more refined compared to the older model, while still maintaining the rugged character of a crossover. The body dimensions are 4870mm × 1875mm × 1675mm, with a wheelbase of 2745mm, which is 50mm longer and 35mm wider than the 2018 version, giving it a visually more substantial and imposing look. The hexagonal front grille has been slightly adjusted, with chrome trim connecting to the LED headlamps on both sides, enhancing the horizontal visual effect. Silver skid plate decorations have been added to the lower part of the front bumper, and standard front fog lights boost recognizability while reinforcing the off-road vibe. The body side profile features smooth lines, with 225/60 R18 tires paired with a minimum ground clearance of 213mm, ensuring off-road capabilities without appearing overly "bulky." The LED taillights at the rear have a smoked finish, creating harmony with the front design. The silver skid plate on the trunk door and the dual exhaust outlets (visually concealed for a cleaner look) add more layers to the rear-end styling. Overall, the new exterior retains the family design language, while the optimized details make it more in tune with modern aesthetics.

Inside the cabin, the most noticeable change is the improvement in interior quality. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials and is complemented by silver accents and piano black trim panels, offering a much better tactile and visual experience compared to the older model. The most striking feature is the 11.6-inch vertically oriented central touchscreen, which has a clearer operational logic compared to the smaller screen in the 2018 model. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and its response speed is quite smooth. The instrument panel has been upgraded to a fully digital display that can show navigation, fuel consumption, all-wheel-drive status, and other information, offering greater practicality. In terms of features, the new model is quite generous: the front seats now support 10-way power adjustment (driver) and 8-way power adjustment (passenger), which is more ergonomic compared to the 8-way adjustment in the 2018 model. Dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air conditioning vents, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding mirrors come as standard. The Harman Kardon 11-speaker audio system delivers sound quality that ranks among the upper-mid level in its class. Regarding space, the wheelbase remains at 2745mm, but with the extended body, rear legroom feels more spacious than the previous model. A passenger of 175cm sitting in the rear has about two fists’ worth of room between their knees and the front seats. The trunk capacity is 522L, which is 10L larger than the 512L of the 2018 model. When the rear seats are folded down, an even larger storage space is available, meeting the storage needs of family outings. The storage compartments are also very practical; the large storage slot under the center console can hold a phone and wallet, and the door panel pockets can fit large drink bottles.

Start the engine, and the operation of the 2.5L naturally aspirated horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is very smooth. The maximum horsepower is 188PS, and the maximum torque is 245N·m. Compared with the 2018 model's 175PS, it has increased by 13PS, and the torque has increased by 5N·m. It is matched with an 8-speed CVT transmission, which performs very smoothly in daily driving, and you can hardly feel any shift jerks. During the start-up phase, the power output is relatively linear, without any abrupt push-back sensation, but it is sufficient to handle urban commuting; during mid-to-late acceleration, stepping on the gas pedal deeply causes the engine speed to rise quickly, providing timely power response, and inspires confidence when overtaking. There are three driving modes to choose from: Economy, Normal, and Sport. In Sport mode, the transmission simulates shifting, keeping the rpm at a higher range and delivering more aggressive power output. The full-time all-wheel-drive system is Subaru's strength. Under normal driving conditions, power is mainly distributed to the front wheels. However, when encountering slippery roads or light off-road situations, the system quickly adjusts the power distribution to ensure vehicle stability. During our test drive on muddy roads in the outskirts, the vehicle performed well in terms of passability, and the ground clearance of 213mm also avoided the risk of scraping the underbody.

In terms of handling, the new model remains steady. The combination of MacPherson front suspension and double-wishbone rear suspension is tuned towards comfort but retains a certain level of support. When passing over speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension can filter out most vibrations, and passengers inside the car will not feel obvious jolts. When cornering at high speeds, the body roll is well-controlled, and the steering is precise with minimal play. The brake system uses ventilated disc brakes on both the front and rear. The braking response is immediate, and the braking force is linear, providing sufficient confidence. As for fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 7.3L/100km. In our test run, which included equal parts urban roads and highways, the actual fuel consumption was about 8.1L/100km. Considering the full-time all-wheel-drive system and the vehicle's weight, this result is within the normal range for its class.

As for driving comfort, the new model performs commendably. The seats are wrapped in leather, with relatively soft padding and decent support, ensuring you won't feel fatigued during long drives. The rear seats can be manually adjusted for angle, allowing users to find a comfortable sitting posture. Regarding noise control, the vehicle performs well, with minimal wind and tire noise at high speeds. Engine noise becomes slightly more noticeable when the rpm exceeds 3000, but it does not affect conversations among passengers. The energy recovery system (this would be more noticeable in hybrid models, but this is a fuel-powered version without energy recovery) and the start-stop system also operate smoothly, without significant jerking sensations.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2024 Subaru Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight are very evident: Firstly, the excellent passability and stability brought by the full-time all-wheel-drive system, which many front-wheel-drive models in the same class cannot match; Secondly, the rich configuration, especially the safety features, with 7 airbags and the EyeSight driver assistance system (including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, active braking, etc.) all as standard, making its safety performance leading in its class; Thirdly, its practicality in terms of space, meeting the travel needs of family users. Compared to the Toyota Highlander 2.5L Hybrid version in the same class (priced from approximately RM 300k), the Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight's price of RM 280,390 offers better value. Compared to the old model, the new version has significant improvements in power, configuration, and interior quality.

This car offers a well-balanced overall performance, suitable for family users who value practicality, safety, and off-road capability—whether it's daily commuting, weekend self-driving trips, or long-distance travel, it can handle it all with ease. If you are someone who occasionally enjoys going off the beaten path and needs a comfortable family car, then the 2024 Subaru Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight would be a great choice.

Overall, the 2024 Subaru Outback 2.5 iT EyeSight is a crossover vehicle with "no significant shortcomings." By maintaining the core strengths of the brand (full-time all-wheel drive, horizontally opposed engine) while enhancing configurations and optimizing details, it has further improved its product strengths. For consumers pursuing balanced performance, it is worth considering.