2025 Subaru Outback Review and Test Drive
Searching for fall colors in the versatile and capable off-road wagon.
Perry Stern
Some people may think a sports car with a convertible top is ideal for a fall color tour to see the changing leaves. While I'm always on board for that kind of a drive in that kind of a car, many of the roads near my home in Southeast Michigan are gravel, dirt, or, depending on the weather, mud. That's when a 2025 Subaru Outback comes in handy.
With a 2025 Outback, you can go almost anywhere in pursuit of fall color without worrying too much about road conditions and still enjoy the drive, especially with the crossover's available turbocharged engine.
For what I'd hoped would be an adventure to witness nature's splendor, Subaru provided me with a 2025 Outback Touring XT. Bringing its own spot of color with its Crimson Red Pearl paint, the only option on this top-of-the-line Outback was a set of all-weather floor mats. That upgrade brought the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $44,356, including the $1,420 destination charge to ship the car from Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana, production facility to your local dealership.
Perry Stern
Peace of Mind When the Pavement Ends
Planning a fall color tour too far in advance is a gamble, and it turned out that I booked the Outback a little early in the season to get the full fall foliage experience in my area. While there seemed to be plenty of leaves falling on my lawn, those still attached to the trees hadn't yet turned to the expected fall colors, so I headed farther north on a crisp, sunny day.
The first "pavement ends" sign appeared just a few miles into the journey. The Outback has full-time all-wheel drive and a ground clearance of 8.7 inches, so that was of no concern, and I pressed on without even slowing. The ride remained surprisingly comfortable, and as I took a corner at a good clip, the Outback effortlessly kept me on track.
There hadn't been any rain in a while, so many of the back roads were dusty, full of loose gravel and large potholes. The Outback carried on with no issues, allowing me to concentrate on finding those few trees that had started to change color early.
Perry Stern
Outbacks Have a Comfortable, Accommodating Cabin
The Outback's rugged exterior design is both functional and stylish, helping the crossover SUV tackle more challenging terrain while looking tough doing it. But the Touring XT's interior is more akin to a premium sedan than a vehicle set for adventure.
Perry Stern
With soft leather seats featuring attractive contrast stitching and plenty of room for front and rear occupants, the Outback's cabin is an excellent base for outdoor exploits. In addition, you can bring plenty of gear with you because the cargo hold accommodates 32.6 cubic-feet of whatever you can fit in there. Fold the back seat, and it offers 75.6 cu-ft of cargo space.
Perry Stern
As I was hunting for those splashes of red, orange, and yellow, it was nice to have Android Auto displayed clearly on the Touring XT's 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen. Thanks to the wireless connectivity, I could get out with my phone to take pictures, then hop back in, and Android Auto would reconnect automatically.
While the Outback Touring XT comes standard with a native navigation system, I preferred using Google Maps as I wound my way through the Michigan backcountry. Listening to music through the powerful Harman Kardon audio system added to the overall enjoyment, and it's nice that Subaru has retained physical volume and tuning knobs because they are much easier to use while driving on a bumpy trail.
Perry Stern
A Nice Daily Driver, No Matter Where You Go
One of my favorite things about the Outback is how easy and comfortable it is to drive in a variety of situations. In the space of a few hours, I experienced the Subaru on winding highways, dirt roads, lumpy trails, and on the freeway, and it took them all in stride.
Subaru offers two four-cylinder engine options in the Outback, and my test vehicle had the more powerful turbocharged 2.4-liter, which supplies 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. While the standard continuously variable transmission doesn't consistently deliver the crispest response, the Outback feels powerful and moves quickly with satisfying acceleration, even on loose surfaces.
Perry Stern
Just because my goal was to seek out some colorful fall foliage, there wasn't any reason not to enjoy the drive. With responsive steering and a four-wheel independent suspension, the Outback performs surprisingly well when the road gets twisty. But hustling the Subaru on the dirt roads was even more fun.
Later, when traveling Interstate Highway 94 to try my luck a bit farther west, the Outback accelerated up to speed quickly and cruised along at 70 mph quietly and smoothly.
Perry Stern
Staying Safe On and Off the Pavement
Adding to the enjoyment of my fall drive in the Outback was the peace of mind that comes with the standard EyeSight driver-assistance features.
On my drive, the lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist proved helpful as I scanned the landscape for pops of color. Off-road, the test car's 180-degree front-view monitor helped me negotiate around larger holes and rocks. In addition, the 2025 Subaru Outback gets a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Perry Stern
While my quest for fall color proved disappointing, the drive did not, and I averaged 24.2 mpg, coming close to the EPA rating of 25 mpg in combined driving. The 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT is enjoyable and capable in a variety of situations, and it does more than just look ready for adventure. It has the capability to match.
Subaru provided the vehicle for this 2025 Outback review.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Perry SternI have loved cars and trucks since childhood, and that fascination with anything that drives is just as strong today. As a teenager, I knew I wanted to become an automotive journalist, and during the past three decades, I have driven, written about, and photographed all manner of automobiles ranging from affordable econocars to exotic supercars. With the idea that there is a perfect car, truck, or SUV for everyone, my goal is to help consumers determine the right one for their wants and needs.
Related articles
View more related articles