Turbocharged Subaru Outback flagship launched in South Africa – Specifications

Subaru has launched a new turbocharged version of the Outback, which was previously only available with a naturally-aspirated engine.

The new model dubbed the XT has a starting price of R959,000, as provided by duoporta, and it boasts a noticeably higher power ceiling than its siblings.

Turbo power

Under the hood of the XT is a 2.4-litre, turbocharged petrol motor, in contrast to the 2.5-litre powerplants found in the other two models.

This gives the new entry a greater performance cap of 183kW and 350Nm – 45kW and 105Nm higher than the naturally-aspirated units.

A CVT transmission is used to link the powertrain to all four wheels, resulting in a fuel consumption of 9.0l/100km on an average cycle. The Outback also has a ground clearance of 213mm and hill descent control for when it’s taken off the beaten track.

Equipment

The new XT shares the same features as the previous range-topping Touring specification.

As such, buyers can look forward to 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, daytime running lights and fog lamps, roof rails with a built-in crossbar, a hands-free powered tailgate, and rain-sensing wipers.

Inside, the dashboard is dominated by an 11.6-inch infotainment screen which features on-board navigation, a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Additionally, the Subaru provides keyless entry and start, electronically-adjustable front seats with heating and memory functions, leather upholstery, a heads-up display, a rearview camera, a sunroof, rear USB ports, and automatic climate control.

Safety equipment comprises adaptive cruise control, eight airbags, driver fatigue monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic pre-collision braking, lead vehicle start alert, speed sign recognition, a speed limiter, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

As an estate car, the Outback also has a generous boot size of 522 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,267 litres when they are folded.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the updated Subaru Outback range is as follows:

• Subaru Outback 2.5i Field – R728,000
• Subaru Outback 2.5i Touring – R788,000
• Subaru Outback 2.4T XT – R959,000 (new)

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km warranty and a 3-year/75,000km maintenance plan.

Subaru Outback