MT
For the next 12 months, a
turbocharged Subaru Outback
is ours to commute, run
errands, and adventure with.
Will the charm of this 2020
SUV of the Year finalist sway
us, or will it spend time in
and out of the dealership, as
our Ascent did? Join us as we
daily-drive Subaru’s best-
seller, experiencing the turbo
Outback in the never-before-
offered Onyx trim.For a Subaru not wearing
a WRX badge, the Outback
Onyx is quick. With a 0–60
time of just over 6 seconds,
the Outback Onyx moves
with more authority than
any Outback MotorTrend has
ever tested. That’s thanks to
a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-
four producing 260 hp and 277
lb-ft of torque.
The 2.4T engine under
the hood of the Onyx and
two other trims has another
fantastic bonus: significantly
increased EPA-rated fuel
economy (23/30 mpg city/
highway versus the 2019 3.6R’s
20/27) and more than 70 addi-
tional miles of driving range.
For drivers interested in the
Outback’s unique appeal but
turned off by a base 2.5 engine
we’ve described as “gutless,”
this could be a real option.
Regardless of which engine
you choose, the Outback offers
great value if you compare
it to two-row midsize SUVs.
Although the Onyx does add
a few cool visual upgrades
( black exterior details andM
y epiphanic Outback
moment happened
in a very ordinary
restaurant parking lot. When
the server delivering our food
asked what type of car I was
driving, I couldn’t bring myself
to say SUV. Because no matter
how rugged Subaru makes
the Outback look, no matter
how many inches of ground
clearance it has (8.7), this is an
SUV-ified wagon.two-tone water-repellent
seats), think of it more as
the least expensive way to
get that 2.4T engine. Like all
Outbacks, our 2020 Onyx uses
a CVT automatic and standard
AWD. For about $36,000,
the Onyx already includes
the 2.4T engine as well as an
11.6-inch touchscreen, a power
liftgate, a full-size spare tire,
dual-function X-Mode, two
2.1-amp USB ports front and
rear, LED headlights, and the
knowledge that you’ve picked
something different than
every other SUV on the block.
Well, unless your neighbor
also owns an Outback.Updates on our long-term fleet
“Subaru hasn't offered a turbocharged
Outback since 2009. We have a year
to test out the new one.” Zach GaleEPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ
23/30/26 mpgArrival: Subaru Outback TX
72 MOTORTREND.COM AUGUST 2020Base Price $35,905 As Tested $37,995