2024 Subaru Outback Review
Today is a car tour I’m super excited to share. The 2024 Subaru Outback is an awesome family car, a secondary car, or even a first car for teens. I’ve been a fan of the Subaru lineup for quite a while, so I can’t wait to dive in and see everything the 2024 Outback model has to offer.
If you’re new here - welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a mom of almost four (if you missed the life update click here), CPST, and a huge car fan, I can’t wait to walk you through all the features of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator to help see if it’s right for your family.
Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!
2024 Subaru Outback Exterior
The Subaru Outback is what I would call a hatchback sedan. It’s not quite an SUV, but it’s not a complete sedan either - something more in the middle. This means you’ll have higher ground clearance and a larger vehicle.
As for the exterior itself, the Subaru Outback is classic with a little bit of toughness to it. Subaru designed this vehicle to be an off-roading adventure type of vehicle, so you’ll see that with the roof rails and other blacked-out features. Overall, I like it, but it’s nothing different from the Outback exterior of last year’s model.
2024 Subaru Outback First Row
The first row of the Subaru Outback is designed with practicality in mind. They’re not winning any luxury awards, but it’s a reliable, comfortable first row that is exactly what you need. On the Touring model, I got my hands on, it has some interesting faux leather brown detailing throughout the first row and the nice vehicle.
Right below the infotainment system, two cupholders can both fit Stanleys. You’d be surprised how many subpar cupholders I’ve seen in the past couple of years. Lastly, we have a TINY center console. But here’s the kicker - it has a CD player! I haven’t seen one of these in a car in years and I love that it’s nice and discrete in the center console.
The last thing I wanted to note before we move into the infotainment system breakdown, this Outback has a rearview camera in the mirror. This is an awesome piece of technology I love when visibility is obstructed with car seats in the second row.
Infotainment System
The infotainment system in the Subaru Outback, although functional, is a bit dated compared to its competitors on the market. It hasn’t changed much since its redesign in 2020, so it’s a bit clunky.
It has a mix of physical buttons and touchscreen controls that may not appeal to everyone. While the system has been updated recently, it still has a somewhat basic appearance and interface.
However, the Touring trim does offer some nice tech features such as a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, USB and USB-C ports, a wireless charger, and a backup camera. Despite its shortcomings, the infotainment system is reliable without being overly complicated.
Subaru Outback Second Row
The second row of the Subaru Outback is comfortable and spacious. I’ve always loved the amount of room cars of this size allow for the second row. The seats have good head and leg clearance, which works well for car seat and passenger purposes.
Second row amenities include:
Heated seats
Air vents (not on the ceiling though)
USB and USB-C ports
Leatherback pocket storage
Car Seat Set Up
When it comes to car seat setup, the Subaru Outback offers five lower anchors and three tether anchors. The fifth lower anchor allows for off-center installation of a car seat, providing some flexibility, although you lose a seat completely. A lot of manufacturers do this because it looks like you’re getting bonus points for car seat installation purposes, but in truth, it doesn’t help all that much.
The Outback is better suited for two-car seats rather than three-car seats across because the rigid and indented buckles make it challenging to achieve a secure fit for three across. Additionally, the second-row headrests are removable, which helps install certain car seats. For example, the Nuna PIPA infant seat fits well, even with a taller driver, and the Britax Slim seat with ClickTight installation also works nicely, provided the headrests are removed.
2024 Subaru Outback LATCH Diagram:
Subaru Outback Trunk
The Subaru Outback's trunk space is impressive. I threw in a HUGE Mockingbird stroller and it fits excellently. The cargo cover can be removed to increase storage capacity, and the rear seats can be folded flat for even more space.
Underneath the trunk floor, there is additional storage for tools and other small items. The generous trunk space is one of the Outback's standout features and I’m really happy with it.
Subaru Outback Wrap-Up
Overall, any 2020 - 2024 Subaru Outback is a great, affordable car. Although the technology in this car is not the best, I was impressed to see a camera in the rear view mirror - this is one of my favorite tech features across all cars for visibility purposes. If you’re looking for cargo space and a smaller vehicle that still has room for car seats, it’s worth a test drive.
What do you think of the 2024 Subaru Outback? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest family cars on the market, check out my recent tours:
