Coming from a 2018 Volkswagen Alltrack SE, 6-speed manual, APR Stage 3 tune with an IS20 turbo, the Outback XT Onyx has been nothing short of a disappointment. My Alltrack cost me $29k new; the Subaru cost $41k. For the extra $12k, I got less power, worse handling, worse gas mileage, and technology that feels like it belongs in the last decade. The VW was quick, nimble, and efficient, easily returning 28 mpg even with the tune. It handled beautifully and, most importantly, everything just worked. Plug in Android Auto? Instant connection. Navigation? Seamless. Acceleration? Immediate. The Subaru, on the other hand, is plagued with issues. On a good day, I wait 2–3 minutes for Android Auto to boot up. On a bad day, it just does not connect at all, whether wired or wireless. The XM radio seems possessed, defaulting to the “No. 1 Hits” channel every time, no matter what I was actually listening to. These quirks might sound small, but they add up, especially in a car at this price point. And then there is the dangerous part: the acceleration delay. From a dead stop, the car hesitates a solid second or more before responding. Subaru calls this “turbo lag.” It is not. Turbo lag happens when the car is already moving and the turbo takes a moment to spool up. This delay is something else, and in traffic it is not just frustrating, it can be unsafe. I had read about Subaru’s infotainment issues before buying, but the sales rep assured me they were fixed in the 2024 model. They were not. The service department told me it is “normal” and even tried to blame my brand-new Samsung phone. That kind of excuse-making is hard to swallow when my 2018 VW never once had these problems. To be fair, the Outback has positives. The seats are extremely comfortable, the interior is roomy, and the rear heated seats were a big factor in my purchase. I also like the styling, especially in white, and the ground clearance is impressive, though I will probably never need it. But those perks do not make up for the day-to-day frustrations. If I could do it again, I would either still be driving my Alltrack or I would have gone with something like the Volvo V60 or V90, or even the Mazda CX-50. Subaru simply does not deliver what I expect for the money, and I will not be buying another one.

This car is poorly made. Severe wind noise all around this car. Lots of warranty repairs. The stop-go mechanism is jerky and problematic. At 7,900 miles, some clonking noice at the wheels. Very poor quality automobile. Buy at your own dissatisfaction. Would not recommend.

The OB XT is a mixed bag from my 9 months of ownership. This is my second Subaru and I was excited about owning another. There is just something about the way Subaru designs and engineers that clicked with me. In the PLUS category, the power is great, when the turbo finally spools up. Seats are nicely contoured and the HK stereo is one of the best OEM offerings out there. The wagon will cruise at 80 without much effort, though it isn't as planted as a good sedan. The adaptive cruise control is one of the best designed out there. While not a large vehicle, it will swallow up your gear. It was suffering from heavy rear dip syndrome until I got a set of rear Rallitek load springs. Now it doesn't seem to drop it's rear in undulating road conditions. Highway MPG didn't break out of the 20s until I had over 4k miles. On cruise control, set at a leisurely 65 MPH, it will easily do 30+ MPG. 28 MPG at 80 MPH. Wind noise isn't nearly as bad as I expected from the big chunky (size) roof rack. The MINUS category. Oh that CVT is something evil. For the love of all that's good Subaru, put a good 8-speed transmission in the OB XT. Unless you are at 30% or more of throttle, the CVT does everything possible to restrict engine performance and forward motion. Over 40% throttle, and you get a surge of power as the turbo finally comes online. Lot's of throttle modulation needed on a very sensitive peddle. It has many rattles, many. My previous Subaru never had this many freely vibrating pieces. Turbo lag. I've almost been creamed more than once when pulling into traffic or crossing roads. If this had a manual transmission, I could rev the engine into boost prior to pulling out, but the CVT doesn't really allow it. Best to just put the pedal down because modulating the pedal only causes the engine to get confused and add more time till boost. Turn off or disable the start/stop to save a second more. I hesitate to let my teenage daughter drive it because you have to factor in that 1 to 2 second power delay. Around town, due to it needing to be in the boost to move from a stop, MPG is below 20 MPG. The vehicle also shudders when taking off from a stop when turning L or R, when not at operating temperature. Dealer says that was an issue with early 6th gen, but supposed to be fixed now. Will revisit the dealer when it gets colder and they are willing to keep it overnight to drive it cold. When at temp, under more throttle, the drivetrain makes a few loud popping sounds from L & R turns. The NEUTRAL category. The styling is 'different'. The 2020-2022 looked a little better. The AC is best controlled old-school. Adjust your temp and blower speed separately and you will stay cool. Also, a K&N cabin air filter is a must have. Not sure I'd buy the OB XT again if I could go back in time with my experience gained.