Subaru news: Outback Turbo charges, Forester on sale again, Solterra EV coming
The latest generation Subaru Outback will get a turbocharged model grade in Australia - it’s just unclear exactly when.
A new expressions of interest page is now available on the Subaru Australia website, stipulating the 2.4 turbo-petrol engine in the new WRX will be under the bonnet of the Outback, presumably in early 2023.
Currently, Outback’s 2.5 naturally aspirated, direct injection, Boxer engine puts out 138kW which offers reasonable performance combined with its benchmark CVT transmission. But with 202kW in the new WRX range using that same powerplant, you can expect some slightly de-tuned but still heady outputs for the Outback turbo - maybe in the high 100s, around 150-170kW wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Keep in mind, this is the Outback, which has long played second fiddle to the Forester and WRX, with more focus on family touring comfort and less on outright performance. So don’t expect some bristling psycho Outback, but one with a bit more oomph.
Speaking of Forester, you can buy one again!
You can tell the MY23 Forester from the MY22 by the headlights which have that jagged cut-in design versus the more square design.
Having gone on a sales hiatus for a large part of 2021 and the first half of 2022, due to serious supply constraints globally, and high local demand, the Forester is back on sale and able to be ordered at your local dealer on MY23 versions only. If you wanted a 2022 model, forget it.
Subaru Australia says, “MY23 Subaru Forester first deliveries are anticipated to commence from Q4 2022.”
“Subaru retailers will support all MY23 Subaru Forester AWD customer enquiries”, Subaru says in a statement.
However, keep in mind, ordering now means still having to wait until next year for your new Forester. So the sooner you order, the sooner you get it. But make sure you get all your correspondence with the dealer regarding delivery delays and pricing in writing. Not just verbally - get it in writing, either an email or formal letter. Make them do it.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s worth waiting for a Forester specifically if there’s an Outback available in-stock or at least with a closer delivery date. Check out my Forester review here_ or my Outback review here_ if you’re still undecided.
Also, after what I would describe as a disappointment in the hybridisation of the Forester and XV in 2020 or whenever, the fully-electric Solterra SUV is coming to Australia, officially, in 2023.
Having pinned its foreseeable future on the Boxer engine for many years to come, the first silent, piston-free Subaru will be here next year in symmetrical all-wheel drive glory. For anybody who’s put their foot down in an ordinary EV, this will be an engineering marvel if they pull it off. And I’m tipping Subaru has done just that because we know how good their AWD system is, not just in reliability, but robustness and capability at splitting power and sending it to all-fours without fail.
However, it will remain to be seen, given that this is Subaru’s first EV, how good or bad the execution will be. See, internal combustion engines are quite delayed in their response, compared with electric powertrains, which are virtually instant. Questions needing answers will be thing like throttle response, how touchy it is, how twitchy it gets in corners, the propensity for wheelspin.
How will they package it with wheels and tyres? Because grip is going to be important, but EVs typically use eco tyres which are designed for reduced rolling resistance (friction) in order to maximise battery range. We know already it’s going to have differing tyre sizes based on model grades, 18-inch for entry-level and 20-inch on the middle/higher spec versions.
Solterra will get dual 80kW motors, front and rear, for a total of 160kW - the same as Hyundai Ioniq 5. It will get X-Mode just like other SUVs in Subaru’s stable, for soft-roading only, of course. It’ll produce 71.4 kW hours from the battery - just shy of the Ioniq 5’s 72.6 kWh.
How it drives will remain to be seen, because without anybody in it, Solterra already weighs two tonnes. Although, early indications suggest it’ll be lighter than the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s 2100kg tare weight.