Subaru is getting closer to bringing a more powerful Outback to Australia, on the back of strong demand from customers.
Asked about the potential for the 2.4-litre turbo engine currently offered on the Outback in North America coming Down Under, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read simply said “watch this space”.
“The demand from the Australian customer for that product has been heard loud and clear, and we’re working overtime with the factory to make that a reality,” Mr Read said.
“It’s something we’re working really hard at, and hopefully we’ll have some news at some point.”
Pictured: Outback Wilderness 2.4T
The 2022 Subaru Outback range in Australia is only available with a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre boxer engine with 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque, mated with a continuously-variable transmission and all-wheel drive.
Gone is the turbo-diesel option, along with the 3.6-litre six-cylinder that topped the previous-generation range.
In the USA, however, the Outback is available with a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 195kW of power and 376Nm of torque.
The same engine is used in the Ascent seven-seat SUV not offered locally, and forms the base for the 2.4-litre engine in the BRZ sports car.
Pictured: Outback Wilderness 2.4T
Although the Outback Turbo is looking increasingly solid for Australia, the Forester SUV is less likely to get the same treatment.
“Forester is not in the immediate scope,” Mr Read said. Partly that’s down to where the Forester (which has just been given its mid-life update) sits in its lifecycle, and partly it’s down to demand.
“We’re always focused on delivering on our customer demands,” explained Subaru Australia PR boss, Chloe Fraser.
“The customer demand for Outback 2.4 turbo is what we’re hearing loud and clear, and that’s what we’re focusing on delivering to them,” she said.
Despite the lack of a turbocharged option, the Outback is off to a strong start in Australia.
Subaru sold 10,490 in 2021, up from just 4828 as it ran out the previous-generation model. That puts it ahead of the Toyota Kluger and Isuzu MU-X on the sales charts.
