Engine Options

The Subaru Boxer Engine makes Subaru’s vehicles unique. The boxer engine gets its name from the horizontal movement of its pistons, which mirrors a boxer throwing punches. A flat design enables linear energy to flow to the transmission with fewer components. As a result, boxer engines operate at higher efficiency rates with all-wheel drive (AWD) than many of their front- or rear-drive competitors. In addition, the Subaru Boxer Engine’s flat design lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity. A lower center of gravity improves handling when cornering and traversing rough terrain.

Base Engine: Performance and Efficiency

Subaru makes its Outback SUV in nine trim levels. The Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, and Touring models feature a 2.5-liter boxer engine with direct injection and Auto Stop-Start Technology. Subaru paired this engine with its Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). This powertrain puts out 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, and it achieves 26 mpg driving on surface roads and 32 mpg on the highway. Outback models with this Subaru Boxer Engine can travel almost 590 miles on a full tank of gas.

Upgraded Engine: Power and Performance

If you want your Outback to have more power, you’ll love the turbocharged version of the Subaru Boxer Engine. The Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, Wilderness, and Touring XT trims have a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine with dual overhead cams and 16 valves with direct injection, dual active valve control, and Auto Stop-Start Technology. Subaru mates this engine with the same CVT. As a result, this powertrain produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It also gets excellent mileage, coming in at 22 mpg around town and 29 mpg on the freeway. The turbocharged engine delivers exciting driving dynamics on the road and enhanced capability when your adventures take you off-road.

Towing Capacity

Towing capacities vary depending on the powertrain. For example, the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter boxer engine has a towing capacity of up to 2,700 pounds. That’s enough power to haul your utility trailer, two Jet Skis, or a small fishing boat. The more powerful turbocharged boxer engine can tow up to 3,500 pounds, opening up more trailering options. For instance, with 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, you can tow items such as a pop-up camper, a small bass boat, or an enclosed trailer loaded with two ATVs.

Towing Features and Equipment

Every Outback has standard features that aid in towing. For instance, Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system provides enhanced traction, control, and stability when towing a trailer. You also get Subaru’s vehicle dynamics control, hill descent control, and traction control systems to help you feel confident while towing. Subaru makes trailer hitches suitable for each powertrain and towing capacity. The factory can install this if you order a new model. At Hiley Subaru of Fort Worth, our service center can install a hitch and wiring harness on any Outback model on our lot.

Versatility and Off-Road Capability

The Outback was built with versatility and off-road capability in mind. Every Outback model has at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance and comes standard with Symmetrical AWD.  Outback Wilderness trims feature a more rugged chassis and suspension and have 9.5 inches of ground clearance, plus they include skid plates to protect the drivetrain. The Wilderness trims also come with X-Mode, a dual-action drive mode, to tackle off-road adventures. X-Mode optimizes the Outback’s engine and transmission, increases AWD engagement, and enhances the vehicle dynamic control system to reduce individual wheelspin. As a result, X-Mode delivers better traction on low-friction surfaces. Inside the Outback, you have plenty of versatility. You get 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, which is plenty of room for your beach gear or hiking equipment. You can fold the rear seat flat and get 75.6 cubic feet of space to fit larger items or more gear.

Transmission and Drivetrain Options

Every Outback model comes standard with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT and Symmetrical AWD. The Lineartronic CVT gives you the convenience of an automatic transmission but continuously moves between higher and lower gear ratios. This movement captures lost momentum that regular automatic transmissions experience, resulting in smoother, more responsive driving. In addition, Subaru’s design uses a chain instead of a belt system and has smaller pulleys. This unique engineering results in fewer moving parts, a lighter weight than traditional transmissions, and less maintenance. Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system provides more traction and control versus standard AWD systems. Other AWD systems distribute power evenly between all four wheels to create neutral handling and limit the loss of grip, even when cornering. With Symmetrical AWD, you get Subaru’s SI-DRIVE with selectable drive modes. Modes include sport, sport sharp, and intelligent. These tune your Outback’s throttle, steering, and engine output to suit your mood and the road conditions. In addition, Outback Wilderness trims have X-Mode, which adds a snow/dirt mode and a deep snow/mud mode. The Symmetrical AWD design features a lower installation of the system. This helps lower the Outback’s center of gravity, which enhances control and improves stability. You can rely on your Symmetrical AWD to provide better traction on slippery road surfaces and varying levels of rough terrain.

Explore the 2024 Subaru Outback’s Towing and Versatility in Fort Worth

Get the most enjoyment from your adventurous lifestyle with the capable Subaru Outback. You’ll love its impressive power and capable off-road performance, and you’ll enjoy being able to tow your adventure gear on every excursion when you drive an Outback. At Hiley Subaru of Fort Worth, we have an expansive inventory of Outback models at competitive prices. We encourage you to browse our inventory online. If you prefer a more personalized experience, visit our West Loop 820 South showroom. One of our friendly, knowledgeable staff will show you the Outback and let you take your preferred model for a test drive.