2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT Review: A Real Mom Car Tour

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Hi, I’m Jana, and today I’m driving the 2025 Subaru Outback XT—the more powerful version of Subaru’s beloved all-wheel-drive wagon. Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, giving this Outback a satisfying boost in performance.

One of Subaru’s defining features is its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, which comes standard on every model. It’s an intelligent system that continuously sends power to the wheels that need it most, in real time. That means if one wheel starts slipping, the system automatically redirects power to maintain traction and control.

It’s part of the reason Subarus are so popular in northern climates and regions with rough weather—dependable grip, no matter the road conditions.

Another Subaru hallmark is safety. Every Outback comes equipped with EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, featuring cameras mounted on either side of the rearview mirror that monitor the road ahead.

This system provides lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision braking alerts. The Outback also includes DriverFocus, which monitors your attention level. If your eyes stray from the road for too long—say, you glance at your phone or get distracted—it’ll beep and flash a light to get your attention back where it belongs.

Subaru’s practicality shines in small but smart details. For example, there’s a built-in step to help you reach the roof, and the roof rails double as crossbars—simply lift, rotate, and lock them into place. They can hold about 150 pounds and are aerodynamically shaped to reduce wind noise. I actually drove about 25 miles with them installed just to confirm—no extra wind noise at all.

Inside, the Outback XT feels refined yet functional. The Nappa leather seats are both heated and ventilated up front, while the rear seats are heated as well. There’s a heated steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and plenty of USB and 12V power outlets.

Storage is generous, with deep cubbies, wide cup holders, and even—believe it or not—a CD player still tucked inside the center console. The rear seats fold completely flat, giving you a ton of cargo space—perfect for road trips, camping, or car sleeping.

The five-star overall safety rating adds peace of mind, with only the rollover score at four stars. Thanks to its low center of gravity, the Outback feels stable and secure.

The second row is roomy, offering great legroom and headroom, plus multiple lower LATCH anchors for child seats and three top tethers. Rear passengers get heated seats, air vents, and charging ports, along with the obligatory cup holders.

Beyond the standard backup camera, the Outback XT also features a front-view camera for trail driving and a digital rearview mirror with its own camera feed.

Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, and I averaged around 27 mpg during my drive. The as-tested price for this 2025 Outback XT comes in at $46,000.

Would you buy this over the competition? Rivals include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and other adventure-ready crossovers. I’ll be driving the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition soon, which might give the Outback a run for its money—stay tuned for that.

If you enjoyed this quick tour of the 2025 Subaru Outback XT, you can find me across social media or at realmomcartours.com. Thanks for joining me for the ride!