• Auto123 reviews the 2024 Subaru Outback Onyx.
What’s in an Onyx?
To be clear: The Onyx edition of Subaru’s Outback wagon doesn’t deliver any performance upgrades. First introduced for the 2023 model-year, it’s strictly an appearance package, but then what’s wrong with putting a ribbon or two on your AWD weekend-warrior-mobile if that’s what strikes your fancy?
The Outback Onyx gets most of the features of the Touring model, such as the larger 11.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Also included are heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and inductive charging for smartphones. Under the hood, however, we find the smaller 2.5L engine, rather than the 2.4L turbo of the range’s higher-end models.
Unique features found in the model include:
- all-weather seating surfaces
- alloy pedals
- sharp black interior accents
- darker exterior badging
- hands-free power liftgate
- LED headlights, lights and fog lights
Pricing of the 2024 Subaru Outback
The Onyx sits on the third rung from the bottom of the Outback lineup. The base Convenience model gets the ball rolling, then we have the Touring, our Onyx and the Limited. Above that sit the Wilderness, Limited XT and finally the Premier XT. Here’s the pricing structure for the Outback for 2024:
- 2024 Outback Convenience – MSRP $33,995 CAD
- 2024 Outback Touring – MSRP $38,295
- 2024 Outback Onyx – MSRP $40,595
- 2024 Outback Limited – MSRP $42,295
- 2024 Outback Wilderness – MSRP $44,795
- 2024 Outback Limited XT – MSRP $45,295
- 2024 Outback Premier XT – MSRP $47,395
Interior of the 2024 Subaru Outback Onyx
This might not sit high in the pecking order of the lineup, but you do get a fairly generous amount of equipment. As mentioned earlier, you have the dual-zone a/c, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and inductive smartphone charging. Beyond that, both rows of seats provide more than acceptable comfort, and behind them there is a vast cargo area, giving you 920 litres of usable space (2,144 litres with the back seats down).
The multimedia screen departs from the usual with its blocky, sort-of-vertical form, and for some reason whenever I drive a Subaru I dwell too much on the purple-ness (or overall primary colour feel) of the display. But no matter, the display is large and the system fairly intuitive to use.
Powertrain of the 2024 Subaru Outback
The model’s base engine, which is what powers the Onyx trim, is a 2.5L 4-cylinder good for 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque working with Subaru’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). This is not a setup that promises a sporty driving experience, but that’s not primarily what the Outback is about anyways.
Official fuel consumption ratings for this model with this powertrain are 9.2L/100 km city, 7.3L/100 km highway and 8.3L/100 km combined.
For comparison, higher trims of the 2024 Outback, for instance the Wilderness trim, get a 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which delivers 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, again with that CVT.
Driving the 2024 Subaru Outback Onyx
As mentioned, this is not exactly a sporty vehicle, in terms of performance and excitement. But it is sporty in the sense it’s great fit for outdoors enthusiasts. Weekend warriors count the reassuring all-wheel drive, convenient wagon format and decently rugged exterior elements for more than on-road acceleration and nimble handling, let’s put it that way.
Not that the Outback is a stiff to drive, not at all. Remember that this wagon’s origins are as an offshoot of the Legacy, which remains a very positive sedan to drive.
The other thing to keep in mind is that, if you really do intend to push your Subaru Outback to its limits off the road, then probably the Wilderness edition is more for you, simply because it actually features elements designed for that use. This Onyx is, to grossly oversimplify, the city cousin to that Wilderness country cousin.
Either way, of course, you have Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, rightfully considered among the best in the business. In today’s wintertime, that may not be as essential as it used to be, even in Canada, but it’s sure nice to have when it’s needed. My week with the Outback featured a couple of decent snowfalls and I live at the top of a hill. In those moments before the plows were able to clear the snow off the roads I took great pleasure at chugging past a few cars struggling to make it up that hill.
Given average combined fuel consumption: 8.3L/100 km
Our average combined fuel consumption, in winter: 10.2L/100 km
The final word
It’s not the most exciting ride or the most exciting design, but the Outback and its so-useful wagon format continues to be relevant and a solid choice. All that cargo space is nothing to sneeze at, and even in our current milder winters the able AWD system is a very good friend to have indeed.
The Onyx model does have to make do with the smaller engine and I admit I would have liked the extra muscle available from the bigger 2.4L turbo engine. It’s up to you to choose if that’s worth the extra cost of moving to a higher trim in the range.
Overall rating: 80 percent
Strong points
- All-wheel drive system
- Plenty of standard equipment
- Comfortable, spacious interior (including plenty of cargo space
Weak points
- Onyx makes do with the base engine
- A little expensive
- Timid exterior design
Competitors of the 2024 Subaru Outback
- Chevrolet Blazer
- Ford Edge
- GMC Acadia
- Honda Passport
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Kia Sorento
- Nissan Murano
- Toyota Venza
- Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
