2022 Subaru Outback to get turbo and off-road options in Australia? Local demand for new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack rivals heard 'loud and clear'

Want a turbocharged Outback? Keep asking your dealer!

Speaking to Cars Guide At the launch of the second generation BRZ sports coupe, Subaru Australia Managing Director Blair Reed confirmed that the Outback Turbo is still on its way to our market.

When asked if there are still plans - as previously mentioned - to introduce a turbocharged 2.4-liter variant available overseas, Mr. Reed said: “Absolutely.

“Customer feedback and market demand for the turbocharged model was heard loud and clear. This is something we are working on very closely with the factory right now.”

The Outback Turbo, currently only available in the US market where it is produced, is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine similar to that used in the upcoming new generation WRX. In the Outback it delivers 195kW/376Nm, which is a significant jump from the only engine currently available on models shipped to Australia, a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder unit with 138kW/245Nm.

While the US market has had exclusive access to the new generation 2.4-liter powertrain for some time now, Mr. Reed explained that the new engine has since been assembled for vehicles such as the BRZ and WRX at the Yajima plant in Japan. where Australian cars are made. built.

"That's not the reason anymore," Mr. Reed said of the engine's assembly site. "Time to market and what's right for our customer have now become more important."

The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine has become available at Subaru's Yajima plant, where the brand supplies its vehicles to Australia.

Subaru of North America also offers the Outback in a tough off-road-focused Wilderness package, complete with higher ride height, longer springs and dampers, strong replacement bumpers, and small 17-inch alloy wheels covered in all-terrain rubber. as well as improvements across the board for entry, exit and liftoff angles – a seemingly perfect Ranger Raptor-style makeover for the popular station wagon.

The brand even recently trademarked "Wilderness" in Australia. When asked if such a model is planned for Subaru this year, Mr Reed explained: “We are still watching [the wilderness] with great interest. This is especially true for the Australian market and environment, and for our customers' desire to personalize their vehicles.

“There is definitely a demand for it. We are looking at some options for this and what we can do at the plant.”

The Outback Wilderness, which has been exclusive to the US market so far, appears to still be in the pipeline with Subaru Australia.

A similar "Wilderness" variant has since been launched in America for the facelifted 2022 Forester, though the brand won't take a chance on the return of the fan-favorite turbocharged XT variant thanks to the availability of a 2.4-liter turbocharged powertrain. from Yajima, but Cars Guide understands this, however, much less frequently than the forced outback. Watch this space.