Slashgear Finds the Outback Touring XT Delivers All-Season Luxury

Slashgear reviews a diverse selection of products, showing equal interest in phones, computers, and other forms of technology. It also reviews cars, however, so Subaru provided editor Alex Hevesy with a 2025 Outback Touring XT to test for a week, and Ewing Subaru of Plano shares his feedback. 

At Slashgear, Alex is a gearhead among tech enthusiasts and has written articles for Autoweek Magazine, Hagerty, Jalopnik, and MotorWeek. He owns a 2015 Outback that he purchased new, providing him with valuable perspective on the ten-year-newer model.  

The new model is likely a bit fancier, as it is the flagship of the Outback lineup. The XT indicates it has more oomph under the hood with the turbocharged version of the Outback’s standard 2.5-liter boxer-four engine. Compared to the adequately powered 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque of most Outback models, the XT delivers 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque that peaks at a low 2,000 rpm, resulting in a distinct driving experience—or at least it would have if it hadn’t been in the dead of winter in Maryland with a blanket of snow covering everything. More on that in a moment. 

Inside, the $44,356 tester delivers what Hevesy describes as “the brand’s best interpretation of a luxury car.” The luxury car features include Nappa leather in the striking Java Brown color, which extends from the seats to the door panels to a generous portion of the dash. The front seats are both heated and ventilated, and there is also a heating function for the steering wheel. Surrounding the cabin is an 11-speaker, 576-watt Harmon Kardon audio system. While it may not have all the bells and whistles found in a luxury brand vehicle, it presents a luxury vibe. As Hevesy states: “…for all intents and purposes, I think this is a luxury car.” 

But there is more than one interpretation of luxury. As mentioned, this entire review was conducted in the snow, and the Outback performed as expected from a manufacturer that made its mark in the mountainous and snowy regions of the country. Hevesy put it this way: “I never felt like I was about to lose control, and it remained just as controllable in single-digit temperatures with seven inches of snow still on the pavement as it would when it’s 75 and sunny. It doesn’t really acknowledge the weather all that much.” A vehicle that provides full confidence in the worst weather is a kind of luxury in itself, and few do it better than the Outback. He concludes that if you’re looking for “leather seats and something to capably tackle the snow, I can’t think of a better option than the Subaru Outback Touring.” 

Plano may not experience snow like the author’s Baltimore home, but we are no strangers to occasional snow and are certainly quite acquainted with heavy rain. If you are looking for a vehicle seemingly indifferent to adverse weather while surrounding you in luxurious ambiance, visit Ewing Subaru of Plano, where you will find more Outbacks in our inventory than most anywhere else in the country.