The NY Auto Show has hit! It’s an exciting time of year for any car nerds. Many automakers reserve some of their most exciting reveals for this massive event. One of these reveals was the 2023 Subaru Outback getting a mid-cycle refresh adding exciting new exterior design cues, both functional and aesthetic. 

What’s new with the 2023 Subaru Outback?

Subaru surprised the world by debuting the new 2023 Subaru Outback at the 2022 NY Auto Show. The off-road wagon’s mid-cycle refresh comes with new tech and a new look. 

According to Autoblog, the 2023 Outback got a new front fascia featuring a large honeycomb motif grille front and center. The wagon also got newly designed LED headlights and fog lights. While the headlights are a touch subtle, the fog lights are much more prominently featured on the front of the car. 

Subaru says the front bumper cladding and wheel arch cladding are both modified to provide more protection to the vehicle. These changes apply to all Outback models except for the Wilderness due to its already beefy front cladding. 

What features come in the 2023 Subaru Outback? 

Subaru updated more than just some plastics and lighting. The update ushered new tech to the Outback, like an update to the Subaru EyeSight systems and the cameras used to make the safety system work.

Subaru also says that the driver assists systems are updated to work more smoothly. The brake booster system, in particular, will benefit from this refresh. 

For new Subaru Outbacks, if you get one with blind-spot warning, it will also get something called “Automatic Emergency Steering,” which steers the car away from perceived threats. This action will only happen up to 50 mph and under. 

The top-of-the-line Touring trim adds a new “Wide-Angle Mono Camera.” Subaru says this new camera system expands the Outback’s field of vision. The idea is to see bicyclists and pedestrians sooner than previously possible. 

Outdoor enthusiasts rejoice at “W3W”

There is another update that’s perplexing us, something called “what3words” or “W3W.” Why use my words when you can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth? Subaru describes the new tech like this: “W3W has divided the world into a grid of 10-foot squares and given each square a unique combination of three words — a what3words address. Customers can navigate to and share trailheads, scenic overlooks, and other hard-to-find places with precise accuracy using just three words. The feature is standard on models equipped with the Starlink 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation system.” 

It’s too early to tell whether this is the smartest thing I’ve heard of or if it’s a complicated solution to a problem no one really has. 

Lastly, the new Outbacks in the Touring trim only will get a digital rearview mirror run by cameras. 

The Outback just keeps getting better

The Outback was already crushing its critics and consumers alike. With these updates, it’s probably safe to say that the 2023 Outback will follow in its predecessors’ footsteps of being an undeniably practical choice for most car buyers.