Is Subaru's 'new' turbo 2.4 engine really good enough? | Auto Expert John Cadogan

We’re in the US, mtns of N.Carolina, we have a 21 Outback XT Touring with 27k miles. We love the 2.4 Turbo. We’ve had the 3.6 & 2.5. The 2.4T is awesome. Nearly the mpg of the non-turbo 2.5, but with more power than the 3.6. At times driving in the mtns, it feels like the 2.4T has almost diesel like torque. We can just fly by people driving up long steep mtn highways. And it doesn’t use a drop of oil. I changed the oil at 1500 mi, then 6k miles after that using Wix XP filters. I’ve learned to have the dealer change the CVT fluid every 40k miles if you plan on keeping them a long time too. 👍🏻🇺🇸

how can I believe an obviously moronic "mechanic" whether the Subaru engine is good or not? I might have lost my mind

Does the HP rating/torque numbers increase on the 2.4T if using premium fuel? Thanks for this in-depth rundown! p.s., I’ve owned my 2024 Outback Limited XT for 2 weeks now—OH MY!!!

I don't get the hate for CVT, they were banned in F1 cause they were just too good.

We needed it in the 2021

I m one of thoseonly Subaru people mainly WRX and Forester..no apologies..the final drive scenario of the new XT makes a big difference and you may like to add this in to your expose..love your work especially when its so factual not comedic 😂

My MY18 Forester XT FA20F DIT has been tuned and fitted with Perrin bits, 210kW/380Nm.
Has a JDM tS CVT ECU. Goes great, wish it came with a 6sp manual.
Loves drinking 98 but to be expected with increased power.
Unless the put the FA24 DIT in the Forester in the future, I won't be getting another Subaru.
Toyota's influence has made Subaru boring

Hippy with a bone??? Smh

I think that the approximation is that a NA petrol engine will lose approx 3% of its power for each 305m (1 000 feet) increase in altitude. So for us folk living in South Africa, more specifically Gauteng (previously known as the Transvaal), this 1 753m altitude results in a close to 33% loss in power.
1. Do you know what the equivalent loss would be for a petrol turbo engine, and specifically the Outback XT?
2. Is torque affected to the same extent?
3. As Gauteng is also pretty warm, and towing trailers or caravans is quite popular, these answers would be useful in the turbo vs NA discussions.

Dear John, (always wanted to say that) now that a little more time has passed, have you driven the XT and is there any chance of a more specific review of the XT? Do I need to mix up my your/you’re etc for attention seeking.

2023 WRX Sport Wagon ts..... Yay.... Or nay?

3 consecutive Subarus now, first a 2002 Liberty RX, Then a 2010 Liberty, then a quick change to a 2011 Forester XT (YES!) when we needed a dog transport. Still have that one, with 218,000 trouble-free k's, and considering a new one. We've driven other stuff, and I drive everything under the sun as a regular user of hire cars, and NOTHING wihtin the regularly available stuff feels as good as that old XT. Yes, a bit thirsty and who was putting a four speed auto in a new car in 2011 ????. Binned the archaic nav/entertainment system, fitted an Android Auto head unit.
So the next one may be a Outback XT, or hope for an XT when they refesh the Forester next year.

I worry about all the extra costs with the 2.4 Turbo vs the tried and true 2.5 NA.

Hi John love your work what would your advise be looking at buying a new car subaru outback touring xt v mazda cx 60 any advice much appreciated. Mark

Have they fixed the head gasket problems yet. And how many miles should a properly maintained Subaru (any model). make before it’s done ?

My 2011 3.6R 5EAT runs uber smooth at 170,000 miles (not km). Turbine smooth.

Test drove XT at dealer yesterday as dealer let met be satisfied I would be happy with all that extra power after ordering in October 2022. March 2023 delivery confirmed which is good considering only a 1 month longer wait than expected. The new 2.5 I picked up is going to son after his mother negotiated a tantalising deal with me. I think I got screwed over by my misses, but positive is Doncaster Subaru have been terrific. I like the few touch screen changes - heated seats, auto start/stop now a one tap process. XT does feel a little stiffer in suspension.

American Outback XT owner here, and I have driven all 3 engines discussed. The XT 2.4T is definitely the one to get. The 3.6 is a great engine but it’s old school. It feels linear but isn’t nearly as quick as the 2.4T. The thing with the XT 2.4T is that it’s very isolating with the CVT and all of the sound insulation and acoustic glass. Essentially, the XT 2.4T is quick, under 6 seconds for 0-60 MPH, but you don’t realize it or feel it, you only notice that no one is able to keep up with you. 😂 Overall, the XT 2.4T transforms the Outback into an effortless, comfortable and refined cruiser on par with my last gen Volvo XC70. It doesn’t feel like a Honda, Toyota or Hyundai competitor, but a premium car between those and an Audi. I don’t think Subaru has lost their passion, it has just become a more refined brand. 😊

I really enjoyed that review. Thanks mate.

Good grief, who do you have to shag to get a review on one of these XT’s!?

Placed my order for outback sports XT just before Christmas. No longer need 7 seater SUV kids all grown. This will be my 5th Subaru in 17 years.

I have just ordered one!

Subaru. the Lesbians go to car.

You missed out because of government regulations, same problem in Europe.

Subaru so needs a 8 speed or 10 speed transmission. Or if there's an after market transmission , that would be nice. Those CVTs go no where fast Floored.

2 years is a long time? We waited for a new camaro for almost 10 years!

You will need to carry oil if you have a Subaru

Saludos from.Chile, here an 1 hour yet to new year 2023.

Just watch this video and its exactly my feeling of subaru.

Our first subaru is actually the firester xt 2015 [july], bought instead of the mazda cx5 gorgeous color black i drove first, but the engine of the xt, + much space in the trunk.

I wished the new sport forester would bring the xt but no, here we are with our xt with 88k wondering if there s any other suv with this power and capabilities, havent found yet.


As in au, we still dont have the outback xt we could have trade de fozy with....
,would be excelente but know 2 years gone, inflation economics etc the price will rise as f..


I heard that maybe the outback would arrive later in 2023 but i guess it will be something like 44k dolars too much.


Damn subaru ....

Well on the cvts.. my 75 year old mom has had two replaced in her 2014 2,5 Outback. Car has 71k on it.... Subaru just throws a new one in. Had guys come Japan to ok the replacements. It's from the classation lawsuit days that pushed the drive line warenty to 10 years or 100k in the USA.

How about just getting on with it and launch the damn car Subaru!

Went into the dealer to check out the new outback. Was going to place an order for the new 2.4T. 30mins later and no love from sales. So i wonder down to the used car section and test drove a 09 Levorg and randomly a 2018 CLA250... The CVT is was fine. Most wouldn't even realise it was different compared to a "normal" automatic. The CLA on the other hand was horrible. Nicer ride but the overly light steering plus random responding laggy throttle had me end the test drive early.

I learnt alot watching your video! Own a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and looking at 2022 Subaru Outback 2.4l Turbo Sport

Iv got a 2020 Outback onyx XT with a 2.4 turbo with 60k miles on it. Iv had problems with literally everything except the motor and transmission. Iv used it hard hunting on muddy gravel roads and in deep snow. It’s the little things… window motors, brakes, lift gate, touch screen, door locks,. Especially the app! I came from Toyota and the quality just isn’t even comparable.

Why does the US XT have only 1587kg (3500 lb) towing capacity, yet the XTs we are getting have 2400kg? They are the same vehicles aren't they?

Hate CVTs, but these newer outbacks really are a sweet ride, in fact one of the smoothest and most comfortable vehicles I've driven (but gutless). I ordered the XT touring yesterday, looking at April delivery unfortunately, but can't wait to hook up a 2.4T van with 240kg towball download and head off to dingo piss Creek, taking the rough back tracks too yeeeaaahhh!

Will the transmission be durable with the extra torque?

Will pre order one early next year , can't wait

Two years ago, I was going to buy the 2.4t without a question. Today, with the campaign against fuel, I still want the turbo but to come with a fully digital driver cluster.
Bringing a turbo after two years but the car hasn't been upgraded to suit the current market is a wrong marketing strategy.

When I switch my 2016 Outback 3.6R to sports# it goes like the clappers! I don’t know why the police didn’t purchase a heap of these 3.6R’s rather than the 5 series diesel BMW’s, as they’re half the price of the beamers

Subarus used to be oddd sporty passion mobiles Now they are just soccer mom mobiles

My forester xt 2014 s rings failed miserably after 130 000 kms on it NEVER AGAIN

My dad had a Subaru 1.4 liter front wheel drive, when they first came to Australia, I use to love to drive that car. But he trade it in for a Datson 180B.

I have had a 2014 2.5 Forester and a 2018 2.0 XT Forester...Honestly, excellent value and product for "that time" price..and really a car that do it all..Now they are too expensive imo due inflation, stock and all that crap..
We also get cars from Inchcape here in Chile..We got the US Acent (Evoltis here) which has a Prado level price and I know quality is not the same as the Japan built cars..actually problems with assambling and even the engine .. yikes

“Go woke, go broke” rattling around in my head. I have to agree with you on the decline in quality / reliability and passion. I’m on my 4th Subaru and was going to buy the STI next but that’s gone.

Agree with the hippy comment! My first 'scrub basher' was an old L1800 wagon! Rusted to buggery but still had huge fun in it, particularly the gag when my older sister would get the gate, then my younger sister and I raced down the tracks conveniently forgetting her! A gag that never wore off!
I was bought up in a die hard Holden family and even myself am a Holden fan (or was anyway....) yet the first car I ever bought was a second hand Forester Columbia and drove it for many a years and asides from replacing the clutch no problems and enjoyed it hugely. My brother in law then bought it off me who has little to no mechanical sympathy and still would I believe it, running even with a touch of bearing knock.
When Holden was going to discontinue the Australian Commodore, I tried to convince dad to buy one to 'see him out', but the VF interior was a bit too suede for him and we had a 2010 VE SV6 that was ok but never seemed a 'complete' vehicle unlike previous Holdens we had which kind of bittered his view on Holden. So he went next door to the Subaru dealer, drove a base spec Outback and said it's all the car he needs.
So I upgraded after my Forester to an Outback 3.6r and my parents basically did the same and so to did my younger sister. I'd even go as far to say the 3.6r was a vehicle that could easily pick up the baton dropped by Commodores and Falcons or old, that beautiful velvet smooth atom grunt, the fact it goes like stink on the open road particularly overtaking, tows with ease, the fact it can run on 91 RON petrol and on that note the open road fuel consumption is amazing. Needless to say if they had the 3.6r new I'd have no problem upgrading if need be. I tried calling Subaru Australia and even told them my loyalty would suffer along with others, hugely because as you pointed out just buying another one of exactly the same vehicle and not thinking too hard about it, but that now isn't the case.
After your commentary, hmmm.... Half convinced I'll say, but call me old school, I do prefer atom engines, mainly ease of maintenance, I like how they feel and turbo care (being nice on start up and convincing my partner to cool the engine doen) is one less thing for me to think about. Brand loyalty is a no brainer for me, but I do sometimes think about what other brand I would buy if I 'wasn't allowed' another Subaru.
The jury is out, but for the meantime, I'll keep enjoying my 3.6r even with 170,000km and drive it into the ground!

Love our Outback XT here in Canada. Lots of power, regular fuel, smooth and efficient. Well worth the extra cost.

I quite enjoy driving my 16’ WRX with its CVT. I’ve driven some rubbish CVT vehicles. However, I wouldn’t shove more power through it than Subaru intended, which is what ruins the fun for some enthusiasts.

Subaru is in decline, it’s been rocky since Toyota got involved. I am interested to see if they can make a comeback as an EV manufacturer. This is my second Subaru and it won’t be the last.

Fewer decent engine options, CVT and some key area cost cutting have definitely eroded what Subaru was and could be in Australia.

How boring CVT must be when standard auto is considered exiting in comparison. What about 6 speed manual?