The Return of the XT

The Subaru lineup used to offer a turbocharged option in nearly every model line at one point.  The Impreza had the WRX, the Legacy had the Legacy GT, even the Baja that only lasted for 4 model years had a turbocharged option.  But in the last decade, Subaru had seemingly watered down their more "performance oriented" options and left us with more economy-centered naturally aspirated options (with the exception of the WRX and WRX STI obviously).  The winds of change are in motion with Subaru, and we could be headed back to a the days when every Subaru has some turbocharged oomph offered under the hood.

The Return of the XT

Subaru has used the "XT" badge on several cars over the years.  From the XT Turbo Coupe in the 80s to the Forester XT offered from 2004-2018, this designation was usually a sign of a good time.  In 2019, Subaru said goodbye to the Forester XT option and I had wondered if this badge would be lost forever.  However, when the 2020 Outback and Legacy made their auto show debuts this year, both cars had replaced their 6-Cylinder Boxer engine options with a 2.4 liter turbocharged Boxer engine and, as such, brought the XT badge back with them.  In the Legacy, customers can opt for a XT model in the Limited and Touring.  In the Outback, the option for a turbo lies with the Limited, Touring, and the all-new Onyx level.  

At the heart of the new XT models lies a 2.4 liter twin-scroll turbocharged boxer engine with direct fuel injection making 260 horsepower and 277 for torque.  If those numbers sound familiar, that's because this is the same powerplant in the Subaru Ascent that came out last year.  This engine already delivers plenty of power in the Ascent, but with the lighter weight Outback and even lighter Legacy, that power is much more noticeable!  They deliver a much more invigorating punch than the previously offered 6-cylinder and can still use regular unleaded fuel.  On top of that, the new Outback and Legacy are built upon Subaru's new Global Platform design which improves safety, decreases noise and vibrations in the cabin, and sharpens handling.  When paired with the new turbocharged engine, this makes for a much more engaging driving experience that's especially fun in the Legacy.  

Subaru is taking strides towards making the Legacy and Outback more appealing to a younger audience, and these sporty engines could be the key to that.  While the Outback Onyx XT is geared more towards an adventurous audience, the "Legacy Sport" trim level in the lacks the XT geddup and go.  Customers can only get that turbo in the Limited and Touring levels for some reason.  Perhaps if the new turbocharged offerings from Subaru are well received, we could see the Legacy Sport earn it's badge. 

As with all of the 2020 Legacy and Outback models, these will feature an Auto Start/Stop system for the engine.  The 2.5 Liter Boxer Engine is the same as that in the 2019 Forester, which already has this system in place.  Tweaks have been made to the 2.4 Liter Turbocharged Boxer Engine to work with this system, as the Subaru Ascent did not have this feature.  The system can be disabled, but now that feature is tucked in the massive 11.6 Inch touchscreen on the new Legacy and Outback.  In fact, many features that were once physical buttons scattered throughout the interior before have now been organized within the new touchscreen.  That may be worrying news to those who have had issues with recent touchscreen glitches and software issues, but the new system has been completely redesigned and has much more processing power than the previous generation.  Subaru has worked with Denso to create the new radio and there are separate systems to handle infotainment and car features so they can run simultaneously without issues.

Probably the most unique of the XT offerings is the Onyx Edition.  Aimed at a younger more adventurous owner, the 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx XT features new "StarTex" upholstery with bright green stitched seams that’s water-repellent and hard-wearing to survive the adventures afoot.  There's also a front-facing camera to help with visibility in off-road conditions and a full-sized spare tire when things get gnarly.  While the Onyx XT lies between the Premium and Limited trim levels, the pricetag is no slouch, starting at $35,905, so it'll be interesting to see how many younger buyers will be able to afford such a rig. 

If you're a fan of turbocharged Subarus, there's a lot more options suddenly.  Of the models offered, the WRX, WRX STI, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent all have some power to lend their drivers, which accounts for over half of the models in Subaru's lineup of vehicles.  There's still hope for the Forester to be added to that lineup, but it'd likely be in the form of a STI-specific model if that does happen.  Whether you're just looking for more power in your next car or you're an enthusiast looking to make use of tuning and aftermarket parts in the pursuit of speed, there's a wider range of options to choose from in the Subaru stable.