Subaru Outback 2022: price increase imminent for Australia’s best-selling crossover wagon

John Law

Contributor

Subaru hasn’t been as badly affected by supply shortages as rival manufacturers, but ongoing production snags mean a price increase is imminent for the Outback wagon

The price of the Subaru Outback in Australia is almost certain to increase next week, according to multiple Australia dealer sources – but customers with existing orders will have their current prices protected, Chasing Cars has learnt.

UPDATE 06/04/2022: Sources have confirmed to Chasing Cars that a $1000 price rise will come into effect Monday 11/04/2022

Chasing Cars understands that the Outback’s price will increase by between $1000 and $1500, though one dealer quoted a rise of up to 10 percent for some models.

Speaking to Chasing Cars, Subaru Australia corporate affairs and public relations manager Chloe Fraser said that the Outback’s price bump is “actively under consideration” but added “there is nothing official to communicate at this stage.”

The Subaru Outback’s price is likely to increase this month

According to some sources, it is possible that the price increase will spread beyond the Outback to other Subaru models in the near future.

The price increase to the Outback wagon is expected to hit the Australian market first, with the new prices likely to come into effect by late April 2022.

The resulting price of entry will almost certainly climb above $42,000, with a $1500 increase enough to see the current $40,690 (before on-road costs) Outback AWD break the $43,000 mark.

If the price increase comes into effect it will mark the second for this year following a bump between $700-1200 that coincided with the Outback’s 2022 model year update that brought more paint colour choice, different seat pockets and new 18-inch alloy wheels for the base car.

Crucially, the imminent price hike will arrive without any extra standard equipment, instead reflecting the ongoing supply issues plaguing the automotive industry including Toyota, the Volkswagen Group and BMW.

However Subaru is one of the few manufacturers that has average wait times under six months, with the current turnaround time for an Outback quoted around three months.

Subaru Outback sport-2 — The Subaru Outback boasts a fairly short average wait time in Australia

The Outback has shifted 1928 units so far in 2022 beating the Toyota Kluger (1673) and Kia Sorento (905), showing strong customer demand for the Outback despite its relatively short wait time.

Those who put money down before the imminent price bump will have that advertised price honoured regardless of the predicted delivery date according to dealers that spoke with Chasing Cars.

The 2022 Subaru Outback range

The Subaru Outback is classified as a large SUVs with rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Mazda CX-8, though it’s really more of a raised wagon similar to the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 162TSI.

Currently, the Outback range starts from $40,690 (before on-road costs) for the AWD model and runs to $48,990 for the flagship Touring grade.

All grades get a generous 11.6-inch touchscreen and LED headlights while the base car features cloth upholstery and manual seat adjustment.

Moving up to the mid-spec Sport grade ($45,190) adds water resistant upholstery, black grille, green ‘Sport’ accents and different 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the Sport has water resistant upholstery

The range-topping Touring gets a nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo and leather upholstered heated and electrically-adjustable front seats.

There is only one powertrain in Australia, a 138kW/245Nm petrol flat-four with a CVT automatic transmission, but in North America a 194kW/375Nm 2.4-litre turbo petrol flat four is available and there are rumours a 2023 model year update could bring it to Australia.