Subaru outback onyx1/6/2023 ![]() ![]() Deep Snow and Mud mode dialed back throttle sensitivity notably more than the Dirt and Snow mode, but even in Normal mode - theoretically worst suited for these settings - the Outback pulled through OK. The Outback clawed its way resolutely through dirt and mud with minimal bogging down, a showcase of continuous power from Subaru’s venerated AWD. With all four wheels off the pavement, all three driving modes proved impressive. By contrast, Deep Snow and Mud mode kept all four wheels rotating at roughly even speed to move out with no drama. With X-Mode’s Normal or Snow and Dirt modes engaged, the Outback got out well enough, though there was some notable hesitation on the starboard side. I ran our Onyx Edition through my standard AWD test, with the right wheels in low traction - in this case, a few inches of wet mud - and the left wheels on pavement. The calibrations for the latter mode provide “a marked difference in performance from regular X-Mode in those conditions,” Tulman said. By contrast, “Deep Snow/Mud increases engine torque and allows for more wheel spin to help the vehicle find grip on these trickier surfaces.” ![]() What’s the difference? Snow and Sand mode manages drivetrain and stability-system control “ to limit wheel spin and enhance traction,” Subaru spokeswoman Jessica Tullman said in an email. (There’s also a default mode, Normal - essentially turning X-Mode off - that keeps AWD engaged.) You still have a Snow and Dirt mode, but the Onyx adds Deep Snow and Mud. With the 2020 Outback’s Onyx Edition, X-Mode gets two modes versus the single setting in other Outback trims that’s a provision Subaru also offers on the Forester. Subaru introduced X-Mode, a driver-selectable setting that optimizes traction control and all-wheel-drive torque distribution for off-pavement situations, in the 2014 Forester, and it’s proven helpful in our experience. Water resistance notwithstanding, I doubt many shoppers will mistake it for leather - but it does appear easy to clean. StarTex feels smoother than traditional vinyl upholstery, though not exactly in an upscale way. Inside, the Onyx gets a unique two-tone gray design scheme, and the seats have a water-repellent material called StarTex (not to be confused with the socially repellent material called Star Trek, which my wife still refuses to watch). Likewise, the Onyx has identical dimensions, including the same 8.7 inches of ground clearance, as other Outback trims. Exterior Detailsĭarkened exterior effects - dark wheels, a black upper grille strip where other trims use silver, and mirrors painted Crystal Black Silica - give the Onyx Edition a look that suggests hardier off-road chops, though its lower cladding isn’t technically any different than other Outback trims. I recently test-drove a dark blue example, priced at $37,995 including options and a destination charge, and I’ll delve below into four key things that differentiate the Onyx from other Outbacks. View all 2020 Subaru Outback models for sale near 60606Īdded in the nameplate’s redesign for 2020, the Onyx technically goes by Onyx Edition XT, signaling that it carries the Outback’s available turbo four-cylinder engine. ![]()
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