First Blog Post - Test

2009-08-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

For 2010, Subaru is introducing the fourth generation of its outdoor-friendly midsize wagon, the Outback. Outback shares its basic platform with the Legacy sedan, also redesigned for 2010. Subaru says Outback blends sophisticated crossover design with SUV details. To my eyes, the Outback now looks less like a station wagon and more like a crossover SUV. In the station-wagon-phobic U.S. market, that’s probably a strong positive.

The 2010 Outback comes in 2.5i and 3.6R models. Each is available in three trim levels: Base, Premium, and Limited. All-wheel drive is standard on all Outbacks, as are several safety features including front side and curtain side airbags, stability control, and traction control. Standard creature comforts include cruise control, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and remote keyless entry.

Click here to read our review of the 2010 Subaru Outback.

The new Outback has grown in most dimensions. Wheelbase is up nearly 3 inches, and height and width are up by about 2. Subaru says interior volume is up and most passenger room measurements have increased. Perhaps most notably, rear legroom is up by nearly 4 inches. Even with the bigger package, Outback’s length is down slightly less than an inch; Subaru credits shortened front and rear overhangs.

Two engines are available and both use Subaru’s traditional “boxer” horizontally-opposed-cylinder design. Outback 2.5i models get a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 170 horsepower. Outback 3.6R models feature a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine the company says puts out 256 ponies. The 4-cylinder can be mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or Subaru’s new “Lineartronic” continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The bigger engine comes only with a 5-speed automatic.

What’s Cool…

Agreeable Innards
Subaru says passenger space is up about nine percent compared to the old Outback. Statistics like that don’t usually mean very much to most people, myself included. I’m a big guy--6’1” and 250 pounds--and I found the 2010 Outback’s handsome interior roomy and comfortable, front and back. The styling is tasteful and well done and the materials and detailing are better than the midsize car and small SUV norm with attractive surfaces and smart texturing. The seats are comfortable and rear-seat legroom is very good.

Up front, small-item storage includes a two-level console bin, a shallow tray on top of the dash, door pockets, and two center-stack area cubbies; one is covered. Cargo room is good--better than nearly every compact sport utility--with a low liftover height and useful underfloor storage. As a bonus, Outback’s cabin is fairly well isolated from engine, wind, and road noise.

Capable Ride, On-Road or Off
On two-lane highways in western Montana, the Outback remains true to its roots with a pleasant car-like driving experience and a solid, well-controlled ride. When the pavement ends, Outback doesn’t have to be left behind. During spirited driving on tight--and often rutted--gravel roads, Outback remained confident. Even on less-than-perfect surfaces, the ride quality was good and most bumps were fairly well absorbed. Sure, bigger bumps were felt, but even some fairly rough road sections failed to harshly jostle the occupants.

At the Outback launch event, Subaru staged a hill-climb demonstration on a very dry and powdery dirt surface. From a standing start, a 6-cylinder Outback was able to claw its way up and over the tricky course with little drama--a feat an all-wheel-drive Toyota Venza and Ford Explorer supplied for comparison struggled to match.

Clever Ideas
The new Outback has a couple clever storage solutions that deserve special mention. First, the cargo compartment’s retractable cover can be stored in an underfloor holder. If you’ve ever owned a hatchback or sport ute with such a cover, you know how awkward it can be when not in use. Subaru’s solution is simple, yet ingenious. Second, the crossbars for the standard roof rack swing sideways into the roof rails when they aren’t in use. Subaru says this helps eliminate wind noise and aerodynamic drag. They also assert that most Subaru roof-rack accessories made in the past decade or so will fit the new Outback. Well done.

…What’s Not

Passing Power with the 4-Cylinder Engine
The only 4-cylinder Outback available for evaluation was a 2.5i Premium with the CVT transmission. The engine is smooth and puts out enough power for most driving, but there isn’t a great deal of reserve punch left for highway passing. To be fair, the same can be said of most any 4-cylinder crossover or SUV. The 3.6R’s 6-cylinder engine is notably stronger in nearly every situation and is well matched to the traditional 5-speed automatic.

There Aren’t Many Options
We’re in nit-picking territory here, but one noticeable thing missing from the new Outback is a wide array of options. Standard equipment levels are very good, but base models offer no options other than a wireless cell-phone link that’s available on all Outbacks. Premiums can be upgraded with a harman/kardon sound system, a power sunroof, an All-Weather Package that includes heated front seats and side mirrors, and a windshield wiper deicer. Limited models can be fitted with the sunroof and a navigation system.

Leather is only offered on the Limited, where it’s standard. While the cloth interior on the 2.5i Premium I drove was attractive, it would be nice if leather, or even Volkswagen-style high-quality-vinyl upholstery was available on the lower trim levels, especially since Outback targets outdoorsy folks who might want something that is more easily cleaned than fabric. Kudos to Subaru for offering heated cloth seats in the Premium; that’s a fairly uncommon, but very welcome, combination.

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First Blog Post - Test