The addition of Android Auto and Apple Car Play support for 2018 is a welcome plus. All-in-all, a solid and usable design that's pleasing to the eye and easy to operate day or night. Below is a large touch-screen display for the infotainment system and then dials and buttons for the climate control. The center stack places large AC vents up top, where they can do the most good. That means drivers face a large twin-dial setup that's readable and augmented by a small programmable information screen. The design is fresh and modern and places function ahead of form with materials and finishes that are a cut above the class average. The Outback shares an interior with the Subaru Legacy sedan. Subaru claims some changes were made for 2018 to reduce wind noise. This is perhaps due to the standard roof rack, tall build or largish side-view mirrors. The culprit is mostly wind noise as the engine and tires are well muted. Interior noise levels are a bit higher than expected. Brakes have good stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal, making smooth stops a breeze. The steering, while quick enough, lacks any sort of road feel and imparts little feedback. The suspension does an excellent job of filtering out harsh impacts but sometimes bounds and bounces on rough roads. The softly sprung, long-travel suspension is tuned for on-road comfort and off-road control meaning there's little road feel and only adequate dry-road grip. Add to that 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and the Outback is considerably more capable off road than most competitors.įrom a driver's perspective the Outback isn't the most exciting car. In the wild, Subaru's all-wheel-drive system performs very well on and off road. In addition to traction control, off-road capability is boosted with hill-descent control, hill-holder and X-Mode, which optimizes all powertrain components to reduce wheelspin on extremely slippery surfaces. It requires no input from the driver and works seamlessly to send power to the wheels with the most grip. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive comes standard on all models. The engine runs fine on regular-grade gasoline. Plus, the Outback's large 18.5-gallon fuel tank means a driving range that approaches 600 miles. In routine suburban commuting, it's easy to top 30 MPG - approaching 35 MPG overall if you throw in a mix of gentle highway cruising. Even more impressive is the Outback's real-world fuel economy that easily matches or exceeds the EPA's numbers. EPA ratings are 25 MPG city, 32 MPG highway and 28 MPG overall. On the plus side, the 2.5i engine is very fuel efficient. Thankfully, there is a more powerful 6-cylinder engine option for those who need it. Worse yet, the ever-so-smooth CVT dulls passing response somewhat. ![]() When necessary the engine/CVT combo will push the Outback from 0 to 60 MPH in about 10 seconds. The 4-cylinder 2.5i engine provides acceptable acceleration in the 3,700-pound Outback. (Toyota does offer a flat four in the 86, but that's a Subaru design.) ![]() The only mainstream automakers to currently offer flat engines are Subaru and Porsche. Sometimes called a flat engine, the Boxer design allows the engine to sit lower in the chassis and is generally more inherently balanced than a typical V6 or V8. Subaru's four- and six-cylinder engines in the Outback are "Boxer" designs, meaning the cylinders are horizontally opposed. In addition, Subaru also offers adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning, cross-traffic alert and blind-spot detection. Subaru's EyeSight Drive Assist Technology is standard across the model lineup. Maximum towing capacity is 2700 pounds.Ĭhanges for 2018 include revised front and rear styling, new STARLINK 6.5-inch and 8-inch infotainment systems featuring Apple Car Play and Android Auto support and interior material and feature upgrades. Both engines mate to a continuously variable transmission and deliver power to all four wheels through Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. 3.6R models get a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine that makes 256 horsepower. ![]() The 2.5i models are powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 175 horsepower. Outback trim levels include 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i/3.6R Limited and 2.5i/3.6R Touring. Of course, potential Outback buyers may be considering compact to midsize crossovers like the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4 and Subaru's own Forester as well. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, four or six-cylinder power and competes most directly with the Audi A4 Allroad, Buick Regal Sportback, and Volvo V60 Cross Country. First introduced in 1994, the Subaru Outback is a high-riding, midsize 4-door wagon.
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