Until a few years ago, raising and dressing existing models was a real hype. That trend has blown over with the rise of the ‘real’ SUV, but Subaru, one of the inventors of this genre, continues to persist. Is there still a reason to choose an Outback?
X-road, Conquest, Freetrack, Scout and of course Cross: these are just a few of an endless row of cool names that were stuck on all kinds of cars between 2000 and 2015. Such an extra tough model could be found in almost every segment. As time went on, the added value of such models did diminish, until in the vast majority of cases it remained at appearance. Subaru was already the real trendsetter in 1994. Just like then, the current Outback is based on the Legacy, although that model no longer exists in Europe and there is no station wagon version of the Legacy available at all outside the Outback. In 2020, a completely new Legacy and therefore a new Outback was presented in the US, but in Europe we still have to make do with the 2015 edition. Four-wheel drive is of course always present in Subaru’s top model, where integral drive is part of the brand’s DNA.
Trial
On the sandy paths under Eindhoven, ravaged by weeks of rainfall, that we choose as a photo location, 4WD is more a necessity than a luxury. Even behind the wheel of a rugged station wagon of good origin, we have to swallow at the sight of the mud pool chosen by the photographer “because it fits so well with the theme”. Fortunately, the Subaru gets through the ordeal without drama. The Outback feels robust. In the Japanese, function still takes precedence over form, in a way that we rarely see nowadays. High windows provide a good overview, high tires provide a lot of endurance and the interior is very traditional in design. There is simply a button for almost every function, a remarkably large number of which are placed on the handlebar. We operate the machine with a clear lever, speed and rpm can be read on an analog meter and the touchscreen is mainly used for navigation and audio. The whole comes across as if it was made for eternity, but the real luxury feeling is missing, while there is little wrong with the equipment. The fact that the central screen does not operate all functions is a good thing, because in terms of speed and ease of use Subaru’s Starlink system falls short. The appearance is also lagging behind, because with all kinds of different colors and icons, the screen does not fit very well into the interior.
Soothing
In daily practice, the extra ground clearance is especially a godsend at thresholds, curbs and bridges, obstacles that the car takes carelessly. The Subaru owes that mainly to its technology. Subaru’s permanent ‘Symmetrical AWD’ is complemented by X-Mode in the Outback. This ensures, among other things, that the engine power is delivered more gradually and is even better distributed over the wheels. Another Subaru hobbyhorse is the boxer engine. The Outback houses a traditional four-cylinder without turbo or electric assistance, but with a substantial cylinder capacity of 2.5 liters. The power of 175 hp is certainly not oversized for the 1,573 kilograms weighing Outback, but the engine does fit well with the pleasant character of the car. Riding the soft-sprung and relaxed-performing Japanese is quite a restful experience. The boxer rumbles quietly in the background and the box does its job very smoothly. That is not surprising, because it is a stepless automatic transmission with pre-programmed gear. This provides a shock-free experience that feels familiar due to the fictitious resistance, but also has something unnatural about it. In principle, the Subaru is also not bad in terms of safety. The large eyes of the Eyesight system help to keep the car at a safe distance from predecessors and the road sides. When it comes to space, you won’t be short of anything in the Outback. The rear passengers have a lot of leg and headroom at their disposal and there is also plenty of room for luggage. The cargo hold measures no less than 1,848 liters with the rear seat folded down.