They still exist, those special vehicles: The Subaru Outback offers all-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance, plus a spacious and comfortable interior. But it is not an SUV.
Subaru Outback 2,5i Platinum Lineartronic
Patrick Schäfer | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH
The Subaru Outback is an exotic among mid-size vehicles. The long-legged all-wheel-drive station wagon proudly cranks up its large radiator grill, flanked by narrow LED matrix headlights. The sixth generation of the Subaru Outback is built on the "Subaru Global Platform" and has grown up. The station wagon, which is at least 1,670 mm high (excluding roof rails), extends to a length of 4,870 mm and is 1,875 mm wide. With its "Active x Tough" design language, it almost looks like an SUV and is 50 mm longer and 35 mm wider than its predecessor. The side view is characterized by the 2,754 mm wheelbase and a slightly sloping roofline. Under the matt black wheel trims, the robust Outback comes standard on 18" alloy wheels. At the rear, the tail lights pick up the C motif of the headlights.
Inside, the Outback – at least in the top-of-the-range version – is much more than the rugged workhorse that the exterior design suggests. The beautifully executed two-tone interior of the test car features soft leather with contrasting stitching, foamed surfaces and impeccable workmanship. In addition, there is elegantly shimmering metal, for example on the air vents, and black piano lacquer. The high seating position provides a good overview, also thanks to the large window areas. The large side mirrors are exemplary. The leather seats can be electrically adjusted in ten different ways and are comfortable even on longer journeys. Larger drivers will be pleased about the seat extension. In addition, five driver profiles with stored seat and mirror positions can be set. In addition to the steering wheel heating, there are heated seats at the front and rear. In the rear, there are air vents with their own temperature zone. The test car also had an electrically opening glass sunroof. Behind the electrically operated tailgate, at least 561 liters fit into the trunk, and with the rear seat folded down, up to 1,822 liters.
Electronics + Connectivity
The all-wheel-drive station wagon also sets itself apart from the competition in the interior: Instead of cheap-looking display landscapes, there is still a real cockpit here, equipped with two large round instruments. A small digital display provides information in between. The graphics are not stunning, but everything is easy to read. Many functions can be set using the buttons on the steering wheel, and overall operation is relatively straightforward. The large selector lever for the automatic transmission is also no longer common.
With the fourth generation of infotainment, many buttons in the HMI have given way to the 11.6-inch, upright touchscreen, which is framed by a matte metal frame and beautifully integrated into the dashboard. It works fast enough and offers large, easy-to-read tiles. The infotainment and apps are controlled from here, and Android Auto or Apple Car Play are standard. There are still buttons and keys for the volume, station search and climate control. The voice recognition is a bit slow, but it does take some of the work off the touchscreen. The navigation system works with "what3words" services and takes time to boot up after starting.
Subaru's own Eyesight assistance system works with a stereo camera placed on the windshield. It offers emergency braking systems at the front and rear, an evasion assistant, a blind spot assistant, an active lane keeping assistant, as well as a traffic sign recognition system, a driver recognition system, and a post-collision braking system. Most of the assistants work inconspicuously well. Colorful LEDs in the windshield and warning tones provide information about their operating status.
The steering assistant works very well on the highway. You have to get used to the system's strong holding forces for a short time, but then it steers the large vehicle imperceptibly gently. On more winding roads, however, the necessary corrections and error messages become more frequent. The steering itself is light and numb in the center position.
Engine + Drive
The Subaru also breaks the mold when it comes to the drive system: The 124 kW (169 hp) 2.5-litre boxer engine manages without turbocharging or electrification. As soon as the car is moving, you can only hear the four-cylinder engine when kickdown is activated and the revs are above 3,000 rpm – but then it can be heard clearly. This is also due to the CVT transmission, which, although it works with simulated shift steps and more smoothly than previous versions, still can't quite keep up with a real automatic transmission. The Lineartronic transfers the power of a maximum of 252 Nm to the automatic X-Mode all-wheel drive assistance system. Before setting off, the modes can also be selected manually. The 213 mm ground clearance is remarkable for a crossover, and Subaru does not specify the approach angle (front 19.7° / rear 22.6°) and departure angle (21.0°) for the all-wheel-drive vehicle without reason. This means that the Outback can also score points off the beaten track. And it can also tow: the towing capacity is 2 tons.
In terms of driving dynamics, there is of course little to report, even though the vehicle has a sport mode that increases the torque: you can tell that the Outback weighs just under 1.7 tons. Likewise, the high body and the engine-transmission combination are particularly inviting for a leisurely cruise. Provided you have a sensitive foot on the gas and/or use the cruise control, nothing stands in the way of a relaxed ride with plenty of comfort. Fuel consumption was around 8 liters on longer highway trips and 9 liters with more city traffic.
Conclusion
The Subaru Outback is an SUV alternative with a special flair: Its powerful design points to its off-road capabilities, in addition to its special drive technology and – at least in the top-of-the-range version driven – the feel-good atmosphere in the interior. Whether you're going to the hardware store or on vacation, there is always plenty of space for both passengers and luggage. The Outback is available from 42,640 euros, the test car in the top "Platinum" trim level costs 50,547 euros.
This is a partly automated translation of this German article.
