Subaru has an enviable reputation for reliability, engineering and, of course, rallying. But since the late 1990s, when Imprezas ruled the roost, the brand seems to have been in reverse gear. Foregoing all its rally-bred appeal, the Japanese company has more or less stuck to humdrum SUVs and estates, winning over very few customers in the process.
Nonetheless, one car has always been the most appealing in Subaru's range. Mixing capability and space with off-road style, the Outback made its name as an unassuming, go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle ideal for family life. Now there's a new version, but is it any good?
In the metal
The Subaru Outback has been lightly revamped with a more rugged design than before, but it's still based on much the same theme. There's chunky body cladding all round and tough-looking roof rails. The rear-end is a bit awkward looking and the huge amount of ground clearance will always make the car look slightly odd, but it's generally a modern and cohesive design.
Inside is where the real progress has been made, with a new portrait-orientated touchscreen infotainment system. It isn't the most modern touchscreen in the world - in fact, it feels decidedly last-decade - but it's an improvement on what went before and it's quite easy to use. Where some systems seem deliberately over-complicated, the Subaru's screen is straightforward, with big buttons and logical menus. It may not be exciting, but it works, and that's basically what Subaru is all about these days.
By the same token, the Outback's build quality is also good. Some of the plastics feel a bit low-rent, but that often seems to be the case with Japanese cars aiming for longevity over touchy-feely squishiness. What matters is that they're all bolted together sturdily, and the switchgear feels substantial. Speaking of which, Subaru has not fallen into the trap of migrating everything to an unfathomable touchscreen. Although most of the climate control system is housed in the central display, the brand has left physical buttons to change the temperature. Praise be.
In yet more evidence of Subaru's sensible approach, the Outback is also enormously practical. The 522-litre boot is bigger than that of an Audi A4 allroad quattro, and it's more capacious than even the BMW X3 SUV's load space. Fold the back seats down and it grows further, with a massive 1,822 litres available. Leave the back seats upright, however, and the Outback offers plenty of passenger space in the rear. There's adequate head- and legroom for two tall adults, while children will be more than satisfied with their lot.
Driving it
Subaru has become a bit of a specialist in 'boxer' engines, in which the cylinders are laid horizontally, rather than vertically as they would be in an in-line engine. It's another of these 'boxer' units that powers the Outback, and it's generally fairly good. The 2.5-litre engine produces an unremarkable 169hp and 252Nm of torque, which is enough to make progress. It's a fairly quiet engine, though, with little noise at low speeds, making the Outback feel quite relaxed.
Unfortunately, that engine works with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is automatic, but it's nowhere near as good as a traditional torque-converter auto gearbox. If any sort of acceleration, however minor, is demanded of it, it switches the ratio to something needlessly short, sending the revs sky-high and causing the normally subdued four-cylinder engine to roar like an injured beast. A normal automatic might change down by one or two gears, but it would seldom take the revs to such an uncomfortable point.
As a result, the Outback's performance is a little lacklustre, with 0-100km/h taking just over 10 seconds, even if it's fast enough to keep pace with traffic. But sportiness is not the Subaru's forte, and it's set up for comfort primarily.
On long journeys, it fills the brief beautifully, with suspension that's perfectly suited to the gentle rise and fall of a motorway surface or a free-flowing national road. It's slightly less competent over potholes, but everything is relative, and compared with other cars in this class the Outback is a wonderfully comfortable thing.
Unfortunately, the high ride height and slightly soft suspension means it doesn't handle quite as well as a conventional family estate car. That said, body lean is well controlled and although there isn't too much feedback through the steering wheel, it's quite precise. The wheel does feel a bit lightweight, though, and it's obvious this car is designed to be easy to drive, rather than fun to drive. Nevertheless, it strikes a pleasant middle ground.
The Outback is also designed to be competent off-road, with permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive and more than 21cm of ground clearance. It has new driving modes to tackle various types of terrain, too. That isn't enough to worry the new Range Rover, but it's enough to deal with most people's needs. Rest assured a bit of snow, or a farm track won't bother the Outback in the slightest.
What you get for your money
The Outback range starts at €59,345, which puts it roughly on a par with its rivals. For that money, you get the basic Limited model with its 18-inch alloy wheels, 11.6-inch infotainment screen and reversing camera, as well as keyless entry and heated front and rear seats. It's a pretty stacked list of equipment.
The mid-range Field model comes to €64,145, and that pays for water-repellent leatherette upholstery, the black colour pack and navigation, as well as a heated steering wheel and a power-operated tailgate. Finally, the €67,645, top-of-the-range Touring model we tested came with proper leather seats, a sunroof and a Harman/Kardon sound system.
Summary
The Subaru Outback may not be as popular as its rivals, but that doesn't mean it's a bad car. Far from it, in fact. It's comfortable and well built, and it comes with an enviable reputation for reliability. Yes, there are drawbacks - most notably the gearbox - but the Outback comes with a completely baggage-free image that allows it to look at home anywhere, be it at a clay pigeon shoot on some sprawling estate or parked up on a dodgy back street in town. It doesn't come cheap, but it promises to be a very satisfying car to own.
