Subaru Outback ON THE ROAD

Review & Photos by Rob McSorley

What is it?

The Outback is Subaru's roughftie toughtie Legacy-based estate that offers buyers genuine off-road ability as it’s fitted with a permanent symmetrical four-wheel-drive system. 200 mm of ground clearance and beefy body mouldings ensure that rough terrain can be tackled with minimal fuss.

2013 sees a raft of revisions that go a lot deeper than the new headlights, bumpers and attractive gunmetal alloys that certainly give a much more appealing look to an otherwise average-looking estate car. As do the now body coloured cladding which are standard on the new SX trim level seen here.

Under the skin the biggest difference is the combination of Subaru's 148 bhp, 2.0 litre boxer diesel engine which for the first time is available with a Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) due to strong customer demand. Subaru say that the new pairing will account for up to 75% of Outback sales which is good news as the Outback is a very strong seller for Subaru globally.

Modifications to the suspension have also taken place which Subaru say provide a more stable ride, increased comfort and enhanced handling characteristics.

What's it like inside?

Pretty much as before so you get an absolutely huge cabin with acres of space for five passengers and all of their luggage thanks to a boot that offers 526 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,677 litres when they are folded.

The Outback has never had the most modern cabin and new trim materials do little to change this. 2013 sees a new steering wheel taken from the XV, a new instrument cluster with what Subaru calls a 'liquid crystal' display which replaces the ancient looking previous display and black metallic panels that replace the cheap-looking silver trim from before. The electronic parking brake release button has also been relocated from the right hand side of the dash to the centre console.

The layout is easy to navigate and the domed centre console is still a nice touch but the design is looking pretty old hat now and there is no getting away from the complete lack of any pleasant feeling materials. Every inch of the cabin is built from hard plastics which although hard wearing fail to create any kind of sophisticated ambience.

That said comfort is still a strong point with some of the most comfortable seats you will find and having so much space to stretch out means that both long and short journeys can be undertaken with ease.

Equipment levels on our SX-spec test car are generous with standard half leather seats - heated and electrically adjustable up-front, dual zone climate control, four electric windows, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking camera, electric folding mirrors, an electric sunroof and automatic lights and wipers. The only minor disappointment is the tiny display for the reversing camera which is only 3.5 inches wide and doesn't have touch screen functionality which seems a little behind the times.

How does it drive?

It’s far from exciting but it’s refined and relaxed nature really shines making the Outback a superb tool for covering hundreds of miles without really feeling it.

The 2.0-litre boxer diesel unit delivers more than enough punch to the tune of 258 lb ft of torque between 1,800 and 2,400 rpm. Usually CVT gearboxes are best avoided but Subaru’s Lineartronic is one of the better ones around and much to our surprise pairing it with the boxer diesel results in the strongest drivetrain in the range.

For starters the diesel powerplant revs freely and is pretty refined with only a slight whiff of clatter at lower revs, beyond that the soundtrack is almost pleasant. The gearbox slips between ratios very smoothly and even with a light foot acceleration is brisk. Only when accelerating abnormally hard does the engine start to scream under the pressure but it’s rarely needed thanks to the good reserves of power.

The rest of the driving experience is difficult to fault. The Outbacks ride feels a little more jiggly than before over broken urban surfaces but it’s still miles off uncomfortable and the suspension easily smooths out bigger ridges which really sets it apart. 

Enthusiastic drivers will warm to the direct steering that does an admiral job of telling the driver what the front wheels are doing and despite the tall suspension body movements are well controlled in corners making the Outback feel pretty agile for what it is. 

The only disappointment - that will probably come as a surprise considering the cars all-wheel-drive - is the levels of grip. Our test car came fitted with Yokohama Geolandar G95 all-weather tyres which on dry roads provided very little grip causing the front end to break away and understeer really early which happened many times on larger roundabouts.

Is It Cheap?

Whichever way you look at it £31,495 is a lot of money but the Outback is also a lot of car and comes loaded with equipment. It also undercuts the Audi A4 Allroad and Volvo XC70 by several thousand pounds although the Audi in particular is miles ahead in terms of interior and exterior design. Usefully the Outback is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox also available in SX trim you see here but costs £1,500 less at £29,995.

Running costs are average for the class with the Lineartronic emitting 166 g/km of CO2 which equates to a VED bill of £195 annually (Band H). If you opt for the manual this drops to £170 annually (Band G). Subaru quote 44.8 mpg combined and during our week with the car we averaged around 42 mpg which we felt was excellent.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £31,495
Engine: 2.0 16v 148 bhp - 0-62 mph: 9.7 secs - Maximum Speed: 120 mph -
Economy: TBC mpg (urban) TBC mpg (extra-urban), 44.8 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 166 g/km (Band H) - VED (12 months): £195
Dimensions: Length: 4,775 mm - Width: 1,820 mm - Height: 1,605 mm - Wheelbase: 2,745 mm - Kerb Weight: 1,573 kg
*data from Subaru UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

With car buyers obsessed with crossovers the Outback will always remain a niche choice but the revisions for 2013 will certainly go some way to attracting those who need plenty of space and genuine off-road ability. 

It isn’t without its flaws though which include a dated cabin constructed of unappealing materials and a noticeable lack of of grip from the standard-fit all-weather tyres fitted to our test car. 

The combination of Subaru’s likeable boxer diesel engine and Lineartronic transmission are its greatest asset making the Outback a quiet, relaxed and refined cruiser giving the impression that it barely breaks into a sweat even when pushed. It also handles very well and comes with generous levels of standard equipment.

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