The Subaru Outback: A Unique Station Wagon with Aggressive Styling and Affordable Price Tag

The Subaru Outback is a reasonably priced station wagon that is essentially the only game in town when it comes to consumers looking for an affordable, highly practical vehicle with all-wheel drive and decent fuel economy. While it's not an old school wagon, the Outback has adopted a raised ride height and SUV-like styling cues, making it stand out from other vehicles on the market.

One of the main reasons the Outback is so popular among consumers is its unique blend of features that set it apart from other wagons. Its all-wheel drive system and decent fuel economy make it an attractive option for those who want a practical vehicle without sacrificing too much performance or efficiency. Additionally, the Outback's spacious cargo area and rear seat room provide ample space for passengers and luggage, making it an ideal choice for road trips or daily commutes.

The 2015 redesign of the Outback brought about several significant changes to the vehicle's styling and interior features. One of the most noticeable changes is the strong character line running along the doors, which gives the car a more aggressive and sophisticated look. While some may argue that the Outback still looks like an outback, this new design element adds a level of sophistication to the vehicle that sets it apart from other wagons.

In addition to its styling changes, the 2015 redesign also brought about significant improvements to the interior features of the Outback. One of the main complaints among Outback owners was that the interior felt too utilitarian and lacked luxury features. However, Subaru listened to these concerns and made a concerted effort to improve the interior design. The new dashboard is sleeker and more modern, with a full-featured touchscreen system that looks very similar to Toyota's systems.

Subaru also improved the infotainment system in the Outback, finally updating it from its outdated eight-track format. The new system features a modern, user-friendly interface that provides easy access to various functions such as navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice command. Furthermore, Subaru has implemented standard X-Mode programming for the all-wheel-drive system, which improves off-road performance by allowing drivers to switch between different modes that optimize traction and stability.

The Outback also features revised on-road ride and handling, along with additional noise insulation to improve overall comfort. The engine options have been tweaked as well, with most buyers opting for the 2.5-liter, 175-horsepower four-cylinder. However, those who want more power can opt for the uplevel engines at 3.6 liters, producing 256 horsepower.

Despite these improvements, Subaru has maintained its commitment to practicality and efficiency in the Outback. The vehicle still features plenty of rear seat room and a spacious cargo area, making it an ideal choice for families or individuals who need a reliable and versatile vehicle. Additionally, the Outback's standard backup camera and optional blind spot monitoring provide added safety features that help prevent accidents.

One area where Subaru could improve is in offering manual transmission options. While many loyal buyers have expressed disappointment at not being able to choose from a manual gearbox, Subaru has explained that the decision was made to prioritize fuel efficiency and performance over driver preference. As a result, the Outback only comes with an automatic CVT transmission.

In conclusion, the Subaru Outback remains a unique station wagon with aggressive styling and affordable price tag. Its blend of features, including all-wheel drive, decent fuel economy, and spacious interior, make it an attractive option for those looking for a practical vehicle that can handle both on-road and off-road driving. While some may be disappointed by the lack of manual transmission options, Subaru's commitment to safety and efficiency remains strong, making the Outback a solid choice for those in the market for a reliable and versatile vehicle.

What We Wish Were Different

As a car journalist, it is my obligation to point out areas where Subaru could improve on their popular Outback model. One of the most notable changes that many would like to see is the addition of a manual transmission option. While Subaru has explained that they prioritized fuel efficiency and performance over driver preference, this lack of choice can be a major drawback for some buyers.

Furthermore, some might find it annoying that the tiny clock and climate controls have been buried beneath the dashboard. This may seem like a minor complaint to some, but for those who rely on these features frequently, it can be a frustrating experience.

However, despite these areas where Subaru could improve, it's clear that the company has made significant strides in addressing many of its customers' concerns. The Outback remains a unique and practical vehicle that offers a blend of features that set it apart from other wagons. Its commitment to safety and efficiency is strong, making it an attractive option for those looking for a reliable and versatile vehicle.

In Conclusion

For more information on the Subaru Outback, including its pricing, specifications, and features, be sure to check out Consumer Reports online. Whether you're in the market for a practical wagon or simply looking for a reliable ride, the Subaru Outback is definitely worth considering. With its unique blend of features, aggressive styling, and affordable price tag, this vehicle is sure to remain a top choice among consumers for years to come.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwhat a good-sized reasonably priced station wagon super Outbacks pretty much the only game in town this is no old school wagon though it's playing a game of dress-up with a raised ride height and suv-like styling cues this car has plenty of friends especially among Consumer Reports readers who want an affordable highly practical wagon with all-wheel drive and decent fuel economy all of this makes the outback unique sim goes for the legacy sedan the Outbacks parent what an all-wheel drive mid-sized sedan for under 25 grand this is pretty much it so what changed in the 2015 redesign first off there's the styling now the Outback has a strong character line running along the doors that makes it much more aggressive and sophistic Who am I kidding the car looks like an outback as for the legacy it's a good-looking sedan but there are some great-looking sedans out there no matter what the legacies not going to offend anybody bigger changes are inside I know plenty of Outback owners who wanted something less utilitarian inside something plusher something with more luxury features while Subarus listened they made the interior quite a bit nicer Subarus infotainment systems have long been behind the times we're surprised it and still play eight tracks now there's a modern full-featured touchscreen system that looks very similar to Toyota Systems that makes sense because their Subarus corporate partner lots of Outbacks our support vehicles for weekend warriors who do mountain biking or kayaking now there's a standard x-mode programming for the all-wheel-drive system that improves off-road performance Subaru claims on-road ride and handling revisions as well as additional noise insulation engines are also tweaked for better fuel economy most will go for a 2.5 litre 175 horsepower 4-cylinder the uplevel engines at 3.6 litre 256 horsepower six-cylinder both engines now use an automatic Subarus CVT loyal Subaru stick shift buyers are going to be crying in their almond milk that they can't buy a manual anymore but he honest with you transmission didn't shift all that well anyway so as anything stayed the same well the car is still super practical there's plenty of rear seat room in the outback has a spacious cargo area the back seats fold with the pull of a lever a nice touch Subaru also continues to pay attention to visibility with thin roof pillars and lots of glass aided by a new standard backup camera and optional blind spot monitoring this is the car safe while Subaru has been kicking butt at the IIHS small offset tests with a stronger body the new Legacy and Outback are expected to score a good in this difficult test the safety is about more than just crashing the car super is trying to be a leader in affordable high-tech safety systems with their eyesight system many more cars will be equipped with eyesight with automatic braking to avoid a crash and lane departure warning what do we wish they change as a car journalist I am obligated to complain about there not being a legacy version of the wagon it would cost less money and it would probably be better to drive Subarus improved their chunky integrated roof rack now with tie-down hooks and steps inside each door but hardcore users like me with a garage full of Tully and Yakima parts would prefer simple roof rails like that on the forester and burying the tiny clock and the climate controls just isn't funny but we're quibbling over details here the legacy in the outback they remain unique and some of their flaws have been addressed that's probably more than enough to make their loyal fans happy for more check out consumer reports onlinewhat a good-sized reasonably priced station wagon super Outbacks pretty much the only game in town this is no old school wagon though it's playing a game of dress-up with a raised ride height and suv-like styling cues this car has plenty of friends especially among Consumer Reports readers who want an affordable highly practical wagon with all-wheel drive and decent fuel economy all of this makes the outback unique sim goes for the legacy sedan the Outbacks parent what an all-wheel drive mid-sized sedan for under 25 grand this is pretty much it so what changed in the 2015 redesign first off there's the styling now the Outback has a strong character line running along the doors that makes it much more aggressive and sophistic Who am I kidding the car looks like an outback as for the legacy it's a good-looking sedan but there are some great-looking sedans out there no matter what the legacies not going to offend anybody bigger changes are inside I know plenty of Outback owners who wanted something less utilitarian inside something plusher something with more luxury features while Subarus listened they made the interior quite a bit nicer Subarus infotainment systems have long been behind the times we're surprised it and still play eight tracks now there's a modern full-featured touchscreen system that looks very similar to Toyota Systems that makes sense because their Subarus corporate partner lots of Outbacks our support vehicles for weekend warriors who do mountain biking or kayaking now there's a standard x-mode programming for the all-wheel-drive system that improves off-road performance Subaru claims on-road ride and handling revisions as well as additional noise insulation engines are also tweaked for better fuel economy most will go for a 2.5 litre 175 horsepower 4-cylinder the uplevel engines at 3.6 litre 256 horsepower six-cylinder both engines now use an automatic Subarus CVT loyal Subaru stick shift buyers are going to be crying in their almond milk that they can't buy a manual anymore but he honest with you transmission didn't shift all that well anyway so as anything stayed the same well the car is still super practical there's plenty of rear seat room in the outback has a spacious cargo area the back seats fold with the pull of a lever a nice touch Subaru also continues to pay attention to visibility with thin roof pillars and lots of glass aided by a new standard backup camera and optional blind spot monitoring this is the car safe while Subaru has been kicking butt at the IIHS small offset tests with a stronger body the new Legacy and Outback are expected to score a good in this difficult test the safety is about more than just crashing the car super is trying to be a leader in affordable high-tech safety systems with their eyesight system many more cars will be equipped with eyesight with automatic braking to avoid a crash and lane departure warning what do we wish they change as a car journalist I am obligated to complain about there not being a legacy version of the wagon it would cost less money and it would probably be better to drive Subarus improved their chunky integrated roof rack now with tie-down hooks and steps inside each door but hardcore users like me with a garage full of Tully and Yakima parts would prefer simple roof rails like that on the forester and burying the tiny clock and the climate controls just isn't funny but we're quibbling over details here the legacy in the outback they remain unique and some of their flaws have been addressed that's probably more than enough to make their loyal fans happy for more check out consumer reports online\n"