SUBARU Outback Review

OK, so far we've concluded the fact that the Subaru Outback doesn't belong in areas with busy traffic, so let's establish if it proves to be a comfortable partner for a long journey. Well, this is bit debatable. If on the journey you're about to embark there aren't many gas stations, your comfort-influenced areas (like your patience, for example) might have to suffer. The reason for this is Subaru's choice for using an “underfed” gas tank, which proves to be a bit too small for a car as thirsty as this.

Otherwise, the (ecological) leather filled interior and the good-enough array of options (6 CD-changer AND cassette player, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, wood inserts on the center console and a huge glass sunroof which is also electrically-operated) provide enough “candy” to your senses so as to feel as comfortable as possible. Sure, the Outback is no Rolls Royce but it's way above of what a decent commuter car could cater for its passengers.

The suspension setup favors carefree traveling on anything from badly paved roads to gravel without sacrificing passenger comfort or the car's behavior on the thin limit between fun driving and “oh my God we're going to crash!”. The only major thorn we could find was the acoustic comfort being a little threatened at highway speeds by the ever present wind noise.
Subaru's trademarked “Symetrical All Wheel Drive” is not just marketing brainwash for the customers, it really works as advertised. It doesn't defy the laws of physics and it's a little more helpful on a WRX Sti Impreza than on a lifted family wagon, but it's main purpose can be felt from ordinary driving to off-roading excursions.

Of course, we're not talking about rock-crawling but roads with minimal grip, gravel, mud etc. The fact that all four four wheels continuously push you out of trouble shouldn't be taken for granted though, because the torque is usually transmitted in a very sporty manner (read: fun instead of safe). The three-liter six cylinder boxer engine with 245 hp is obviously derived from it smaller revvy brother, the four cylinder found in the Impreza (in both turbocharged and natural aspirated form). The family resemblance is most noticeable when switching the automatic five speed on “Sport” mode, therefore leaving the engine to rev much higher before switching to the next gear.

Being naturally aspirated and with an appetite for high notes doesn't help a car as heavy as this be extremely drivable using only high gears and low rpm to keep moving. The 300 Nm of torque are more than enough to “kick it” but are achieved rather high on the rev scale. Although rather a slow “thinker”, the five speed auto can really keep a gear until the engine reaches a pretty high boiling point (almost 7.000 rpm) and the kickdown feature is more than welcome. Too bad its reaction time is as slow as an ice-cream truck on duty and you can sometimes find yourself frustrated because it sometimes either stays in a gear too much (in normal mode) or it switches too early (in sport mode).
On any “useful toys” list about a Subaru Outback from this generation there are a few things that are bound to be mentioned. First are the frameless door windows, which aren't exactly a toy or a gadget but can really change the perception about the car you're driving. Second, and most important according to us, is the huge glass sunroof. The amount of  “happy light” that it can bring without any currents to blow your toupee away is priceless.

Since we're talking about a Subaru here, the list of gadgets and little electronic gimmicks isn't that long, and the ones that are present aren't exactly groundbreaking. There's a decent audio system with a CD-changer which can swallow up to six CDs and that can be operated from the steering wheel, electrically heated and motorized front seats, and that's about it. The very cool SI-Drive wasn't yet implemented when the car was made and you can only find it on the facelifted Outback/Legacy models, from 2006 onwards.

The list of things missing is rather long on the other hand. As mentioned before, there are no parking sensors (not even as an option), no multi-zone climate control, the electrically operated and heated exterior mirrors have to be folded manually, we could have used a rain sensor, the cassette player is kind of obsolete unless you have Amish beliefs and the mirrors aren't providing much cover from the headlights behind you at night.
Apart from the obvious inherent protection that comes from driving a taller and somewhat heavier vehicle, the Subaru Outback we tested offers a pretty good array of safety features considering its age: six airbags (two frontal, two side and two head airbags), front seatbelt load limiters, ABS with electronic brake distribution and electronic stability program.

The generations preceding our model scored four EuroNCAP stars in 2002, which is more than OK for its class. Basing our opinions on the assumption that Subaru didn't screw up on the next generation we can safely (no pun intended) say that the Outback we drove is a relatively safe car that shouldn't put any concerns on its passengers, at least from this point of view.
The best thing about the Subaru Outback is its outdoor capability. You can fill it up with fishing gear and hit the pond by yourself, cramp the rear with skis/snowboards and hit the slopes with your friends or take your whole family to the desert and kill them (just kidding on the last part, don't get any ideas). The main  is that it has space for almost anything (and more) and haul it on almost any terrain.

Our main quarrel with the car is that it might have better deserved a diesel (not available in the Subaru range at the time it was built) or at least a more torquey engine to help maneuver it around town without making too much room in your wallet everytime you pull at the gas station. The automatic transmission is also NOT one of its strong points. Like we've said earlier, the Outback 3.0 R is ALMOST a go-anywhere vehicle, as long as the “anywhere” part doesn't include any crowded traffic.

We can't make up our mind about the ugliest thing about it. Apart from the high fuel consumption,  its inability to fall into any category can be either good or bad. It's not your regular family-friendly station wagon but it isn't a nuke-the-whales SUV either. Although we've been a little reticent about the whole crossover business at start, the Outback is one of the cars that can really change your expectations.