![]() The results are night and day: 260 hp, 277 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,000 rpm, and a newfound capability to keep up with traffic. This 2.4-liter flat-four is turbocharged, with up to 14.5 psi of boost on regular-grade gas. The only saving grace for this antiquated powertrain is throwing it out, which Subaru does if you order the XT, available on the Limited, Touring, and Onyx Edition. With 176 pound-feet of torque and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that cannot adjust to this engine’s thin power band, the Outback is brutally slow and noisy as it tackles the highway, hills, and normal life on the road. The results are as predictable as they are pathetic. Now ask a four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower to move 4,500 pounds in a reasonable amount of time. Now add four adults, luggage, bikes on the back, more cargo on the roof, and a few more options. The Outback in base trim weighs a minimum of 3,635 pounds. Subaru outbank review manual#In 2021, this 2.5-liter flat-four is making nearly the same power as it did in the 1990s, but without the quicker gearing of a manual or conventional automatic transmission. It’s also why the Outback hasn’t changed appearance since Paul Hogan was in the Subaru commercials.Īs cars have become larger and heavier, Subaru has refused to adjust the Outback’s engine output for inflation. That’s why it’s a great alternative to a typical crossover or SUV. The biggest standout feature is something Subaru and its buyers will no longer admit: This is a lifted wagon. Adaptive LED headlights are now standard. A new brown paint, Brilliant Bronze Metallic, is available on the Premium trim. There are a few chrome flourishes on the window trim and bracket-shaped LED running lights. The styling remains smooth and plain, tall but not towering, with enough length to give the impression of balance and stability. On the outside, the Outback wears its gray cladding high on its wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, because it's better to scratch plastic than paint. It’s like a dad letting loose on weekends, when his pressed, collared shirt goes untucked. This, combined with lime green contrast stitching on the seats and lower dash, is Subaru gone wild. Our test car, an Onyx Edition XT, swapped the leather for gray and black StarTex, a soft and water-resistant synthetic that promises easier cleaning and greater durability. Limited and Touring trims with two-tone brown or beige leather upholstery and contrast stitching do a decent impression of a luxury car. Window switches, padding on the dash, and surface materials all feel substantial. Quality is evident, which cannot be said of pre-2015 Outback models. Behind that are a thick PRNDL shifter and two cupholders. It floats neatly above a couple of USB ports and a parking brake switch. Chrome trim flows around the screen, and on upper trims, contrasting leatherette wraps around the chrome. Standard on Premium and above trim levels, this display is bright, sharp, and sits flush against polished black plastic and a handful of physical buttons. They’re ugly placeholders for the 11.6-inch portrait display that was meant to be here. That’s if you skip the base trim, which sets two 7-inch touchscreens in the center stack in matte plastic and splits them with a row of buttons. But unlike the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, which has a stale dashboard from the 2009 recession, the Outback’s interior is fresher. The steering wheel has its spokes-now with more buttons-in the same shapes and angles. The analog gauges have the same typefaces, colors, and spacing. Not that you’d have noticed-a modern Subaru feels as familiar and comfortable as a 10-year-old Subaru. The Outback was redesigned for the 2020 model year. ![]()
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