Subaru still offers a wagon-shaped vehicle with a turbocharged engine? Well, sort of.
While the current Outback is more of an SUV compared to the station wagon introduced some 30 years ago, the availability of an optional turbocharged engine is, at least on paper, a welcome addition …
I can't help but notice the location of the oil filter.
Yeah, it has a high chance of spilling oil all over the engine during a filter change, but, I mean, it's right there. You can just open the hood and grab it.
That deserves some brownie points, right?
Driving impressions to come shortly as the car just arrived. Look for it on I-4 this weekend, in fact.
Have questions about it? Post away.
And a few first impressions. Our test car, by the way, has 1396 miles on the clock.
First, comfortable front seats with plenty of cushion and bolster for back and butt. They’re not GT3 Porsche seats but very appropriate for this car’s mission. Eager to spend some time in them.
Check it out, a real mechanical shifter. No knob, no buttons.
Some detail shots. Everything feels solid.
HVAC and sound are typical Subaru in that it’s a combination of knobs, buttons and screen.
Is there a Rallycross somewhere to give it a proper test at?
I didn't know that you were a lesbian!
But seriously, we've really enjoyed our Crosstrek. But it seems that the bigger Subarus get, the less personality they have. Hopefully this one bucks the trend.
Initial impressions from last night’s short drive to Publix: Yep, it feels like a Subaru.
Ahhhhh, I miss my Subaru's. Drove them exclusively (STi's and WRX's) from the late 90's through the mid teens. As they shifted away from performance to more main stream I sadly had to say goodbye. Now it's Hyundai N products (shockingly good!) and BMW's. My son has a BRZ which I love but I already have a Miata so that wouldn't make any sense. They could have saved me with a Forester Sti with a manual but that would likely have sold very poorly in the States.
In reply to Feedyurhed :
Yeah, kinda like the old Legacy GT wagon with the stick. Everyone wanted one. Someone from Subaru once told me that they sold like six. Okay, it was more than six, but the numbers didn’t follow the buzz.
Back to the Outback at hand.
Why do we see so many SUVs/CUVs on the road when this exists? It’s roomy, it’s comfortable, it can do SUV-like things.
Seats are comfortable after an hour in them. Steering feels a tick light but yet get used to it. Buttons and knobs have a solid feel to them.
It’s quick enough for highway/city use. mpg figures coming soon.
The biggie: Doesn’t feel like a CVT.
So, some real world economy figures for the Subaru Outback XT.
Subaru rates this Outback XT at 22 city/29 highway with an average of 25 mpg.
After a back-and-forth trip to Orlando–no cruise, not trying to maximize mileage–plus some city driving once in town, we’re at 25.5 mpg.
Obligatory Waffle House photo while returning from Orlando last night.
It's a shame that you have to jump to the Onyx Edition XT trim to get the turbo engine. It is $40,780 (MSRP $39,360 plus $1,420 destination). Of the six available colors on that trim level, only two are non black/silver. Id choose the Autumn Green Metallic, which I think is the color of your tester.
This really feels like the car that should occupy the "it's a car and it does car things effectively and everything makes sense and it was designed by people who actually use cars" segment of the market currently occupied by Nissan, who is kind of bad at all those things.
Like, this is a car i would be super happy to pick up from a rental counter. I know it's going to meet my needs and not be hateful while doing it or require me to learn a lot of arcane spells to change the fan speed or radio volume.
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
I recall hearing that same sentiment somewhere on social media about the new Forester.
As much as I'd love something flashy and sporty, the reality is that an SUV-shaped Subaru likely checks off most of the things I need a daily driver to do.
JG Pasterjak said:This really feels like the car that should occupy the "it's a car and it does car things effectively and everything makes sense and it was designed by people who actually use cars" segment of the market currently occupied by Nissan, who is kind of bad at all those things.
Like, this is a car i would be super happy to pick up from a rental counter. I know it's going to meet my needs and not be hateful while doing it or require me to learn a lot of arcane spells to change the fan speed or radio volume.
The Outback is really good at being a car.
Two small issues, and YMMV:
For some reason, it took me a few to get CarPlay working. Maybe blame the operator, although others have been easier to set up.
It tramlines a bit on the grooved, concrete section of I-4 just west of I-95. Is that tires, alignment or phase of the moon?
In reply to stanger_mussle (Supported by GRM undergarments) :
And, yes, our tester wears Autumn Green Metallic. It looks good IRL.
David S. Wallens said:It tramlines a bit on the grooved, concrete section of I-4 just west of I-95. Is that tires, alignment or phase of the moon?
I'd just blame I-4.
David S. Wallens said:In reply to Feedyurhed :
Yeah, kinda like the old Legacy GT wagon with the stick. Everyone wanted one. Someone from Subaru once told me that they sold like six. Okay, it was more than six, but the numbers didn’t follow the buzz.
All it takes is for five or six guys online to stretch a thread for 4 pages or more and voila! confirmation bias is attained.
See also: every shooting brake thread ever.
Colin Wood said:I can't help but notice the location of the oil filter.
Yeah, it has a high chance of spilling oil all over the engine during a filter change, but, I mean, it's right there. You can just open the hood and grab it.
That deserves some brownie points, right?
Not a Subie owner, but I always thought that was a good design. Doesn't the filter sit in a bowl to catch the drippings?
In reply to Coniglio Rampante :
I know. I have friends at Subaru. They lamented that it wasn’t a sales success.
In reply to Coniglio Rampante :
Yep. At least my Crosstrek does and I assume the design is the same.
Add a Fumoto valve and oil changes are rapid and clean. No lift or ramps required.
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