A station wagon as a dirt track: Subaru Outback

If the path – for whatever reason – leads off the road, then there is no way to escape. That is, in front of one of the most popular SUV bodies. One of the few exceptions is the Subaru Outback, now in its sixth generation as a station wagon. Once introduced as a Legacy variant, the Outer Zone quickly and effectively established itself in the Japanese lineup. From the second generation onwards – just three short years after its debut in 1996 – it became an independent model that was intended to combine the advantages of a station wagon with those of a true off-road vehicle. And that was before market giants like Audi (with quattro Allroad models) or Mercedes (All-Terrain versions) took the idea and brought it into the premium sector.

Now, in 2024 and a few generations later, the Outback is not an unusual model from the Japanese four-wheel specialist, but rather modern. But it preserves Subaru’s virtues like a treasure. That means: increased ground clearance, permanent drive on all four wheels and of course, as company tradition dictates, a boxer engine as a power source. The best conditions to ensure the development of confidence under all conditions. The Outback suffered from this on test as a 2.5i in the highest equipment line called Platinum.

Since the last revision in 2022, the front end has become sharper. The impressive headlights and – compared to the old models of the sixth generation – very narrow LED headlights correspond to the spirit of the times, the radiator grille and the attractive front apron even convey something like power. A side view then reveals: In terms of size, the Outback is in the same league as the Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 versions. About 4.90 meters long is the ad, the all-round protection board underlines the unshakable feeling that it is prepared for almost all events.

The Japanese have also cleaned up the interior a lot and removed most of the controls for a rustic analog charm. Various examples from other manufacturers with confusing menu navigation and useless touch control surfaces show that this step towards the future may lead to the end. None of this is in the outer regions. The new center screen sits vertically on the dashboard and can be operated without any problems after a little getting used to it. And: There’s also a manual (and large) volume control for the infotainment system. That is half the battle in appeasing the complainants.

The cockpit continues this approach, as Subaru uses round analog instruments there. They do what they’re supposed to – and they’re easy to read. You sit on comfortable seats, which in the line of the highest equipment oppose the trend of vegan equipment and are covered with leather. Front and back space is above average, which is especially appreciated by rear passengers. Even with five people on board, no one should complain about the lack of headroom or legroom out there. If you’re looking for points of criticism, you might be bothered by the small glass sunroof; Other manufacturers have more interesting solutions in their repertoire with their panoramic roofs. But that was for complaining.

Contrasted with this is the upscale feel that the Outback conveys. Which is quite surprising, as Subaru isn’t necessarily the first brand name that comes to mind when the word “premium” comes to mind. But this station wagon is impressive – that’s especially true for easily measurable features like trunk volume. An impressive 561 liters fit into the rear cabin, which – interestingly enough – has very little visibility. With the rear seat backs folded down, a maximum volume of 1822 liters is available – that’s enough for half the household. Or a lot of game; After all, Subaru has traditionally enjoyed great popularity among hunting and forestry customers.

With the modification of the car – adapting to the Euro 6d production standard – the 2.5-liter boxer has lost power and now delivers 124 kW (169 hp), but the torque has also increased to at least 252 Newton meters. Sure, these aren’t blistering performance figures, but anyone choosing an off-road station wagon is likely to have low expectations when it comes to chasing the best times. But in a different discipline: Anyone who wants to pull a trailer will be happy about the maximum trailer load of 2.2 tons; Two horses are allowed even in a horse trailer.

The lifted Outback’s driving behavior is consistently comfortable and confident. Despite the high ground clearance, the Subaru resists jerky movements – even when corners are taken more quickly. Power is transmitted by a continuously variable CVT transmission, which is removed from the usual, long stay at high speed – the so-called rubber band effect. I like that, and if you want, you can switch through the eight simulated speed levels yourself.

Permanent, symmetrical four-wheel drive in the house style also ensures safe progress on any surface in this model. Tarmac, forest paths, pastures, mud or snow – The exterior is suitable for everything, as the right part can be selected using the traction management called “X-Mode” and the driving characteristics can be further improved. On the contrary, some would-be travelers look very old.

Consumption in the third combination was about eight liters of Super per 100 kilometers. If you take it easy, you will get six before the decimal point; The top speed maintained on the highway pushes the average over the ten-liter mark.

The range of equipment is already very good old works – and the Japanese know how to put together option packages at a good price and different lines. The base version of the “Trend” is already being offered to customers with, among other things, adaptive LED headlights, 11.6-inch infotainment, dual-zone automatic climate control, a reversing camera, steering wheel heating and an assistance package called EyeSight.

The Platinum Edition we drove also comes with things like cruise control, a Harman/Kardon audio system, a 360-degree camera, a power tailgate, a navigation system, nappa leather interior and a glass sunroof. All this costs a total of 47,640 euros – and it raises eyebrows when you look at the corresponding car concepts. The Mercedes E-Class costs at least 74,000 euros good as an all-terrain vehicle, Audi charges at least 64,650 euros for the A6 as an all-terrain vehicle. Both have air suspension, but also with very low equipment.

This makes the Outback a price-performance bargain for people who want a large off-road station wagon in high quality, but can do without the prestige of a big brand. And in an SUV body anyway.

To the home page