Quick test | Subaru Outback: family adventure

For many young couples, starting a family is often accompanied by questions about the selection of a car. Rightly or wrongly, the compact SUV is often seen as the default. The hegemony that Subaru has sought to challenge for decades with its Outback.

Indeed, the family car needs no more introductions, as it has created the identity of the Japanese brand. The current Vine, with standard all-wheel drive, still looks to play in the woods, a position highlighted by its unpainted plastic rim that minimizes damage during exercise. His posture station wagon it also remains the same, relying on a long rear overhang to increase cargo space to a total of 923 litres.

The interior also proves to be the car’s strong point, relying on Subaru’s simple configuration that emphasizes functionality over design. In addition to the long wheelbase of 2.7 m with a significant headrest, the seats are very welcoming, regardless of the size of the passenger.

The engines that share the engine part remain flat, two cylinders of 2.5 liters (182 hp) and 2.4 L turbocharged (260 hp). Hybrid production would certainly be important to make it more competitive, but the expected series mechanics do an acceptable job with well-distributed low-speed torque and an indicated consumption of 8.7 L/100 km during the test. However, we don’t like its rough sound exposed by its CVT gearbox.

The behavior of the road remains normal, which suits the desired situation well. The ground connections take bumps with some smoothness, making this Outback a great off-roader. The steering, instead of the light, does not give a real parallel feeling.

An excellent proposition, in short, in a model that almost disappeared from the radar and which should appear on the list of affordable family cars to consider.