Vehicle Tested
| 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
Base Price: $31,495
At-Tested Price: $35,215
Built in Lafayette, Indiana.
Options
Moonroof
Navigation System
Engine: 3.6-liter H6
Transmission: Five-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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Quick, what's Subaru's best-selling model? If you guessed Forester, Legacy or Impreza you'd be wrong. Through September, the top selling model in the Subaru lineup is the Outback. Unusual that a high-built wagon would be the sales king, but then again, Subaru is an unconventional automaker.
The Outback started life as a regional package sold by Northeastern Subaru dealers. They just tacked on wheel flares, a roof rack and some larger tires to the existing Legacy model and sold it as the Outback package. As the saying goes, the rest is history and the Outback has become the Subaru of choice for many shoppers looking for the utility of an SUV but the maneuverability and economy of a typical wagon.
For 2010, Subaru completely redesigned the Outback, making it larger and offering more power and features. The 2010 model rides a new chassis that has a wheelbase stretched three inches. That, in addition to three inches of additional width, move the Outback firmly into the midsize category and better help it compete with vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Journey, Honda Crosstour, Nissan Murano and Toyota Venza.
Like most others in the class, the Outback seats five on front buckets and a three-place rear bench seat. It comes only as a four-door wagon and all-wheel drive is standard.
Two engines are offered, both horizontally opposed. The 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limted get a 170-horsepower four-cylinder. 3.6R, 3.6R Premium and 3.6R Limited have a new 256 horsepower six-cylinder. Four-cylinder models get either a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic. Six-cylinders come only with a five-speed automatic.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat active head restraints, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, daytime running lights and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. A rear-view monitor is included with the optional navigation system.
The 2.5i starts at $23,195 and includes air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt-telescope steering wheel, center console, split-folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, outside-temperature indicator, illuminated visor mirrors, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer w/deicer, automatic headlights, floormats, theft-deterrent system, roof rails and 215/60R16 tires.
The $24,495 2.5i Premium adds to 2.5i ten-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cargo cover, rear privacy glass, fog lights, 225/60R17 tires and alloy wheels.
The 2.5i Limited lists for $28,495 and adds to 2.5i Premium dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather upholstery, heated front seats, four-way power passenger seat, heated power mirrors, Harman/kardon AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, Bluetooth cell-phone link and wiper deicer.
Moving to six-cylinder models, the 3.6R lists for $287,195 and adds to the 2.5i the larger engine and fives-speed automatic along with cargo cover, rear privacy glass, 225/60R17 tires and alloy wheels.
The $22,195 3.6R Premium adds to the 3.6R heated front seats, ten-way power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, wiper deicer and cargo cover.
The line-topping 3.6R Limited starts at $31,495 and adds to 3.6R Premium dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather upholstery, four-way power passenger seat, Harman/kardon AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer and Bluetooth cell-phone link.
Options include all-weather package, sunroof, navigation system, iPod adaptor, satellite radio, remote engine start, and short-throw shift kit for manual-transmission models. The Outback is built in Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana, plant and has a destination charge of $695.
Get Up and Go The base 2.5-liter four is willing enough but doesn't have much punch in passing situations. It will push the Outback from 0 to 60 mph in about ten seconds. That's the midsize norm for four-pot motors and well within the acceptable range.
Buyers wanting more oomph can opt for the 3.6R. It's quite a bit more powerful than the four, racing from 0 to 60 in about seven seconds. That's quick for the class and more than powerful enough in highway passing situations. The six is also smooth and refined, while the four is slightly lumpy at idle and coarse in hard acceleration.
If you don't mind shifting for yourself, the best transmission choice for the base engine is the manual. It has reasonably short throws and helps make the most of the engine's power output. The CVT isn't bad, but it takes a while to get used to and seems to slur passing power.
The five-speed automatic in the 3.6R does a good job of balancing smoothness with power delivery. It seems well-mated to the six-cylinder's torque characteristics and doesn't lug around town.
All models get all-wheel drive. That's a boon in Chicagoland, with a climate that sometimes features, rain, snow, and ice all in the same day. The AWD system isn't intended for off-road use, but it does a great job of delivering power to the wheels with the most traction when the road gets slippery.
In looking at the EPA numbers for each engine, it's no surprise that the base engine is the most frugal. It nets EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the CVT. The 3.6R rates at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway in the EPA test cycle. Subaru says that the 2.5 and 3.6R engines run fine on regular-grade gasoline.
Routine suburban driving with the 3.6R will likely net about 20 mpg. Straight highway commuting might boost that average into the mid twenties.
On the Road All Outbacks offer a surprisingly supple ride that's well-suited to Chicago's frost-heaved pavement. Obviously, the base model is going to offer the most impact absorption, but even the 3.6Rs have enough compliance to be deemed acceptable by most drivers.
Conversely, the Outback doesn't feel as nimble as sportier midsize wagons like the Honda Crosstour or Toyota Venza but does seem more maneuverable than larger crossover SUVs like the Chevrolet Equinox or Nissan Murano. There's more body lean in fast corners than expected and the front-end feels slightly heavy in quick lane changes. The steering is nicely weighted and brakes have good stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal.
Subaru has made great strides in quelling wind compared to the previous model. Tire noise intrudes a bit on rough concrete roads, but is never oppressive. Subaru's trademark horizontally opposed engines aren't as smooth as class-leading engines. The trademark rasp is most noticeable at start up and when idling, but the engines also snarl uncomfortably in passing situations.
Behind the Wheel The new Outback sports a very conventionally dashboard layout with a high-mounted center stack and large gauges. The overall ambiance is upscale, but some of the trim pieces are decidedly low brow.
Main gauges are easy to read, but the clock and outside temperature display is housed in a smallish readout at the center-top of the dashboard. Radio and climate controls are well marked and easy to get at in the tall center console.
Front-seat passengers are treated to outstanding head and leg room. The seats are firm but comfortable and the outward view is excellent. The driving position seems to be higher than a typical sedan but not as elevated as a crossover SUV.
The jump in exterior size has translated into a much more spacious rear seating area when compared to the previous model. Leg and head room are ample for most adults and you don't have to move the front seats forward to get adequate knee space. The rear seats are a bit flat and soft. There's a modest driveline hump that makes squeezing in that third passenger difficult.
The cargo area is long and wide and features a few under floor storage bins. The rear seatbacks fold completely flat, enhancing long-item cargo capacity. Interior storage is adequate with a fair amount of small bins and cubbies and a two level console box.
Bottom Line Subaru's hallmark boxer engine and all-wheel drive system continue to anchor a lineup of slightly off-beat cars, wagons, and crossovers and the Outback is no exception. However, it's now fully "grown up" and can play, toe-to-toe and feature-to-feature with the big guns from Detroit and Japan. As the same time, it's still uniquely Subaru and that makes it appealing for buyers looking beyond basic transportation.
Smart money bets on the reasonably-priced and nicely equipped 2.5s model, but that means you're living life in the slow lane. Opting for the quicker and more refined 3.6R means dropping close to $30K. That's a fair price for a six-cylinder midsize wagon with all-wheel drive, but not near the value of the 2.5.
Specifications, 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
| Dimensions
| 4-door wagon
| Engine
| DOHC H6
| Wheelbase, in.
| 107.9
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 3.6 / 222
| Length, in.
| 188.2
| Horsepower @ rpm
| 256 @ 6000
| Width, in.
| 71.7
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 247 @ 4400
| Height, in.
| 63.9
| Transmission
| 5-Speed Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 3658
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 18 city / 25 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 71.3
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 18.5
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 40.8
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 43.0
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 39.3
| Free Roadside Assistance
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 37.8
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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