Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

140 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

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ubaru’s 2019 Outback 2.5i
petrol is $36,590 and the
turbodiesel 2.0D is $39,190.
Premium 2.5i, which we’re
testing here, is $43,090;
Premium 2.0D is $46,090.
Subaru’s 3.6-litre six-cylinder
engine is fi tted to Outback 3.6R,
priced at $49,590.
Premium’s formidable safety
specifi cation includes the twin-
camera-based Eyesight system
(adaptive cruise, autonomous
emergency braking) and radar-
based Vision Assist (blind spot
monitoring, rear cross traffi c
alert), further strengthened for
2018 with higher-resolution
front cameras, faster image
processing, LED headlights that
turn in response to steering
inputs and have automatic beam
and brightness adjustment,
front- and side-view cameras
and lane keeping.
Nothing else at the price offers
Outback Premium’s level of
driver-assist safety tech.
Subaru’s infotainment features
an eight-inch touchscreen that’s
also mounted high on the dash,
so it’s easy to reach and to read.

Big, responsive icons get you

around the various menus.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

connectivity is included, as

is TomTom navigation and

voice control that works —

most of the time — across all

infotainment functions and will

read text messages.

Premium also includes power-

adjustable, heated, leather-

wrapped front seats, a sunroof,

heated, folding side mirrors and

a power tailgate.

You sit on rather than in

Premium’s generously padded,

super-sized driver’s seat so,

while it’s comfortable enough,

upper body support is minimal.

Being perched so high relative

to the dash creates the

impression that the Outback is

bigger than it really is.

The fl at rear bench, also

elevated, has ample legroom

and is also well suited for kids,

although the centre belt spools

out of the roof. Two USB charge

ports and vents are also fi tted.

A relatively small boot is

easily extended to a longer, fl at

fl oor; power operation, a couple

of bag hooks and integrated load

cover are useful.

Outback’s ride is supple and

quiet on all surfaces, assisted

by big, baggy Bridgestone

Dueler tyres.

Subaru claimed to have

sharpened up the CVT’s

responsiveness in 2018 and, if you

use the paddles, you now have

seven gears rather than six but,

although the drivetrain is smooth

and quiet, and performance is

adequate, the 2.5 now feels rather

weak and sluggish compared to

most of its rivals.

On the highway, expect

7-8L/100km; in town, assisted by

auto stop/start (which kicks in with

a clunk), you’ll do 9-12L/100km on

regular unleaded.

Outback’s handling has also

come back to the pack — or,

more correctly, the pack has

caught up.

The suspension now feels

underdamped so on bumpy

surfaces, it can get a little twitchy

and the body isn’t tightly tied

down. Lifeless steering and

brakes that lack power also

mean that the Subaru is no

longer a class-leading drive.

X-Mode — a simulated low

range — plus a useful 213mm of

ground clearance and a full-size

spare give Outback greater off-

bitumen adventuring potential

than most SUVs.

Outback still represents a

lot of SUV for relatively modest

money, but the Premium model

now has a bunch of keenly priced

competitors on its tail, so it’s

no longer the standout family

freighter it once was.

The Škoda Kodiaq and Mazda’s

CX9 are direct price/size rivals

that also give you the bonus of a

couple of extra fold-up kid seats

in the boot, as do Hyundai’s Santa

Fe and the Kia Sorento.

Holden is also having a crack

at this market with its Calais

V6 Tourer, priced at a pretty

sharp $45,990. Ford’s Endura

2.0 turbodiesel is in the mix, too,

starting at $44,490.

SUBARU OUTBACK FROM $36,590 S

THINGS WE LIKE

Arguably the safest family wagon

you can buy at this sort of money

Strong resale values

Comfortable, quiet ride

Works well on a dirt road

Runs on regular unleaded

Well-equipped

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 Performance isn’t exactly inspiring

 Neither is handling or braking

Relatively small boot

Rivals have seven seats at the

same price

 Expensive servicing

SPEX

Made in Japan

2.5-litre four cylinder petrol/CVT/

all-wheel drive

129kW of power at 5800rpm/235Nm

of torque at 4000rpm

0-100km/h in 10.2 seconds (claimed)

6.2L/100km highway; 9.1L/100km

city; 91 regular; CO2 emissions are

166gkm

Warranty: Five years/unlimited km

Standard: Seven airbags, stabil-

ity control, automatic emergency

braking, blind spot monitoring, lane

keeping, rear cross traffi c alert,

adaptive cruise, surround cameras,

LED headlights, leather uphol-

stery, heated front seats, power

tailgate, sunroof, Data Dot security,

Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android

Auto, two rear USBs, voice control,

navigation, 18-inch alloy wheels

Redbook future values: 3yr: 56%;

5yr: 41%

Safety

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Ford Endura, Holden Calais Tourer,

Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX9,

Peugeot 5008, Škoda Kodiaq