2010 Subaru Outback
Outback Goes Crossover
Subaru is on a roll. The Japanese automaker was one of only three car companies (along with Hyundai and Kia) to increase sales in the U.S. in 2009. Furthermore, they are off to a good start this year. Their redesigned Outback has been named Motor Trend’s “2010 SUV of the Year.” And with the improvements they made to the popular Outback, they just might enhance their sales numbers again.
The big news with the Outback is that it goes from being a wagon to a crossover this year. That means that it’s now larger in most of its dimensions, putting it in line with popular SUVs, like the Toyota Venza and Honda CR-V. Subaru raised the height of the Outback by four inches, widened the body by two inches and stretched the wheelbase by nearly three. The result of this is that the new Outback is not only more substantial looking, it’s also roomier.
Backseat passengers benefit the most with nearly four inches more legroom. Last year’s Outback was rather skimpy in this department. Those who are in the habit of cramming a lot of gear in their Outback will also find that the cargo hold is larger on the 2010. It has grown by 6-cu.-ft. (now 34.3 cu.-ft.) thanks to the new body shape and a redesigned suspension that intrudes less into the cargo bay.
Subaru equips the Outback with some clever standard features. One of them is swing-away crossbars on the roof rack. They snap into the side rails, when not in use, and reduce wind noise in everyday driving. Another is the “hill-holder,” which is part of the electronic parking brake. This is especially useful on manual-transmission Outbacks, since it keeps the vehicle from rolling back on step grades without the bother of maintaining your foot on the brake pedal. And finally, there’s Brake Assist, which performs an important safety function by enhancing braking power in panic-stop situations.
Subaru provides buyers a choice of two engines—the tried-and-true 2.5-liter, flat-four, with 170 hp, and a new six-cylinder boxer of 3.6-liters which pumps out 256. My test car had the four-banger, which is a willing, but buzzy engine that could use a few more horsepower. It was teamed with a slightly notchy six-speed manual gearbox. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is a $1,000 option. The manual is the sportier of the two, but the CVT delivers better gas mileage—22-29 mpg. Like all Subarus, the Outback comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Behind the wheel, the Outback impresses with its balance of good handling and a comfortable ride. When I drove the Outback on a twisty road, it responded quickly to my steering inputs, and delivered good feedback. It also displayed a sure-footedness negotiating corners. At the same time, the Outback absorbed bumps nicely, and the ride felt well controlled. I did not take my test car off the pavement, but it should be good for light off-road duty with 8.7-inches of ground clearance.
The 2010 Subaru Outback has a starting price of $23,690. My midrange Premium model, with options like, heated seats, premium sound and a moonroof had a bottom line of $27,780.
Snapshot Review:
Roomy Cabin
Noisy Engine (4-cyl)
Good Handling
Comfortable Ride
