Subaru Outback

The first Subaru Legacy Outback was introduced in the United States in 1996. It was a Legacy station wagon with all-wheel drive, body-cladding, off-road tires and slightly higher ground clearance. It was marketed using Subaru's trademarked phrase: "The World's First Sport Utility Wagon." All Outbacks are built in Lafayette, Indiana.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Subaru Outback Review.

Recent Changes

 * The 2009 New York Auto Show played host to the unveiling of the third-generation Subaru Outback. The new car was designed under Osamu Namba.

Styles and Major Options
The 2007 Subaru Outback comes in three body styles and several trims speficic to each body style. The three styles are the sedan, wagon, and sport wagon, which is a shorter version of the wagon. While the Outback Sport wagon is only available in trim, the wagon comes in 2.5, 2.5i, 2.5 XT Limited, and 3.0 R L.L. Bean versions. In addition, the sedan is available in two trims, the 2.5i Limited and the 3.0 R L.L. Bean Edition. Features and options will differ according to trim level, and the only differences between the sedan and wagon versions, in terms of trim, are the dimensions associated with each respective body style. Some of the features available include:

Outback Sport
 * 16" silver alloy wheels
 * Sport front seats
 * Metal-look dashboard inserts
 * Roof rack
 * Cargo concealed storage

2.5i Basic Wagon
 * 16" silver styled steel wheels
 * Premium cloth interior
 * Cargo tie-downs
 * AM/FM/CD/Satellite-ready stereo

2.5i Wagon
 * 17" silver alloy wheels
 * Driver/front passenger heated seats
 * Premium cloth interior
 * Roof rack
 * Roll-up cargo cover

2.5 XT Limited
 * Stability Control
 * 17" silver alloy wheels
 * Power heated sports seats
 * Leather interior
 * Express open/close sunroof

3.0 R L.L. Bean edition
 * 17" silver alloy wheels
 * 8-way power heated front seats
 * Leather interior
 * Express open/close sunroof
 * Automatic air conditioning
 * AM/FM/6CD in-dash changer with MP3 capability
 * MOMO steering wheel

Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Subaru Outback can be found at CarsDirect.

Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Reliability
The latest generation of the Outback was only introduced in 2005, so long-term reliability data is not yet available. However, the 2003 and 2004 models, which belong to the previous generation, received an overall Green rating in every category from Automotive Information Systems.


 * RECALL ALERT: Subaru Issues Safety Recall for 2010 Legacy and Outback Models


 * RECALL ALERT: Another Safety Recall for 809 2010/2011 Subaru Legacy and Outback manufactured between April 28 through June 23, 2010 due to an improperly drilled an oil lubrication hole

Safety
The Outback has received excellent safety ratings from the NHTSA, based on its various tests. While the sedan body style received 5-Star ratings across the board, the Outback wagon earned 5-Star ratings in all crash tests and a 4-Star rating for rollover. Some of the standard safety features on the Outback include:
 * 4-wheel anti-lock brakes
 * Driver/passenger front-impact airbags
 * Driver/passenger seat-mounted side-impact airbags
 * 1st/2nd row overhead side curtain airbags
 * Occupancy sensors
 * Side impact bars
 * Front and rear anti-roll bars

Colors
Colors will vary by trim and body style, and a full list is available at CarsDirect.com. Some of the possible combinations are:

Exterior
 * Brilliant Silver Metallic
 * Champagne Gold Opal
 * Newport Blue Pearl
 * Satin White Pearl
 * Willow Green Opal/Moss Green Metallic

Interior
 * Charcoal Gray
 * Dark Charcoal
 * Taupe
 * Warm Ivory

Main Competitors

 * Mazda Mazda6
 * Volkswagen Passat
 * Honda Accord
 * Toyota Camry
 * Buick Lucerne
 * Dodge Charger
 * Nissan Maxima
 * Nissan Stagea
 * Nissan Skyline

Resale Values
According to Kelley Blue Book, "competitive vehicles such as the Volvo XC70 and the Volkswagen Passat 4Motion cost more than the Outback yet don't retain the same strong resale value. The Dodge Magnum SXT with all-wheel drive is priced similarly to the Outback 3.0 R, but it, too, lags behind the Outback's high resale values."

Criticisms

 * "Doesn't offer a lot of sex appeal" - New Car Test Drive
 * "Still not powerful enough." - USA Today
 * "If you need an off-road vehicle that can also tow heavy loads and seat seven, the Outback is no match for a truck-based, V8-powered SUV." - Kelley Blue Book
 * "Rear-seat passengers will find knee and toe space to be a bit tight." - Edmunds.com
 * "Some audio switches remain undersized and tough to use while driving." - Consumer Guide
 * "Brakes feel mushy." - AutoWeek
 * "Not-so great for a sports sedan; frumpy looks." - motioncars.com

Second Generation (2004-2009)
In 2003, with the debut of the fourth-generation Legacy at the 60th Frankfurt Auto Show, the Outback name is now being used worldwide with the launch of the second-generation Outback wagon. Models equipped with a 3.0 L H6 were introduced at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show.

First Generation/Origins (1999-2003)
Subaru of America executives created the Outback because the SUV craze had at that point reached a fevered pitch with customers demanding SUVs and shunning Subaru's station wagons (even when equipped with all-wheel drive) based on image concerns, leaving dealers clamoring for a SUV-like product to sell.

The Outback turned out to be a success, handily outselling its Legacy progenitor. Clever ads featured Australian "Crocodile Dundee" star Paul Hogan using the Outback in adventurous situations where it was portrayed besting its competitors, notably the Ford Explorer.

An Outback Sport, based on the Subaru Impreza five-door hatchback was introduced in 1998.

The Outback SUS (for "Sport Utility Sedan") was launched with a limited production test run sold in New England in 1999 and based on its success, was rolled out nationwide the following year.

In 2000, Outback became its own model and added a sedan, as well as an available horizontal six-cylinder engine.

In the highest trim level (VDC, for Vehicle Dynamics Control), a 200 W McIntosh stereo system was standard from 2001 to 2003. These were the only vehicles ever factory-equipped with McIntosh stereo equipment.

Worldwide
Other companies followed suit with similar raised four wheel drive station wagons as stop-gaps before their own SUVs were launched, or if they did not envisage introducing one. These included the Audi A6 Allroad, Volvo XC70, Alfa Romeo 156 CrossWagon and the Holden Adventra.

The Outback was available in Japan from 1995 as the Subaru Legacy Grandwagon.

Design quirks and oddities
The phrase "The World's First Sport Utility Wagon" may be trademarked, but it is not entirely accurate. In 1979, American Motors launched the AMC Concord-based AMC Eagle, which was similar, but had suffered poor sales and was discontinued in 1988.

Awards

 * 2009 Motor Trend Sport/utility of The Year