Subaru Outback 3.0R 2004 review

The silky smooth running Sooby drives like a luxury limo' with sporty car performance and handling and using it like a heavy duty 4WD battering ram in the boonies. Well.

But Subaru was intent on demonstrating just how tough this good lookin' wagon is and we speared off into the scrub in convoy hooked up to a wagon train of Jayco campervans of various sizes.

The medium size 3.0R is blessed with a powerful 180kW/297Nm six cylinder engine driving all wheels symmetrically through a five speed automatic trans- mission.

It is a good powertrain for towing as gear changes are imperceptible and the transmission adapts almost immediately to towing mode with quick flicks between the gears to maintain any given pace.

The sequential change system is also handy if you want a more hands-on style of driving.

Subaru has engineered the 3.0R for towing with particular attention to cooling and component re- liability under extreme conditions.

Though lighter than the previous Outback due to various aluminium chassis and body components, the 3.0R will comfortable tow a van weighing up to 1800kg. This will move up to 2.0 tonnes in the next model or possibly before as progressive changes are made on the production line.

Subaru Australia, has raised the towing profile with Subaru Japan engineers and they are responding with improvements and necessary modifications.

Very little towing is done in Japan but plenty of testing is done in Australia.

Particular attention has been paid to cooling the rear differential and the transmission, spring rates, airflow through the car and the engine bay as well as bolstering other components to take the added pressure of towing.

The 3.0R has an automatic suspension levelling system using hydraulics that pump up or down according to load. Towing campervans was like child's play for the 3.0R though the big one, about 5 metres long made it work hard. The smaller vans had minimal effect on performance, ride or fuel economy.

We drove long distances over rough corrugated dirt roads at 100kmh with no problems, the ABS worked a treat in loose gravel and the cars stayed tight as a drum and easy to drive – with the aircon on full and everything else operating. It made me change my mind about going bush in such a suave vehicle.

Certainly more comfy than rattling around in a Troopie.