Subaru Outback Reviews

Friday we drove into the city to meet friends. Saturday we drove to the mountains to meet kangaroos. The Subaru Outback was just at home in the blue gum forests as it was in the concrete jungle. A manageable size and a very capable drive, the Outback fits into nearly any lifestyle.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTThe 2.0-litre diesel CVT Premium Outback starts at $45,490. It comes with symmetrical AWD, Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control system, paddle shifters, electronic parking brake, rear view reverse camera, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, anti-dust filter, leather steering wheel, voice command recognition, 17-inch alloy wheels, full size spare, wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth, and cruise, roof rails, 12-volt power jacks, and a seven-inch touch screen, to name a few.If you don’t need a lot of extra features, the non-premium diesel will save some cash, you’ll just have to live without the electric sunroof, leather-trim seats, and eight-way power driver seat with dual memory function.TECHNOLOGYThe 2.0-litre Outback has a turbo-charged horizontally opposed boxer diesel engine, producing 110kW@3,600 rpm and 350Nm@1800-2400. The Lineartronic CVT automatic gearbox provides smooth gear changes, but you can swap to manual mode and use the paddle shifters for more control.Official fuel combined is 6.5 litres per/100km. Our drive to the mountains and back found 7.2 litres per/100km combined.DESIGNExternally the Outback is stylish for an SUV, but it doesn’t turn a lot of heads...well maybe a few, but that could just be from the ungainly bonnet scoop.The dash is well presented, though the climate control buttons would work better as dials. The seven-inch touch screen and satnav are easy to use, and wheel-mounted audio, cruise, Bluetooth, and voice command give you plenty of control.With leather-trim seats the interior looks suave, though the seat back nets look cheap compared to the rest of the vehicle. The driver is well supported in the eight-way power seat with dual memory function, and the comfortable rear seats easily fold down to a 60/40 split, extending the boot space from 490 litres, to an impressive 1,690 litres.SAFETYThe Outback comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control system which includes ESC, ABS, EBD, TCS, TCS Limited Slip Device, and Brake Assist. Seven SRS airbags, a ring-shaped passenger safety cell, and whiplash reduction seats further your safety, while the rear view reverse camera ensures you don’t accidently back over Skippy.DRIVINGThe Outback is all about the option to explore and we honestly enjoyed it. A steady and safe ride during our mountain adventure, it provided enough comfort inside that friends teased us for being pampered at the campsite.Kids will enjoy gazing out of the sunroof, and with symmetrical AWD, they’ll focus more on the scenery, than any bumps in the road. The Outback is manoeuvrable in the city, cruises on the motorway, and though there’s a bit of sway on gravel, it handles well through dirt and mud. Ground clearance is 213mm – not enough to get you over serious tracks, but plenty of clearance for weekend expeditions.Though we wish there were a few more perks with the Premium model (heated seats would have been appreciated in the chilly mountains, but we’re just being picky), it is a sturdy all-round vehicle ready to hit the trails and cruise around the city.VERDICTThe Outback has plenty of space for families, enough off road capabilities for the average adventurer, and solid drivability.

Few carmakers have thought as laterally as Subaru has over the years.NEWThere was the switch to all-wheel drive, there was also the Outback wagon. The idea of a high-riding all-wheel drive wagon with limited offroad capability has always seemed a good one, after all few people really want to do any serious bush-bashing, they just like the high driving position afforded by a jacked-up wagon.With the Outback you could have a regular wagon with a high ride height that gives you the road view you want without going all the way to a road clogging SUV. The Outback has grown over the years as most cars tend to do, but it's still a reasonable size for the suburban crawl.As with earlier Outbacks, the new model in 2009 was heavily allied to the Liberty. The main differences to its lower riding model mate was its high ride height and some extra body cladding to protect it from the bumps and scrapes that inevitably come with a bush life, and there were some new bumpers to add to the differentiation.The Outback sat 70 mm higher than the Liberty, which gave it 13 mm more ground clearance, the secret to going beyond the black top. Along with the Liberty the Outback was longer and wider than the previous model, and it had a longer wheelbase.With its increased dimensions came increased interior space, particularly for rear seat passengers. Subaru offered three engines in the new model, including an economical 2.5-litre four, a zippy 3.6-litre six, and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel fuel-miser.Those opting for the turbo-diesel engine were lumped with a six-speed manual gearbox, those going for the 2.5i petrol engine had the choice of the six-speed manual or a CVT, while those who chose the 3.6 got a five-speed automatic.Drive was, of course, through all four wheels all the time. Local tweaking of the suspension resulted in a flatter, more reassuring ride through corners and over undulating roads. One downside in a vehicle allegedly designed with the bush in mind was the temporary spare tyre.NOWLike all Subarus the Outback is generally well built and durable, but that doesn't mean it can't have issues as the kays accumulate. The Outback has been the subject of three recalls.The first was to address a potential leak from a hose related to the CVT transmission, the second was the fix a wiring fault that affected the operation of all systems related to the steering column, the cruise, sound system, paddle shifts etc., and the last was related to a production fault that somehow meant some six-speed manual gearboxes escaped from the factory with a vital oil supply hole left undrilled.Check that these have been done, it should be indicated in the owner's manual. If not check with your nearest Subaru dealer.When checking an Outback prior to purchase, one that is equipped with the CVT transmission, it's important to conduct a thorough test drive to look for possible glitches in the way it drives. Look for stumbles, hesitations and shuddering.Otherwise check for a service record to ensure the factory recommended servicing has been carried out.SMITHY SAYSGood on road and off, without the bulk of a regular SUV the Outback is a standout.Subaru Outback - 2009Price new: $40,490 to $55,990Engines: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 110 kW/350 Nm; 2.5-litre 4-cylinder, 123 kW/229 Nm; 3.6-litre 6-cylinder, 191 kW/350 NmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, CVT, 5-speed autoEconomy: 6.4 L/100 km (2.0TD), 8.4 L/100 km (2.5), 10.3 L/100 km (3.6)Body: 4-door wagonVariants: 2.0D, 2.5i, 3.6RSafety: 5-star ANCAP

It took too long but finally Subaru has a powertrain to almost match it with other players in the large SUV segment - a diesel auto which is far and away the most popular set-up with buyers.TECHNOLOGYStill, Subaru seems to be holding something in reserve because their diesel auto is a 2.0-litre with a Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT), a one-speed auto for want of a better description. Many competitors have larger capacity diesels with more power and torque and mostly conventional six-speed automatics. Not to worry, the Sooby set-up is fine though it could do with more kilowatts for top end acceleration and the torque peak dropped to around 1200rpm instead of 1800rpm and widened to about 3000rpm so it will get going harder, earlier and longer.As it stands, the horizontally opposed four pot diesel is good for 110kW at 3600rpm and 350Nm from 1800-2400rpm. Both engine and transmission are unique in the segment with the former being around for a few years in other Soobies and the transmission also in other models, albeit extensively reinforced for the diesel Outback.It's called a ‘Lineartronic’ CVT with seven steps (quasi gears) and paddle shift and in this case with altered internal ratios, a larger torque converter and lock up clutch, reduced noise, a short pitch chain, larger all wheel drive clutch capacity, an oil cooler, special CVT oil and other tweaks.They have equipped it with five mode adaptive control for more efficient uphill and downhill driving as well as cornering and braking control. Some local calibration was used for the steering, suspension and body reinforcements as well as more sound deadening materials such as “thinsulate” in behind the dash and roof liner.RANGE AND PRICETwo variants are available, the Outback 2.0d at $42,490 and the Premium model at $45,490. Both are value priced compared with similarly specced competitor vehicles. Both are identical under the skin and boast a five star crash rating. Fuel economy is a claimed 6.5-litres/100km.FEATURESThe desirable "Eyesight" safety system on other Soobies that helps avoid frontal impacts and lane drifting isn't available on the Outback. Auto stop/start is also missing. Safety kit includes a reverse camera, brake assist, and seven airbags but driver assist features are thin on the ground.Hopefully, Subaru and other Japanese manufacturers will catch up with the Europeans in this area soon.Features on both models include Bluetooth phone and audio, dual zone climate control, electric parking brake, satnav with voice control, multi-media connectivity, leather wheel with multiple control buttons, multi-function trip computer, rear seat auto fold function, alloy wheels, a full size spare and self levelling rear suspension.DRIVINGThe drive feel is good. We chalked up a few hundred kays in both variants on sealed and gravel roads as well as some freeway driving. The Outback diesel auto strikes us as the ideal car for Aussie conditions.It's a wagon, five seats, large load space and there's plenty of ground clearance (around 215mm). The ride is supple and comfortable. They've even been able to give the Outback diesel auto a sporty edge with nearly no body roll through corners and responsive steering.It can fall into a power/torque hole though, quickly redeemable by the excellent paddle shift system on the wheel. We like the interior, like the size of it, don't like the exterior styling.VERDICTIs it really a large SUV? Don't think so, medium more like. The Outback diesel has impressive fuel economy, decent performance, excellent ride/handling and is affordable with plenty of kit. And it's a Subaru which means reliable and strong resale.

Subaru has spiced up its Outback range – and increased the number of potential buyers – by linking a sporty new CVT transmission to its AWD turbo-charged diesel models.The addition comes as part of an Outback facelift with external changes kept to a minimum, but a raft of mechanical improvements to enable the CVT-diesel link. This is the first time a Subaru CVT transmission has been hooked up to a high-torque boxer turbo-diesel.The long-overdue diesel/auto combination could not come at a better time for the Japanese maker. Last year SUVs accounted for 27 percent of all vehicle sales in Australia and this year that figure is running at 30.4 percent meaning that almost one in every three vehicles sold in Australia is SUV, a significant change in Australian buying patterns.The lack of a diesel boxer engine until 2012 held back Subaru Outback sales and then the lack of a diesel/auto combination meant it was not competing against rivals that had the sought-after pairing. Almost 95 percent of all SUV sales have auto transmissions.VALUEThe new Subaru Outback 2.0D CVT comes in two equipment grades, with the upper grade being called the Premium. The base model is $42,490, $2500 more than the manual 2.0D and the Premium $45,490. Premium gets an electric sunroof, leather trim, eight-way power driver's seat with memory function and electroluminescent gauges with colour information display.Both Outback 2.0D CVT models include satellite navigation, reversing camera, dual zone air conditioning and steering wheel mounted gear change paddles.TECHNOLOGYTransmission improvements include a larger torque converter with twin dampers, increased case thickness, changed primary reduction rate of 4.111 in the final gear and an added control plate to reduce noise from the oil pump. The 2.0D boxer engine has been upgraded from the 2012 model with no less than nine improvements to suit the CVT. These changes include elimination of piston spring bushes, changed valve springs, changed oil seals, changed sound proofing on the engine collector cover, changed starter motor and alternator, changed engine control unit to suit the CVT, addition of an air-cooled air cooler and turbo cover.The 1998 cc engine produces a modest 110 kW of power at 3600 rpm, but where it counts it has 350 Nm of torque between 1800 and 2400 rpm. DESIGNChanges to Outback styling include a revised grille, front bumper, foglight surrounds and wheel patterns.DRIVINGThe launch was really all about the transmission. It is no ordinary CVT (continuously variable transmission). Kick the right pedal hard and it jumps out of auto mode into one of the seven ‘steps’ that are the equivalent of gears in a traditional gearbox. In auto mode the CVT is seamlessly smooth even under hard acceleration to highway speeds. In manual mode, using the steering wheel paddles the steps have gear-like rapid changes, faster according to Subaru than conventional gearboxes. Not including we presume DSG transmissions.The real bonus in this new CVT is the lack of engine or transmission noise into the cabin. If you have a driven a CVT before and did not like the noise or sensation of a slipping clutch and/or over-revving engine you were not alone. Subaru engineers have overcome this type of issue with their CVT, a larger version of that used in the Forester XT. No doubt extra sound deadening and continual development of the transmission itself added to the improvement.Driven at normal speeds the Outback 2.0D CVT is possibly the smoothest and quietest car on the market under $50,000. Even driven hard noise intrusion into the cabin is minimal, even at high speeds on quiet country roads. The CVT has been designed to compensate for the narrow usable band of torque associated with diesel engines.Subaru Outback Diesel CVTPrice: from $42,490Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmSafety: 7 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TCCrash rating: 5-starEngine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 110kW/350NmTransmission: CVT auto; constant 4WDThirst: 6.5L/100km; 172g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.8m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.6m (H)Weight: 1606-1628kgSpare: Full-size

In Subaru’s own admission, this is the most important and significant car of its past decade. This, the diesel automatic version of its large-SUV category player, the Outback, is the first time the company has had a gun big and suitable enough to fight on equal terms with some powerful rivals.“It’s the missing piece in the engine-transmission puzzle that we have longed to bring to the market," says Subaru Australia’s managing director Nick Senior. He says the biggest SUV sector is the "large" class, comprising players such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Territory, Holden Captiva, Toyota Prado and Volkswagen Alltrack.The petrol-diesel split is 45/55 and of the diesel models, a whopping 94 per cent sold have automatic gearboxes. Subaru’s Outback diesel has only a manual gearbox. Until this week. “It’s held us back," says Senior as an understatement. “But we predict the diesel auto model will lift monthly sales from 220 to 350." So though outwardly a variation of the existing Outback, this is a model carrying big expectations.VALUEKeenly priced and with strong 55 per cent resale value, the Outback is almost always on the shopping list for five-seater SUV wagons. This new automatic model improves the odds. It costs $42,490 as the 2.0D version - with standard 17-inch alloys, paddle shift auto, sat-nav and cruise control - with the second model Premium adding leather, a sunroof, electric driver’s seat and larger colour monitor for $45,490. The CVT adds $2500 to the price of the manual.The Premium is the best value here. Metallic paint is a no-cost option.  Subaru has no capped-service program but Senior hints it may soon bow to the program that is now used by the majority of its rivals.DESIGNThe US-origins of the styling don’t go unnoticed. The Outback is functional and bold but not particularly pretty. But that doesn’t matter to the pragmatist that buys a Subaru.The cabin room is vast, functional with the flat folding rear seats, impressive in its quality of trim joints and subtle textures and fabrics, while neatly combining the presumption of durability with the sense of comfort. The bonnet scoop is the best giveaway to the diesel.Space for five adults with excellent head and legroom in the rear and deep windows for great visibility. The tailgate lifts up high and the cargo bed is low and wide, helped by its flat floorwhen the rear seats are dropped. Rear vents help airflow while extra sound proofing diminishes any diesel noise.Leather is standard on the Premium and though the cloth is more durable, the value in the Premium may be too great to ignore. Lots of personal storage zones - helped by the electric park brake button - make it an easy car to fit the family’s needs.TECHNOLOGYThe continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is a stronger version of that fitted to the petrol-fuelled Forester (which doesn’t get a diesel-auto combo until late 2014). This auto has been heavily modified and enhanced (including an oil cooler) so it offers a seven-speed stepped mode (like a conventional auto) with functions that assist downhill and engine braking.The 110kW/350Nm 2-litre turbo-diesel - similar to the one fitted to the manual-transmission Outback and Forester - and claims an impressive 6.5 litres/100km. It can tow up to 1700kg. The extra weight of the diesel mill means the Aussie-tuned suspension and steering have been beefed up.SAFETYSubaru is consistently setting the standard in affordable car safety. It features a five-star crash rating, seven airbags, reverse camera, DataDot security, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, electronic stability and traction control, constant all-wheel drive and a full-size spare. The brilliant EyeSight forward camera monitoring and autonomous braking system is not yet available on this car, though will come some time later.DRIVINGNo hiding that diesel clatter at idle, though it softens once underway and becomes almost inaudible while cruising. The Outback is a relative lightweight at 1606kg dry but the engine feels wanting insome conditions, particularly off-the-mark acceleration. But the CVT is quick to maximise the power flow. It’s also pretty good at masking any slippery or vague manners.Press the pedal more than 65 per cent and the CVT box sets up stepped gears, just like a normal automatic. Here it will run to 4000rpm in each gear before changing up. The best of both worlds. Handling and steering rate well, especially against some larger SUVs, while offroad users will appreciate the exceptional 213mm ground clearance. Fuel use on test was 7.2 L/100km.VERDICTTypical Subaru quality and driving feel. Love more power - but 2-litres is capped by European tax laws - yet few owners will complain. Shop against the Santa Fe and Kia Sorento while VW’sAlltrack should also be considered. 

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well.Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus.End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close.HOLDENDeep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990.The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6.The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500.TOYOTAYou'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer.It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year.HYUNDAIThere's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off.But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500.Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500.MITSUBISHIThe new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim.Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month.SUBARUThe 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table.The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights.The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs.FORDKuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013.Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away.KIAThere's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price.VOLKSWAGENIs running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000.The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance.VOLVOThe Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free.The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

Subaru's largest passenger car, the Liberty, has a well-deserved reputation for toughness and reliability with Australian buyers. The Subaru Outback is an interesting variant on the Liberty station wagon. On the market since 1996 it is intended as a halfway step between a conventional station wagon and a dedicated 4WD.In its earlier models Subaru Outback had a tougher appearance than the standard wagon because of the additional protective plastic facings on the doors. These were discontinued with the new generation of 2003 to give the vehicle a more upmarket air, though there are many Subaru advocates who preferred the tougher look of the original.Since 1995 only all-wheel drive Liberty models have been sold in Australia, prior to then there were also front-wheel drive versions, even by 1995 these were comparatively rare because buyers had already sussed out the advantages of driving all four wheels.Unusually for Japanese cars, Libertys and Outbacks, indeed all Subarus, are popular with country drivers as well as those from metro areas. Libertys and Outbacks are much loved by snow skiers because their permanent all-wheel drive system makes them safer and more capable in slippery conditions than a 2WD vehicle.Subaru Liberty first arrived in this country in 1989 and struck a chord with local buyers almost immediately. These older models are generally getting long in the tooth so may be near the end of their lives. You’re probably better off avoiding them.Liberty is sold as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon, with a much larger percentage of wagons being sold than in other models in the mid-size class. The combination of the traction of all-wheel drive and the practicality of a wagon rear end is a strong one.The engines have a flat ‘boxer’ layout to lower the centre of gravity for improved road holding. Engine capacities in the four-cylinder models are 2.0, 2.2 and 2.5 litres. The 2.0 actually has more performance than the 2.2 being a later design.Flat-six engines began with a 3.0-litre unit in the Outback and later the Liberty range, its capacity increased to 3.6 litres in September 2009. Subaru calls the flat-six engines the H6 - ‘H’ for horizontally opposed, but most owners tend to retain the use of flat-six or boxer for it.There are a couple of high-performance Subaru Liberty variants. The Liberty RS has a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit and was introduced here in 1992. It was on sale for less than two years, when it was upstaged by the smaller and lighter Subaru Impreza WRX, a car that went on to be a huge success.The Liberty B4 sports machine has a twin-turbo 2.0-litre. It first came here in August 2001 but was somewhat of a disappointment in Australia because the engine had to be significantly detuned from the one offered on the Japanese market to run on our lower-octane petrol.These Subarus are reasonably easy to work on and most routine jobs can be carried out by an experienced home mechanic. However, safety items and most areas of the high-performance variants are best left to the professionals.Spare parts prices are about average for a car in this class. The Subaru dealer network, though relatively small, works efficiently. Because of Subarus’ popularity in country areas there are dealers in comparatively remote areas.Insurance charges on all but the turbocharged high-performance Liberty RS and Liberty B4 are moderate. The turbo models can be really expensive to cover, especially if you are a young and/or inexperienced driver. Living in a high-risk area further increases charges. Be sure to get a quote before falling in love with a turbo Liberty as premiums can be scary.Look over the interior trim and carpets for signs of damage, though they usually hold up well to all but the most outrageous of treatment. Mud or a real buildup of dust may indicate a lot of time spent of the beaten track.Check out the luggage area for signs of harsh treatment caused by carrying big and/or sharp loads. Have a look underneath a car, particularly the Outback, for signs of damage through it coming into contact with the ground. Some owners really do treat them as though they are ‘real’ 4WDs.The undersides of the bumpers, especially on their corners, are usually the first to suffer. Be sure the engine starts quickly and immediately idles smoothly no matter how cold the conditions. The sixes are naturally smoother than the fours, but the latter should be pretty good as well. Manual gearboxes should be quiet in operation and gearchanges should be smooth and light. Automatics which tend to hunt up and down the gears, or which are slow to go into gear, could be due for an overhaul. Rust is not common in Subarus, but if one has been badly repaired after a crash it may get into the metal. Call in a professional inspector if there’s the slightest doubt.

No matter how schmick the car looks, though, at this sort of money there are probably one or two expensive time bombs lurking within it.

The Outback has been around for a while but the technology is new. Safety conscious Subaru has lifted the bar again, with the addition of some active safety featyures usually found only in high end European cars. It is the first Japanese car maker to do so. We're talking about the new Eyesight system.WHAT IT ISEyeSight uses stereo camera technology to provide driver assistance in a variety of conditions. Among other things it features include Pre-Collision Braking that can stop the vehicle if it detects the risk of frontal collision. The two tiny cameras are located inside the cabin either side of the rear vision mirror at the top of the windscreen.WHAT IT DOESFirst off you get active cruise control. Set the speed and if the car detects another car in front of it travelling slower than your set speed it automatically slows the car to maintain a safe distance. If the car in front brakes suddenly and you're too busy playing with your iPhone, then the system will automatically apply the brakes on your behalf to prevent a nasty accident. That doesn't mean you're should be playing with your phone. You also get a reminder when the vehicle in front starts to move again. The system also warns you if you stray out of the line markings of your lane with a series of audible beeps.DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?Active cruise is great if you're travelling in a string of traffic that is speeding up and slowing down all the time. For example on long weekends when you're heading of the city and down the coast. You can adjust the distance between you and the car in front.The minimum distance depends on the speed you're travelling. Unfortunately it's not small enough to prevent other drivers from cutting in which can be really, really annoying. They on the other hand probably think you're dawdling.WORTH IT?Eyesight is standard with the Outback 3.6R Premium automatic ($57,490) as well as the Liberty 3.6R Premium auto sedan ($53,490). We like everything about the Outback apart from the fact it's so visually challenged. It's safe, rides and handles well, with relatively good fuel economy for a biggish petrol engine (we were getting 9.8 litres/100km). Comes with plenty of kit including a huge touch screen satnav system. At the same time, strangely it misses out on an auto dimming rear view mirror. VERDICTIt's standard on our test Premium model. The thing is with safety features, people are reluctant to pay extra for them, but if they're part of the bundle that's okay. If your speed is less than 30 km/h, Subaru says the car may be brought to a complete stop prior to impact. Your insurance company will love you (Volvos with this system attract a discount).Subaru Outback 3.6R PremiumPrice: From $57,490Engine: 3.6 Litre, 6 CylinderOutputs: 191kW/350NmTransmission: Five-speed Sports automatic.Economy: 10.3/100km combined. CO2 Emissions: 242g/kmCrash rating: 5 stars ANCAP 

Is a crossover too big a compromise? I was a bit perplexed by the Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium – was it a station wagon, an SUV, a performance car, family oriented or adventure oriented?  Does the crossover try to offer something across all aspects -- and fail to excel in any one of them? It takes a few days to find out.DESIGNFace facts: this is not an attractive vehicle. The styling is subtle but grey – our test car was charcoal, but it was also grey in every other sense of the word. It could easily be lost in a supermarket car park, forever. I found myself hoping the looks would grow on me, but they didn’t.The interior is like a small lounge with big leather furniture.  The seats are flat, wide and hard – and won’t serve well for long trips where you need a hugging contour and medium firmness for support.  I was already in need of a good stretch and massage after a short one hour commute.The highlight is the stitched leather, which looks classy and tough. Perfect for letting kids or a  slobbering dog loose without having to worry about damaging the upholstery.  Opinion was divided on the plastic brushed aluminium look dashboard and surrounds.  I thought they looked and felt cheap, my wife thought they looked classy.  But otherwise, the dashboard is very clear, well laid out and a pleasure to use at night.Visibility all round is great -- with a relatively high position, and no major blind spots, even for a wagon – and the large mirrors meant all but the smallest of cars or motorbikes were in your peripheral vision. EQUIPMENTAs usual with Subaru, everything you expect is on hand: full climate control and electric everything.  Initially, the media-navigation system was a little painful to operate, but does have touchscreen which is a small bonus. Although the head unit does have Bluetooth connectivity, this is acceptable for telephone conversations (and worked really well) but the quality is not high enough for music. It would be better to see an iPad/iOS type head unit installed in a car of this type – which is likely to be doing some long recreational trips. The only other real omissions at this level are heated seats – which risks leaving wives very unimpressed (trust me on this) – and tyre pressure sensors, which are not expensive and should be considered a must have safety feature.SAFETYThe Outback meets the ANCAP five-star rating, with an arsenal of airbags, anti-lock brakes and all the expected safety kit. But it also has a special system called EyeSight -- in short, an extra pair of eyes permanently glued to the road in front of you, alerting and taking appropriate action probably before you even think of it. This is a level of technology that comes not just with an instruction manual but a DVD to guide you through the introduction.At first, I was dismissive, believing in better driver education and not building a reliance – let alone dependence  -- on technology.  But after two days of using it, I was impressed with a couple of key features.  The adaptive cruise control allowed me to set the cruise at 60km/h in morning traffic, and -- unless I stopped completely -- Eyesight kept me a safe distance from the vehicle in front, adjusting my speed up or down, even automatically braking to a halt if required. It was surprisingly smooth and accurate.  It does get a little confused if another car enters the lane and into it’s field of view, and takes more abrupt action, but it works amazingly well. The feature I wanted to kill was the lane sensor alert.  Initially, I couldn’t help myself, playing with the system on the way home.Other drivers must have thought I was drunk or had lost my marbles.  In clear space, I drifted side to side across lanes, not once or twice, but at least 8 to 10 times, testing when and how EyeSight would alert me.  I’m surprised nobody called the police, but then again if they had, in the Outback I’d have just blended into the traffic and they’d never spot me. But in daily driving, after a while the lane sensor is annoying, beeping every few minutes, general moving in and out of traffic, entering and exiting freeways, and normal city driving.  I can imagine on a lengthy motorway cruise, it would be a useful safety feature, but in everyday traffic it drove me to the point of distraction and annoyance.Although it took a while to get used to getting the best out of EyeSight, after a couple of days, I’d built a beautiful symbiotic relationship, driver and technology in perfect harmony.  I’m a passionate believer in full driver training and education -- and driver control -- however (and I can’t believe I’m writing this) I now think  the adaptive cruise and pre-collision braking should be mandatory on all new vehicles.  It would prevent 90 per cent of those pointless rear-enders, and force drivers to leave the appropriate space between vehicles.Interestingly, EyeSight had a maximum setting of 2 seconds gap, and I would rather have had this as the minimum, with the ability for the driver to increase the gap if it was still a little too close to the car in front.  Imagine the reduction in insurance premiums and time saved in morning traffic without those dumb accidents.DRIVING AND PERFORMANCEThe first drive in the Outback was particularly eventless -- even boring.  I left the CBD office in peak hour traffic and arrived home 45 minutes later.  Interestingly, I did notice I had arrived stress–free – which probably says something.The engine and gearbox were quiet and smooth, the ride was firm and understated, quietly satisfying. But after driving the Outback for a couple of days, I was wondering if this “premium” version actually had any guts and was generally feeling quite let down.  I read the specifications again, 3.6 Litres, 191kW, 1600kg. Where? Was I missing something?  Where was all this performance hiding?I dedicated some quality experimental time to locate that all important “GO” button. Found it. Right there on the centre console dial.  Switch over to mode and leave it there. Wow, what a massive difference.  I pulled out into some fast moving traffic and let it rip.  Everything stiffened up, and with an elegant poise and quiet, rapid acceleration, I was well over the speed limit before I had realised. Again… wow.To put it into numbers, this car actually has more horsepower per tonne than a Mini Cooper S (146hp/t vs 159hp/t), which translates into considerable performance for what does not appear to be a quick car.  The Outback 3.6R Premium is a classic case of a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.In terms of economy, even though on paper it says it’s quite economical at 14.7L/100km for the urban cycle, a sixth gear wouldn’t go amiss.  I was struggling to get the computer to show less than 16L/100km -- even before I discovered the Outback’s inner wolf.VERDICTSo back to the original question, who would buy the Outback? During the test drive, I have switched my image of the target buyer from WRX upgraders, to older retiring country gentlefolk, and back to mid-40s family man, looking for a quiet life, but with a growler under the bonnet when he wants it. Then I thought of the adventurer who wants to carry an ocean kayak and/or hang glider on the roof, and still use it to commute. I even thought it would be the perfect getaway car for bank robbers: rapid, plenty of room to carry four henchmen and all your loot --  and it’s cloak of blandness means it would simply disappear in the traffic.Finally, I settled almost back where I started: the  Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium is ideal for the grown up ex-WRX owner who now wants practicality and comfort, hidden performance and some extra safety measures built in.  It is perfect for taking the whole family, mum, dad, two leggy teenagers and a couple of dogs to the country camping for the weekend.At more than $63,000 on the road, this is not a cheap prospect. However, considering the number of categories it covers very well, it does present solid value for money. The Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium is a car that can fulfil many roles at a reasonable price.Subaru Outback 3.6R PremiumPrice: From $57,490Engine: 3.6 Litre, 6 CylinderOutputs: 191kW/350NmTransmission: Five-speed Sports automatic.Economy: 10.3/100km combined. CO2 Emissions: 242g/kmCrash rating: 5 stars ANCAP