Buying Used: Subaru Outback

If you’re in the market for a high-riding, capable vehicle but are not keen on an SUV, then the Subaru Outback may be an interesting option. We explore this all-road station wagon as a second-hand purchase.

Subaru Outback driving

Image: Subaru

Unveiled in the mid-1990s, the Outback is one of the longest serving vehicles in Subaru’s lineup. Bridging the gap between station wagons and SUVs, its combination of practical, spacious packaging, along with civilised road manners and off-road capability has ensured its longevity across six generations.

Over the years, the Outback has refined Subaru’s vision of a capable all-round vehicle. Each generation incorporates increased ground clearance and the brand’s signature symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, with the concept continually evolving over the last three decades. When the fifth-generation Outback arrived in South Africa in 2015, it ushered in a new design, improved active and passive safety systems, and an interior that included a new touchscreen infotainment system.

An updated model arrived in 2018, debuting the automaker’s EyeSight driver assistance suite. Utilising a dual-camera sensor setup, Eyesight encompasses such features as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and pre-collision braking. The Starlink infotainment system incorporated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the first time but, interestingly, the pre-facelift’s 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system has since been replaced with an 11-speaker setup.

Subaru Outback interior

Image: Subaru

Perhaps one of the Outback’s most underrated attributes is its well-appointed cabin that especially impressed in the facelifted model. Prioritising ergonomics and practicality, rear legroom measured a remarkable 760 mm, besting all of its SUV competitors. Headroom, too, is generous, despite the standard fitment of a sunroof. Central to the dashboard, the new 7.0-inch infotainment system has been borrowed from the Impreza and XV and is a function-rich setup. However, some of the virtual buttons are a little too small for easy use on the move.

Earlier generations were powered by a raft of engines, including a boxer diesel but Subaru, interestingly, stuck to its old engines as the competition downsized. While the modern lineup comprises only four-cylinder engines, this generation saw the inclusion of six-cylinder units in Subaru’s engine portfolio. The 3.6-litre horizontally opposed engine offered 191 kW and 350 N.m, with the block adopting a d-o-h-c setup and four valves per cylinder. The six-cylinder engine is flanked by two four-cylinder units: a naturally aspirated boxer 2.5-litre (129 kW/235 N.m) and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel (110 kW/350 N.m). While not broadly popular, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is linked to all engines, channelling power to all four wheels through Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.

What to look out for when buying a used Subaru Outback

The fifth-generation Outback is generally reliable, but there are some things of which buyers should be mindful. The CVT can feel sluggish and drony under hard acceleration. Even so, the 2018 Outback 3.6 R-S ES Lineartronic CVT we tested managed to post respectable acceleration times of 1.71 seconds from 60 km/h to 80 km/h, 100 km/h to 120 km/h in 2.73 seconds, and 0 to 100 km/h in 7.99 seconds. The combination of naturally aspirated boxer engine and AWD means these cars can be rather thirsty, with average fuel consumption figures of more than 11 L/100 km not unheard of.

Given Subaru’s nicheness in South Africa, another potential concern is parts availability and challenges arising from a limited dealer and service centre network, occasionally leading to longer waiting times for certain components.

Subaru Outback driving

Image: Subaru

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The post Buying Used: Subaru Outback appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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