PLAYING IT SAFE

Subaru has been careful not to stray too far from a proven formula with the new Outback

Safety was a priority for Subaru engineers tasked with creating a new Outback. The new model is loaded with allwheel-drive, sophisticated driver aids and a new type of airbag hidden within the passenger seat.

It even has cameras to keep an eye on you and make sure you aren’t distracted.

But Subaru played it too safe in other areas. Conservative styling makes it hard to distinguish the new car from its predecessor, and the latest in a line of underwhelming Subaru engines compromises its appeal.

Priced from $39,990 plus on-road costs (about $44,000 drive-away) the new Outback is central to a simplified range. The mid-sized Liberty is no longer available here, nor are diesel or six-cylinder versions of the Outback.

But you do get a decent list of standard equipment including 18-inch wheels with a fullsize spare, adaptive LED headlights, two-zone climate control, smart keys and more. A beautiful portrait-style 11.6-inch infotainment screen brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while USB outlets in the front and rear keep passengers happy.

You also get Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech including auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and more.

An extra $4500 brings a sport pack with black exterior highlights, sat nav, a powered tailgate, seat heating and nifty water-repellent cabin trim with green stitching.

The Outback Touring tops the range at $47,790 plus on-road costs, adding luxuries such as a heated steering wheel, leather trim, reverse auto braking, a nine-speaker stereo, powered sunroof and silver exterior highlights.

We tested the top-end version, coming away impressed with its spacious cabin and rock-solid build quality. There is plenty of room for adults in the front and back, soft-touch materials exude quality and the new infotainment screen is a big step beyond previous offerings.

A clever facial regonition system automatically adopts the driver’s seat and mirrors to saved preferences.

Conventional dashboard dials flanking a small digital readout feel dated in 2021, when much cheaper models come with a wide-screen cockpit as standard.

We’ll also warn sensitive customers that Subaru’s speed camera warning, driver monitoring and lane-keeping assistance systems offer annoyance as well as assistance.

But the toughest part to swallow is under the bonnet. While American customers get a lusty turbocharged engine, Subaru Australia makes do with an asthmatic 2.5-litre engine that serves up 138kW and 245Nm.

Those are skinny figures made worse by the need to rev the engine hard to deliver its best. Off-the-mark performance isn’t helped by the lethargic response to throttle inputs from its CVT automatic.

It sounds coarse when revved and feels sluggish with one passenger on board — we wouldn’t recommend testing a claimed twotonne maximum towing payload. On our test we averaged 9.2L/100km, well above Subaru’s 7.3L/100km claim.

Capped price servicing averaging about $500 per year isn’t cheap, either.

But the Outback gets a lot right. Subaru’s benchmark all-wheel-drive system offers excellent traction on loose surfaces and generous ground clearance will take it further off-road than SUV pretenders. We went exploring on gravel roads and came away impressed by its poise on dirt.

The Outback’s suspension is also well tuned, with a comfortable ride that calls into question the “locally tuned for Australian tastes” claims loudly trumpeted by rival brands. Yes, there’s a little bit of pitch and roll on twisty roads, but it’s an acceptable price to pay for passenger comfort.

And there’s a weighty solidarity to the steering and brake responses, reinforcing the suspicion that it will never let you down.