Outback stands tall in Subaru range
The Outback crossover was groundbreaking 20 years ago. Now it’s the default family-Subaru choice, writes David Linklater.
You can’t keep a good SUV down. Not these days. The Outback is Subaru’s largest-selling model, accounting for 44 per cent of the brand’s volume last year (around 1500 cars).
That percentage has actually been even higher in the past, but regardless: it’s clear that Outback stands very tall in the Subaru lineup and will continue to do so for as long as Kiwis love SUVs so much. The next-best Subaru-seller is another SUV, by the way: the Impreza-based XV.
Does anybody want regular cars any more? You might remember that when the current Outback was launched back in 2015, Subaru discontinued the Legacy wagon - the car on which the Outback used to be based.
Outback sales have tripled in New Zealand since then, filling the void left by Legacy wagon. So goodbye and good luck to something once loved by Kiwi buyers: the traditional family car.
That’s not to say Subaru New Zealand isn’t trying with other genres. It still offers a Legacy sedan and has vowed to persist with that model, even though the market for large four-doors is in decline.
‘‘We’ve always believed that while the market is zigging, you can zag,’’ says Subaru NZ managing director Wallis Dumper.
‘‘But whenever we market Legacy in way that our rivals can’t see - digitally or otherwise - we just sell more Outbacks. Which just goes to show that you can’t stop the market going the way the market is going. Ultimately, the customers decide.
‘‘So yes, we’ve had huge success in selling more Outbacks by marketing Legacy. You have to take what you can get.’’
From this month, Outback customers will be getting a quietly revised model with styling, equipment and minor mechanical changes.
There’s a revised grille and front bumper, plus new door mirrors with 20mm-shorter stems and LED indicator lights.
The headlights now have integrated LED daytime running lights and Premium models have full-LED beams that adapt to steering angle. The DRLs are by far the easiest way to identify the new model: they run in a continuous and distinctive C-shape around the outside-border of the main headlamp units.
All Outbacks have the thirdgeneration version of Subaru’s EyeSight safety technology - as introduced on the latest XV. It now includes Lane Keep Assist.
Other EyeSight functions have been enhanced. The pre-collision braking system recognises objects earlier and has been increased from a maximum speed of 30kmh to 50kmh.
The EyeSight camera has been upgraded and is now better at recognising low-contrast objects; the entire unit is mounted closer to the windscreen glass, with less overhang.
Inside, the Premium models have a larger eight-inch touchscreen and now offer Front View Monitor and Side View Monitor. The former shows a view of the front of the car at up to 20kmh to assist in tight parking situations, while the latter displays the leftfront wheel area - also at up to 20kmh.
All Outbacks now offer phone projection for both Apple and Android. While that gives users access to phone-based sat-nav, it hasn’t stopped Subaru fitting the Premium models with embedded navigation as well - a new system powered by TomTom. It’s a bit mobile-phone-like in the way it works, showing ETA to home/ work without the user having to input the address.
The new screen can also be organised in different pages: users can drag apps around and personalise the layout.
There’s been a subtle spruce-up across the range with a new-design steering wheel, extra instrument panel stitching and high-gloss black trim inserts. There are now two extra USB ports accessible to rear-seat passengers.
Changes to the 2.5-litre powertrain include a short-pitch continuously variable transmission (CVT) chain to reduce cabin noise, greater ratio coverage and an increase from a six-step ‘‘manual’’ mode to seven.
This and other powertrain changes are claimed to improve fuel efficiency by three per cent.
On the road, the fundamental character of Outback remains the same: it’s smooth and compliant on Kiwi roads, not shy about a bit of body roll but always composed even in the hands of an overly enthusiastic driver. Subaru’s CVT remains the smoothest and most responsive example of this technology - even though it remains a polarising thing among many petrolheads.
Outback prices are unchanged from the previous model, at $44,990 for the 129kW/235Nm 2.5 Sport, $49,990 for the 2.5 Premium and $59,990 for the 191kW/350Nm 3.6 Premium.
Fuel economy figures are 7.3 litres per 100km for the fourcylinder models and 9.9 litres for the six.
The dominance of Subaru’s SUV range has also prompted some repositioning of the closely related Legacy sedan.
‘‘We’ve decided to discontinue the 2.5 Sport because we don’t want to fight with SUVs,’’ says Dumper.
‘‘We’ve gone for a dearer price and a higher-specification model: a 2.5 Premium that’s fully loaded at $49,990 and then a step up to the 3.6 RS at $54,990.’’
Both Legacy sedans pick up the styling and equipment changes applied to the Outback.