Subaru Outback – Review -Daily Car Blog

Now in its sixth generation, the Subaru Outback has come a long way since the original was released in 1994—and that’s enough of the history lesson. With the seventh generation set to launch next year, we take a look at the current model to see how it holds up.

In the UK, the Subaru Outback is available in three trim levels: Limited, Field, and Touring. Prices start at £40,000 and rise to £43,000 and £45,000 for the higher trims, respectively.

Exterior

Some say the exterior design feels dated—I’d disagree. It has evolved into something with a stealthy elegance.

It’s a large car with an understated yet commanding presence, and its raised ride height, body cladding, and rugged trim details give it a go-anywhere, ready-for-anything stance.

All models come standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, adaptive LED headlights, and steering-responsive lighting.

The Interior

Large on the outside and spacious on the inside, the Outback accommodates every body size with ease. You won’t think twice about knee room or headspace—you just get in and don’t look back. It’s the plushest Subaru interior to date, with excellent build quality and soft-touch materials placed exactly where you want them. It feels premium in a way that Audi and BMW have somewhat lost touch with.

The leather seats now feel significantly more upmarket—soft, supple, and supportive. Even the steering wheel is trimmed in a higher-grade leather, a huge step forward from the plasticky steering wheels of Subaru’s past.

And the boot space? Without getting bogged down in semantics, it’s huge—whether the second-row seats are up or folded flat. Only the Mercedes E-Class offers more, but naturally, it comes at a much higher price.

The top-spec Touring trim comes fully loaded with all the latest driver-assist technologies and features you could possibly need.

But as I always say, as long as I have electric seats—heated, of course—and a decent sound system, then I’m happy.

The Infotainment System

The Outback features the same infotainment setup across its range—a functional, if unspectacular, 15-inch portrait-mounted touchscreen. It’s sharp, easy to navigate, and the menu layout is sensible and uncluttered. It won’t win any UX design awards, but it doesn’t need to—it simply works.

Most users will likely switch to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which are both integrated. So, all the bases are covered. Interestingly, the Outback still includes traditional analogue dials, complemented by a small digital display for additional information.

The Drive

Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine producing 169bhp, paired with a CVT gearbox. There’s just enough power to feel satisfied; it isn’t gutless, but it could do with more power. An overdrive mode activated via a steering wheel-mounted button adds a touch more urgency, but don’t expect it to blow the bloody doors off.

Engaging reverse gear reveals a slightly unrefined and jerky response. Too much throttle and the car launches backwards like a rabbit out of a trap, requiring a gentle foot to keep things smooth—a learning curve, but manageable.

The CVT is still a bit sluggish and needs a decent prod of the accelerator to wake up. Still, it does the job adequately. All models benefit from Subaru’s excellent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, which adds confidence and stability in all conditions and provides prodigious off-road capability.

The Ride

The Outback is tuned for comfort. It feels refined and glides over bumps and rough surfaces with ease. The steering is fine, soundproofing is effective at motorway speeds, and overall, it’s a relaxing place to spend long road trips. You’ll arrive at your destination refreshed, not worn out.

Handling, while decent and engaging enough, isn’t tuned for sporty dynamics—it’s tuned for serenity. And that’s fine by me. Only motoring journalists really crave track-like cornering on a family wagon. For real-world driving, the Outback’s composed nature is just right.

It feels planted and stable, giving it a Teutonic quality, much like a Mercedes or BMW in terms of road presence.

Efficiency

Depending on your driving style, the Outback will return around 36–38 mpg in mixed conditions—town and motorway combined. That’s not spectacular by modern standards, especially considering there’s no turbocharger or mild hybrid system, but it’s acceptable.

Short trips and errand runs, however, will see that number drop. And with CO₂ emissions at 192g/km, the Outback’s running costs are slightly higher than those of some rivals.

The Verdict

The Subaru Outback is elegant to some, old-school to others—but it probably sits somewhere in between. It looks premium on the outside, feels premium on the inside, and delivers a solid, no-nonsense driving experience.

It may not match rivals in every dynamic category, but that’s not the Subaru ethos—and I’m perfectly OK with that.