2018 Subaru Outback Review: First Impressions
CARS.COM — What’s the most highly researched car on Cars.com? You’re looking at it. The Subaru Outback is popular with you, dear readers, who love learning everything you can about this perennial favorite. And why shouldn’t it be? It’s spacious, well-made, fuel efficient, easy to step into or get out of, looks good and has proven to retain its value year after year. And for 2018, the wagon — showing at the 2017 New York International Auto Show — gets some minor updates.
More 2017 New York Auto Show Coverage
Can you spot the styling differences in the 2018 Outback? Because I can’t. The Legacy sedan on which the Outback wagon is based received more noticeable updates to the 2018 version, but the Outback’s front and rear isn’t all that different in this latest model on the floor of the show.
The Outback’s changes help it to match up with the Legacy’s design in terms of the headlights and grille, but the overall look is almost exactly the same as the old model — not that this is a bad thing, as the outgoing Outback’s styling is clean, inoffensive and unremarkable.
Inside, the Outback gets a few tweaks like a new steering wheel, relocated climate controls and a new multimedia system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. New stitching on the upper dash of top-trim models also helps class the place up a bit, but that effort is undone by the cheap-looking fake wood trim.
Still, most materials are high quality. The seats both in front and back are comfortable, and there’s plenty of headroom and some remarkable legroom for backseat passengers. Visibility out is also impressive given Subaru’s penchant for low beltlines and big windows.
With the Outback’s new multimedia setup, continued comfort and popular following, the wagon’s updates for 2018 look to keep it popular with shoppers.
