- Model: Outback 2.5i Premium (four-cylinder/CVT)
- Starting Price: $24,795
- Options: All-weather package (heated front seats, heated side mirrors, windshield wiper deicer, Harman/kardon audio system, Bluetooth wireless device connectivity and streaming, satellite radio with 4-month trial subscription, HD radio w/4.3-inch color display, power moonroof and rearview mirror with integrated camera), CVT with 6-speed manual mode and all-weather floor and cargo mats.
- Total Price: $29,104 (excluding $775 destination fee)
- Miles Tested: 241 miles
- Fuel Economy: 26.8 mpg
Subaru’s midsize wagon was last updated for model-year 2010 and has seen few changes since. For that redesign, it got a raised suspension and a few more inches of length, blurring the line between wagon and SUV. I count the Outback’s standard all-wheel drive, roomy cabin and cargo-friendly body style among the car’s strengths. But how did it perform for my small family of three on a 200-plus-mile road trip? Though overall pleasant, this staff favorite wasn’t without gripes.
Stop-and-go traffic felt like a chore for the Outback’s CVT and four-cylinder engine. It was pokey from a stop and was slow to spool out more power at highway speeds; passing required some planning and a deep stab of the pedal. It sounded just as unhappy about it as I was. The CVT droned intrusively during around-town driving, emitting a near-constant crabby groan. The noise faded to tolerable levels on the highway, though.
For a large all-wheel-drive wagon, the Outback returned pretty favorable fuel economy. During my 241-mile trip, it returned 26.8 mpg, which is great considering the Outback is EPA-rated at 22/29 mpg city/highway. I spent about 85% of my drive on the highway, staying between 60-70 mph.
Although the front seats look nice with their attractive design and slight bolstering, my first impression turned out to be unsupported — literally. I spent most of the trip trying to get comfortable, and there are plenty of buttons to help with that in the form of lumbar support settings and two levels of heat. I fiddled and fidgeted for a while, but I couldn’t find the right mix. In fact, I fiddled for almost 200 miles and I think, in the end, the seats were just too firm for me.