Subaru Outback 2015 Review

Through five generations Subaru has raised the status of its Liberty-based Outback to the point where it's within a whisper of knocking on the door of the premium SUV segment.

As one of the few wagon-based SUVs on the market, the Outback straddles two segments: It's as capable as most light-duty SUVs off the beaten track, yet it's pretty much the same as a regular sedan on the road. Not quite your high-riding, elevated hip-point crossover.

Like its sedan-only Liberty sibling, it's less a lifestyle wagon than a sumptuous five-seater – especially in top-of-the-line 3.6R form. It not only comes with a silky-smooth, high-energy 191kW six-cylinder engine – and a newly adopted Lineartronic continuously variable transmission – but also with a fair bit of contemporary electronic safety gear to back up a generously-appointed, luxury interior.

The Outback is far removed from middle-of-the-road connotations, even if you're not cashed up with the $47,990 (plus on-road costs) required for the premium-level 3.6R.

It comes with a comfortably-achieved five-star ANCAP rating, while the 2.5i and 3.6R variants add to the standard range of electronic safety aids with the new-generation version of Subaru's autonomous-braking EyeSight driver assist system.

Subaru has put a lot of thought into Outback/Liberty interior, where there's not just plenty of space front and rear, but plenty of soft-touch vinyl too – as well as new degrees of finesse in areas such as trim quality, fit and finish.

And in the top-shelf 3.6R Outback that extends to standard leather seats, power-operated for driver and front passenger, a glass sunroof, LED headlights, power tailgate, sat-nav and a 12-speaker Harman-Kardon sound system.

Stepping into the latest Outback it's easy to be impressed by the quality upgrades and the amount of space available not just for passengers, but also for luggage. With the conventional 60:40 split-fold rear seats laid flat, the Outback easily swallows a fully-intact (wheels attached), full-size mountain bike and plenty of other paraphernalia for a strenuous weekend away. There's also a security blind stashed away beneath the rear floor.

The 'leather' seats, with the help of the multiple power controls – including lumbar adjustment and two-position memory on the driver's side – hold the front passengers in place pretty well and the space available means even tall passengers can find their optimum seating position. The same goes for the back, where there's legroom aplenty despite who is occupying the front seats. There are central vents for the climate control up back as well.

About the only beef with the Outback's generally intuitive control layout is the confusing proliferation of buttons on the steering wheel.

Like all Subarus, bar the Toyota-shared BRZ sports coupe, the 3.6R Outback is full-time AWD, upgraded with what the company dubs X-Mode – an enhanced electronics regime that is claimed to better integrate the engine, drive system and brakes while providing automatic operation for the hill-descent mode.

Although there are three sources of motivation available for the Outback – including a 110kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and a 129kW/235Nm 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder – it is the 191kW/350Nm 3.6-litre petrol six that really completes the picture insofar as the AWD wagon's luxury character is concerned.

Sitting low in the engine bay, the horizontally-opposed six gets multiple changes that don't alter the power figures but improve its efficiency and overall refinement. With the adoption of the CVT and various tweaks, the claimed fuel consumption drops from 10.3L/100km to 9.9, while emissions remain the same at 242g/km – all on a diet of regular (91 RON) unleaded fuel.

In practice, the engine six is a smooth, free-spinning (redline is 6500rpm) and strong operator that is felt, rather than heard. The quoted 7.6sec to accelerate from 0-100km/h sounds a bit on the conservative side, especially on the open road where the engine's deep reserves of torque combine with the CVT to help minimise time spent in the passing lane.

The 3.6R's transmission is a stronger version than that used in the 2.5-litre petrol Outback models, with various upgrades including a new reverse gear ratio, extra sound-deadening insulation and a new oil pump. It not only provides for manual shifting, but can also be switched into a simulated six-speed mode that emulates a regular auto gearbox when operating as a full auto.

The 3.6R's all-wheel drive system is different, too. It uses a multi-plate clutch in the transfer case, rather than a third differential, to control front-to-rear power distribution. The base torque distribution is 60:40 front-to-rear, but this changes according to the needs of the moment [Ed: other Outback variants use the familiar Subaru three-differential system that distributes the torque equally between front and rear axles].

In practice it's a seamless, smooth drivetrain that always feels ready to respond to the accelerator while giving the sense of security that usually comes with a full-time AWD system.

This is matched with a well-weighted, electric-assist steering system that swings from lock-to-lock in 2.8 turns and responds well to driver commands. There's very little feeling that the Outback is merely a jacked-up Liberty – although, that said, the extra ground clearance is compromised by the Outback's front and rear overhangs.

The 3.6R rides well too, and cabin noise is in keeping with its premium aspirations.

Although there is a downside to the Outback's all-time AWD operation – higher relative fuel consumption than a 2WD – Subaru has put some real effort into minimising the economy losses with claimed across-the-board improvements varying from 8.8 per cent in the 2.5-litre petrol variant to 3.1 per cent in the already relatively economical turbo-diesel. The 3.6-litre, CVT-only petrol six is improved by 3.9 per cent, to a claimed combined figure of 9.9L/100km, which we virtually matched with our on–test figure of 10.0. Far from being an impressive figure it is an improvement nonetheless, although it does tend to bring attention to the range-reducing, 60-litre fuel tank.

That's an unfortunate shortcoming in an otherwise all-round impressive new-generation Subaru Outback.

From the obvious improvements in tactility and general interior comfort and presentation, to the meaty performance provided by the CVT-assisted all-wheel drive powertrain, the Subaru Outback is not an SUV to be taken lightly, even if your aspirations and preferences lean towards Europe.

Need to pull a van or boat? Read our Subaru Outback tow-test

2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R pricing and specifications:
Price: $47,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol
Output: 191kW/350Nm
Transmission: Constantly variable
Fuel: 9.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 230g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP