2010 Subaru Outback All photos by Nick Yost
You could call it the Americanization of the Outback.
The sport-utility wagon Subaru introduced back in 1994 has been completely redesigned for 2010 and it has grown significantly in all usable dimensions.
The result is a shift in focus – more utility, less sport.
On the plus side, this means that the Japanese manufacturer has finally acknowledged that many of its buyers (aka Americans) need more room for themselves and their belongings
The downside is that the newest Subaru has lost at least some of its sporting demeanor. Where the former models felt somewhat taut and responsive, the 2010 Outback has the more disconnected feel of the currently popular crossover wagons.
Does the change in emphasis really matter? I don’t think so. The fourth-generation Outback, which drops the name Legacy from its title this year, is roomier, more comfortable and more capable than ever. Who cares if it leans a little more in the corners or that the low-effort steering is a bit on the numb side?
Sports-car handling is not expected in a vehicle that will be used for hauling antiques home from the auction or for carting bicycles, kayaks, skis and the like to the spots where the action is.
Besides, the independent suspension – MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones at the rear -- offers a comfortable ride and provides acceptable drivability.
Specifically, the 2010 Outback wheelbase, at 107.9 inches, is 2.8 inches longer than before; its width, at 71.7 inches, is two inches broader than before; and the height, at 65.7 inches, is 2.5 inches taller than before. However, because of shorter front and rear overhangs – which are helpful for off-road conditions -- the Outback actually is .3 inches shorter than its predecessor.
Cargo space behind the second-row seat has grown minimally, from 33.5 cubic feet to 34.3, but the available space with the second-row seatbacks folded forward has expanded from 65 cubic feet to 71.3.
A bonus feature is a storage area beneath the cargo compartment floor.
Hop into a new Outback and the space difference is immediately apparent. The front bucket seats are expansive and the roomy rear seating area has been stretched to provide an extra four inches of legroom.
Full-size adults can actually be comfortable back there, especially because the seatbacks now recline.
The Outback comes with a choice of two engines. A reworked 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine generates the same 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque as before, and a new 3.6-liter, six-cylinder boxer engine produces 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque.
The four-cylinder engine can be teamed with a six-speed manual shifter or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Six-cylinder Outbacks are available only with a five-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
I did not get to sample a four-cylinder Outback so I cannot comment specifically on it and how it matches up with the two available transmissions.
However, buyers who value fuel efficiency over performance will probably want to opt for the four-cylinder engine and the CVT. Estimated consumption is 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway.
That compares with 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway for a four-cylinder Outback with manual transmission and 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway for a six-cylinder model with five-speed automatic transmission. All Outbacks run on regular-grade gasoline.
The six-cylinder Outback I drove was plenty powerful, quiet and smooth and, surprisingly, I actually beat the fuel-mileage estimates. In a week of mostly suburban and highway driving, I averaged between 20 and 27 mpg.
Variable-ratio power rack-and pinion steering and four-wheel antilock disc brakes complete the driving package.
Inside, the car I drove had a pleasantly upscale ambience with ivory colored, perforated leather upholstery and simulated wood-grain trim. However, I couldn’t help but wonder how practical ivory colored upholstery will be for the active-lifestyle folks.
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Company research has found that the No.1 reason customers choose a Subaru is all-wheel-drive, which is standard on every vehicle the manufacturer sells.
The all-wheel-drive system in the Outback test vehicle, one of three Subaru uses in its various vehicles, controls power distribution between the front and rear wheels to optimize driving conditions on all types of road surfaces. Under most conditions, power is distributed in a 45/55 rear-wheel bias, with the rear driving wheels improving handling agility.
This year, the Outback’s ground clearance has been hiked from 8.4 to 8.7 inches, making it even more capable when it’s necessary to press on during a New England snowstorm or to bounce and bump across rutted dirt roads to a camp site.
Outback prices, including delivery charges, start at $23,690 for a four-cylinder model with manual transmission and climb all the way to $34,685 for a fully loaded Limited model.
All of them come with a long list of standard safety equipment, including a new front subframe that directs the powertrain under the car in a severe-impact collision; new front seat frames that protect against whiplash; a front and front-side airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger; side-curtain airbags, stability control and traction control.
Standard comfort and convenience features on all vehicles include air conditioning cruise control, a multi-information display, and four-speaker sound system with single CD player, locks and outside mirrors.
In addition, the roof racks on all Outbacks have crossbars that tuck into the side rails when not being used. The reason is to reduce wind resistance.
In the Limited edition I drove the features also included voice-activated navigation with backup camera, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, USB and Ipod capability, a 440-watt, 9-speaker speaker sound system and a sunroof.
With its new size, the Outback has moved more into the mainstream than ever before, and there have been some grumbles about this from some Subaru traditionalists out in the Blogosphere.
But you won’t hear any grumbles from Subaru executives, who are watching as sales climb and Subaru continues to be nearly the only car company to be making money these days.
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