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What is it? This update of the Outback addresses one of the previous ones biggest shortcomings, its scant rear leg room, with a longer wheelbase that brings a significant four-inches more legroom in back. The Outback comes with a one of two powertrains, the base 170-hp, 2.5-liter "boxer" four-cylinder, comes with either a new six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable unit. The CVT has paddle shifters to access six preset gear ratios. The four-cylinder uses new variable valve timing and lift, which Subaru claims gives the new model better fuel efficiency than the old one. The Outback is also available with an enlarged 256-hp, 3.6-liter horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine from the Tribeca, mated only to a five-speed automatic transmission. The six-cylinder no longer requires premium fuel. Subaru claims a fuel economy improvement, citing an EPA rating of 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, for the base Outback with CVT. Overall, the Outback is also taller, and wider, than the previous Outback, and has more ground clearance. As always, all-wheel-drive is standard.
What is new or notable: Stability control and brake assist are now standard. The standard roof rack has new swing-away cross bars that permanently mount to the car but can be moved out of the aerodynamic slipstream when theyre not needed. A new electronic parking brake enables a long-time Subaru feature, the hill-holder, to come to the Outback.
CR's take: The Legacy and Outback were a bit small to truly compete head-to-head with midsized sedan juggernauts like the Accord and Camry. Thats changed now; with its greater width and a longer wheelbase, it offers more interior space without becoming massive. Subaru claims to have retained the fun-to-drive nature of the previous car. Its odd that the Legacy GT turbo lacks an automatic transmission, making it a very narrowly focused sports sedan. Now that the Forester has grown, it might cannibalize some Outback sales. It would be nice to have a Legacy wagon without the Outback kitsch, but Subaru said that no one bought them when they did build them.
When will it be available? Late summer.
Consumer Reports New cars: A to Z
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