2013 Subaru Outback Diesel Automatic Launch Review
2013 SUBARU OUTBACK DIESEL AUTOMATIC REVIEW
What's hot: Lots of room, robust feel and good ground clearance
What's not: More steady than swift, won't win a beauty contest
X-Factor: The style, space and dynamics of a larger wagon with the versatility of a lighter-duty four-by-four.
Model classification: Large SUV
Price: 2.0D CVT: $42,490 (MLP) | 2.0D Premium CVT: $45,490 (MLP)
Engine/transmission: 2.0 litre DOHC diesel/ 'seven-speed' Lineartonic CVT (with manual mode)
Power/Torque: 110kW/350Nm
Fuel consumption l/100km listed: 6.5 | tested: 7.8 (lighter duty); 10.0 (high-speed run)
OVERVIEW
Wait long enough, and you'll be back in fashion again. Like Subaru's Outback SUV.
It's more a wagon - well it is a wagon, always has been - but it's classified an SUV since someone decided that anything that sat up high and could call on all-wheel-drive, even if only for some models, deserved the words 'sports-utility' as a genre prefix.
So it is an SUV, kind-of, because it's all-wheel-drive, and it sits up higher: that's all it takes.
But now the SUV market is splitting. There are still the big square-rigged heavy-duty 'trucks', like the Landcruiser, the Nissan Patrol and various Jeeps, but there are increasing numbers of SUVs that look like a slightly raised wagon-thing.
Like the BMW X1, the Dualis, Honda's new "lower" CR-V, the Outlander, Skoda's Octavia Scout, the VW Passat Alltrack, and a whole lot more.
It's like the market has had an epiphany, like: "Hey Subaru, you were right all along... now we're all gonna make AWD wagon-things just like you've done for the past 30 years."
Sure, the Outback might not be the last thing in style (it's a bit Harry High-pants), but it's now at the leading edge of a gathering trend. Funny that.
And with an understressed diesel and 'seven-speed' CVT under the bonnet, it's a very appealing crossover wagon with more than a little off-road versatility.
It's also pretty good buying - the Outback 2.0D is one of the cheapest in the large SUV segment (hard to believe that's where it's slotted).
Straight off the bat, it's a better buy and more robust purchase than the VW Passat Alltrack, it can take the game to the CX-5 and Territory diesels, and you'd easily rate it over an up-specced Captiva.
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