Subaru Outback 2021 review

This has never happened. In the past, families would choose station wagon or station wagon because that body style was the smartest choice. It may not be the most desirable choice, but station wagons were and always have been pragmatic.  

And then SUVs entered the scene. People thought they needed these stylized hatchbacks to sit higher in traffic and live out their “weekend warrior” image. Oh, those "active lifestyle" types. And more recently, SUVs have become popular, accounting for half of all new car sales in 2020.

But the 2021 Subaru Outback is here to take on those off-road wannabes, with its own take on high-end vehicles. Admittedly, Subaru's Outback approach to the SUV formula isn't new - it's a high-riding, sixth-generation version of the venerable station wagon, but this new model appears to be more SUV than ever. Subaru Australia even calls it "a real blue XNUMXWD with mud in its blood." 

So does he have what it takes to stand out in the crowd? Let's dive a little deeper and find out.

Subaru Outback 2021: all-wheel drive
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.5L
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7.3l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$37,600

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10

Subaru's Outback lineup remains a value-driven option for customers who want a lot of cars for their money. 

It still costs less than $XNUMX in sixth-generation guise, though prices have increased slightly over the old model, which Subaru says is justified by the extra equipment and safety tech.

Subaru's Outback lineup remains a value-driven option for customers who want a lot of cars for their money. 

All models share the same powertrain, so the three options are solely separated by equipment and goodies: the entry-level Outback AWD ($39,990), the mid-range AWD Sport ($44,490) and the top-of-the-range AWD Touring ($47,490). These prices are MSRP/list prices, excluding travel charges.

Now, here is a summary of the range.

Base model AWD comes with 18" alloy wheels and a full-size alloy spare, roof rails with retractable roof rack bars, LED headlights, LED fog lights, push button start, keyless entry, electric park brake, sensor wipers rain. heated and electrically adjustable side mirrors, cloth seat trim, leather steering wheel, paddle shifters, power front seats, manual tilt rear seats and a 60:40 folding rear seat with trunk release levers.

The entry-level all-wheel-drive car – and both of the options above – has a new 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen media screen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring technology. There are six speakers as standard, as well as four USB ports (2 front, 2 rear).

The next model in the lineup is the AWD Sport, which, like the Forester Sport, is undergoing a series of aesthetic changes that help set it apart from its siblings.

These include model-specific dark 18-inch wheels, black exterior trim changes, fixed roof rails, power tailgate, water-repellent interior trim with green stitching, heated front and outboard rear seats, sports pedals, light-sensing headlights (automatically /shutdown). turned off) and it also becomes part of the media screen. This class also evaluates the front view and side view monitor for low speed parking/driving.

The top-of-the-line AWD Touring has several extra luxury-focused features over the other classes, including a power moonroof, Nappa leather interior, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming passenger-side side view mirror, memory settings for the driver's seat, side mirrors with matte finish. , silver roof rails (with retractable crossbars) and glossy wheels. 

The interior also upgrades the stereo in this class to a Harman/Kardon setup with nine speakers, a subwoofer and one CD player. All trim levels also include DAB+ digital radio.

All trims have a plethora of safety tech, including a driver monitoring system that will alert you to keep your eyes on the road and watch for signs of drowsiness, and the top model has facial recognition that can adjust the seat and side mirrors. for you.

The top-of-the-line AWD Touring features silver roof rails (Image: AWD Touring).

All models come with a rear view camera, Subaru's EyeSight front camera system that includes AEB, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and more. Full details of security systems and their operation are provided in the section below.

What's missing from any Outback trim? It would be nice to have wireless phone charging, and there are no traditional parking sensors either.

Overall, there's a lot to like about the various classes here.

If you are interested in colors (or colors if you prefer), then you might be interested to know that there are nine colors available. The AWD Sport edition does not have the two options - Storm Gray Metallic and Crimson Red Pearl - but it can be available in any of the remaining colors, as well as other trims: Crystal White Pearl, Magnetite Gray Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic. , Crystal Black Silica, Dark Blue Pearl and new shades of Autumn Green Metallic and Brilliant Bronze Metallic.

The best news? None of the color options will cost you extra money!

Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

This is a brand new car. It doesn't necessarily look like it, and in fact, in my opinion, it's not as attractive as the fifth generation model, which was an expert at being harmless, where this model has a few more design changes that may divide opinion.

You won't mistake it for anything other than the Outback, as it has that typical rugged, high-slung wagon look we've come to expect from it. But it's almost like a facelift, not a brand new car.

The 2021 Outback has that typical rugged, high-riding wagon look we've come to expect from it (Image: AWD Touring).

For example, in a literal sense - all the features have been pulled back at the front, and the wheel arches have been reshaped to draw more attention ... this is literally like the age-denying citizen's approach to looking younger. Too much Botox? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

But there are still thoughtful design features, such as roof rails with integrated racks that can be stowed/deployed in the base and top models, while the mid-range model has a fixed roof rack system. 

The fact that all models have LED lighting around the perimeter is good, and the 18-inch wheels…well, none of them are to my taste. To me, they're just not as youthful as some of the other elements of the car are trying to make clear.

What about rear end work? Well, that's the only place you're likely to confuse it with another car...and that doppelgänger would be the Forester.

Inside, however, there are some really nice design changes. See photos of the interior below.

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

Subaru has taken some pretty big steps when it comes to redesigning the Outback's interior, with the most notable change being front and center, a huge new infotainment system with an 11.6-inch touchscreen.

It's really interesting looking technology, and like the Outback's existing media screen, it's crisp, colorful, and offers fast response times. It's something that takes a little getting used to - the fan control is digital, for example, but there are buttons on either side of the screen to control the temperature - but once you spend some time on it, you'll be surprised. How intuitive everything is.

The new infotainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreen looks very interesting (Image: AWD Touring).

Apple CarPlay worked great, connecting without issue. And while it's not wireless CarPlay, we haven't yet tested a car with this technology that works properly... so hooray, cables!

There are two USB ports below the screen, as well as two additional charging ports in the center of the rear seat. That's good, but there's no wireless charging, which isn't great.

And while the big screen has done away with the multi-screen layout and clutter of buttons in the old car, the new one still has a few buttons on the steering wheel that are easy to get to grips with too. I had some trouble adapting to the flasher switch as the indicator's one-touch trigger sometimes seemed too complicated to activate. It's also a quiet "ticker", so several times I've been driving with the light on for ages without realizing it.

Storage in the Outback is mostly very well thought out, with bottle holders and storage pockets in all four doors, as well as a pair of cup holders between the front seats (they're a little big if you prefer a little coffee to go) and in the back. there is a folding center armrest with cup holders.

The front also has a small storage area under the media screen (not big enough for a widescreen smartphone), plus there's a covered storage box in the center console, and the dash design may have been inspired by the RAV4 as there's a neat little rubberized shelf in front of the passenger where you could put your phone or wallet. 

In terms of passenger space, taller people will do well in the front or rear. I'm 182 cm or 6'0" and managed to find a comfortable driving position and was able to sit in the back with enough room for my knees, toes and head. The width is also excellent, there is plenty of space in the cabin. The three of me could easily fit side by side, but if you have kids, you'll be happy to know there are two ISOFIX points and three top tether points for child seats.

Rear seat passengers should be pleased as all trims have directional vents and the top two specs also include heated rear outboard seats. Good.

There are other nice touches for rear-seat passengers, including reclining seatbacks, and the seat belts are set up so they never have to get in the way when you lower the rear seats (60:40 split). folding actuated by triggers in the trunk area).

Speaking of trunk, there's plenty of it. The new Outback offers 522 liters (VDA) or payload capacity, 10 liters more than before. In addition, as already mentioned, the seats fold down to accommodate 1267 liters of luggage. 

Equivalent midsize SUVs priced close to the Outback can't match it for practicality, and the cabin's appearance is vastly improved over the outgoing model. This is a very good place to spend time.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

The engine for all 2021 Subaru Outback models is a “90 percent new” 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer petrol engine.

The engine delivers 138 kW (at 5800 rpm) and 245 Nm of torque (from 3400-4600 rpm). It's a modest increase - 7 percent more power and 4.2 percent more torque - over the old Outback. 

It's only available with Lineartronic's "advanced" automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT), but all trims come with paddle shifters as standard so you can take matters into your own hands - Subaru says there's an "eight-speed manual". ".

The engine for all 2021 Subaru Outback models is a “90 percent new” 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer petrol engine.

Towing capacity for the Outback is 750 kg for a trailer without brakes and 2000 kg for a trailer with brakes, as well as 200 kg for a trailer hitch. You can choose a towbar as an original accessory.

Now the elephant - or elephants - of the Outback is that it doesn't start with a hybrid powertrain, which means it lags behind the class leaders (yes, we're talking about the likes of the Toyota RAV4, but even the Forester has a hybrid powertrain option!).

And the old diesel engine is gone, plus there is no six-cylinder petrol option that was in the previous model.

In addition, while other markets offer a turbocharged four-cylinder engine (2.4L with 194 kW and 375 Nm), we do not have this option. So, it's a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine, or bust.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The official combined fuel consumption figure is the claimed fuel economy that the brand says you should achieve in combined driving – is 7.3 liters per 100 kilometers.

That's very good, and it's helped by the engine's start-stop technology, which even has a readout that tells you how many milliliters of fuel you're saving when it's active. I like it.

In our actual testing, we saw a return - at the pump - of 8.8L/100km in highway, city, backcountry and traffic jam testing. That's not bad, but in a similar ride on a hybrid Toyota RAV4, I saw savings of about 5.5 l / 100 km.

We assume that Subaru Australia will add a plug-in hybrid version of the Outback at some point (as it did with the XV Hybrid and Forester Hybrid), but for now, the petrol engine is your only choice.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 63 liters and can fill regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 91.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

If you've driven a previous generation Subaru Outback, you won't feel like this is unfamiliar territory.

This is because this version sticks to the formula. Even if you've driven the new Forester, it may seem rather familiar.

Much depends on the engine and transmission. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine is powerful but not punchy. For the most part, it offers good response and smooth power delivery, and it will push you back into the seat if you put your foot down, but not in the same way as a gas-electric hybrid or turbocharged four-cylinder.

The steering is direct and offers good weight and response (Image: AWD Touring).

And while you can still hear some of the Subaru's "boxing" rumble from under the hood, it's mostly a pretty quiet place when you're driving it under normal conditions. If you accelerate hard, you will hear the engine more, and this is due to the behavior of the CVT automatic transmission.

Some people will hate it because it's a CVT, but Subaru handles those transmissions pretty well, and in the outback it's as harmless as it sounds. And yes, there's a manual mode with paddle shifters if you want to take matters into your own hands, but for the most part, you don't need that.

The steering is direct and offers good weight and response, turns quite well in corners, and also makes it easy to turn the car when you park. The steering isn't very responsive, but this car isn't for that, and thankfully, Subaru's hallmark visibility from the driver's seat means it's easier to park than some other SUVs. 

The ride is mostly good, with a supple character that has more to do with comfort than anything else. It's a little more softly spring loaded and slightly damped than some people might like, meaning it can wobble or twitch a bit depending on the road, but I think it's the right balance for the vehicle's intended purpose - a family station wagon/SUV that has some potential off-road chops.

It's an all-wheel-drive car, after all, and there's Subaru's X-Mode system with snow/mud and deep snow/mud modes to help if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. I drove the Outback for a bit on a light gravel track and found its 213mm of ground clearance to be plentiful and the suspension pretty well tuned.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

The 2021 Outback line doesn't yet have an ANCAP crash test safety rating, but it has a lot of technology and benefits that customers expect when buying a family SUV or station wagon. 

Subaru comes standard with an EyeSight stereo camera system that reads the road ahead and enables forward/reverse autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for vehicles that operate at speeds between 10 and 160 km/h. There are also pedestrian AEB (from 1 km/h to 30 km/h) and detection of cyclists and AEB (60 km/h or less), as well as lane keeping technology with emergency lane keeping, which can swerve the car to avoid collisions with cars, people or cyclists (approximately 80 km/h or less). Lane Departure Prevention is active between 60 and 145 km/h.

All trims also have blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a driver surveillance camera that monitors the driver and alerts them if they're not paying attention to the road or starting to fall asleep. a version of this also includes memory for adjusting seats and mirrors based on your face!), as well as speed sign recognition.

All grades have a rear view camera while the top two specs have front and side view cameras, but none have a 360-degree surround view camera. All models also have rear AEB, a system Subaru calls Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) that can stop the car if it detects something behind it when you're backing up. It also serves as reversing sensors for all classes, but none of them have front parking sensors.

All Outback models are equipped with a reversing camera (Image: AWD Touring).

In addition, there are other elements in the safety matrix, including vehicle start warning (cameras tell you when the vehicle in front is leaving) and lane centering (so you stay in the middle of your lane), both of which work to distances from 0 km/h and 145 km/h, as well as adaptive high beams in all classes.

The number of airbags for the Outback is eight, with two front, front side, knee airbags for the driver, a center front passenger and full-length curtains.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Subaru lives up to expectations in the mainstream class, with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty that is now the norm.

This brand also has shorter service intervals than some, with service scheduled every 12 months or 12,500 km (most intervals are 15,000 km).

Maintenance costs are also not so small. After initial free inspection one month later cost of services: $345 (12 months/12,500 km); $595 (24 months/25,000 351 km); $36 (37,500 months/801 km); $48 (50,000 months/358 km); and $60 (62,500 months/490 XNUMX km). This averages out to about $XNUMX per service, which is a high figure. 

The Subaru Outback comes with a five year unlimited mileage warranty.

If you're worried about planning those costs yearly, you can include a maintenance plan in your funding - a smart move if you ask me. There are two options available: a three-year/37,500 km plan and a five-year/62,500 km plan. Neither saves you money over pay-as-you-go, but these plans also include three years of roadside assistance and the option of a free car loan when it's time to service your own Outback. And if you decide to sell, you can transfer this maintenance plan to the next owner.

 Just make sure you don't smash your windshield - a camera system built into the glass means a new windshield costs $3000!

Verdict

The 2021 sixth-generation Subaru Outback has gradually improved the big SUV wagon with a number of important steps forward, including improved safety technologies, a more powerful engine and a smarter cabin. A turbocharged or hybrid powertrain will sweeten the deal even more.

I don't know if you need anything more than the base Outback AWD model, which seems like a really good deal. This would be our pick from the range.