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The first impression

Subaru’s are made for people who like to drive. Hipsters of a prior generation, they are opposed to conformity and therefore steer away from German rivals. They know they are offbeat in an anti-establishment kind of way that is cool without having to prove it. Though there are those Subaru customers that secretly own the full DVD set to the Fast and the Furious. These box set enthusiasts generally enact the antics of Vin Diesel and his crew while driving electric blue Subaru WRZ STi models with gold mags and huge exhaust pipes.

For the rest of the Subaru clan, they are grounded in family life and the reality that comes with that, so look for a combination of practicality, dynamic handling and sometimes a vehicle that is able to rough it on a dust road or two.

On closer inspection

The Subaru Outback is an elevated wagon, yes a station wagon. Not only is the Outback a practical family car, but a very good crossover too. It is capable of carting kids, luggage and even towing (on tar or gravel). It looks the part (urban family worrier) with its dark painted 17-inch alloy wheels, innovative roof rails (featuring built-in crossbars which can be easily folded across the roof for fitment of a bike rack or roof storage box), contrasting black painted side skirts and bumper edges, striking intercooler scoop on the bonnet along with dark painted xenon headlight clusters and a black painted grille.

It features 213mm of ground clearance. To put this into perspective - the Jeep Grand Cherokee which is a capable off-road vehicle features 280mm clearance. Subaru’s come with a genetic DNA that sets the character of their cars apart from their counterparts. They feature symmetrical All-Wheel Drive™ and Boxer® engines. This combination makes for a dynamic and sporty driving character that can be felt and revelled by its driver. The 2.0L turbo diesel engine is the only Boxer® diesel engine in the world.

Driving around the inner city, over speed bumps and dodging potholes is great fun. The Outback has a very well balanced chassis, able to glue itself to the road better than a SUV and able to tackle moderate off-road conditions with self-confidence.

The Outback features a CVT (continually variable transmission). This type of gearbox can be awful, making a car feel artificial and robotic in nature. The CVT in the Outback is called Lineartronic™ and does a great job of creating the impression that it actually has seven gears, which it doesn’t. 

What I like

• Fantastic ride quality
• High levels of grip for enthusiastic driving
• Lots of space – enough room for five tall adults, their luggage and lots of snacks and drinks
• Comfortable seats
• Frugal

What I’m not mad about

• Plain driver interface system that is difficult to navigate through, ie. complicated to activate the Bluetooth system (you need a PhD in electrical engineering to figure it out)
• Low levels of luxury specs like automated lights, windscreen wipers, self-locking doors and road trip computer

The figures

The extra stuff

All Subaru Outback models come standard with a 3yr/100 000km warranty. Both 2.5l petrol models feature a 3yr/75 000km maintenance plan and the Diesel CVT featuring a 3yr/60 000km maintenance plan. The Outback scored five star in the ANCAP and Euro NCAP safety ratings.

The verdict

The Audi A4 is a plain Jane. Good at its job, but plain. The Allroad Quattro A4 on the other hand is very attractive. Its cosmetic enhancements finish it off beautifully, giving it a futuristic look while still remaining rugged. It is also a very capable car, loaded with Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik (Advancement through technology).

The BWM X1 is not everyone’s cup of tea. This yuppie SUV is more wagon than sport utility, but in Xdrive guise features a four-wheel drive system allowing for greater cross country capability.

The Volvo V60 is focused on safety and technological advancement through its new generation of Drive-E engines. It is not raised like the abovementioned competition and therefore not an all road vehicle. Levels of refinement are high and the V60 D5 is a very comforting place to invest for the wellbeing of your family.

In closing, a Subaru driver is less likely to conform to tradition. The Outback is a good car, it has just won Car Magazine’s Best SUV Tow Car of 2014. You can’t go wrong with the Outback option and you’ll belong to the Subaru cult! Best you learn the special wave that all Subaru drivers know.

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