Review of the Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is a rugged crossover SUV that combines the versatility of an estate car with off-road capabilities. Suited to drivers living in the country, the Outback stands out with all-wheel drive, good reliability, and decent technology. 

Rivals to the Outback include the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Golf Estate, Toyota RAV4, and Suzuki Across. 

Our Subaru Outback review covers:

• Estate car styling with off-road features 
• Well-built and practical interior 
• 560-litre boot
• A 2.5-litre petrol engine 
• Three trims are available: Limited, Field, and Touring

Pros:

• Excellent off-road capabilities 
• Spacious cabin
• Plenty of equipment as standard 

Cons:

• Lacklustre engine 
• Rivals are more economical 
• Ride quality could be better 

The exterior of the Subaru Outback looks like an estate car that's added a bit of muscle. You get a large front grille, a black bumper around the car, a roof rack, and a refined rear end. It's a typical Subaru design; it looks unique and good. 

As expected for an off-roader, interior space is superb in the Outback. The driver and front passenger have plenty of space to stretch out, and the same goes for the three passengers in the rear. Although the middle passenger has to deal with a bump in the floor, they can get comfortable thanks to plenty of headroom.  

Boot space comes in at 560 litres in the Outback, and thanks to its square shape, it's a breeze packing larger and heavier items. The seats fold completely flat in a 60/40 split, extending luggage capacity to 1,822 litres.

The interior of the Outback is a bit of a pleasant surprise; it's nicely designed and will last for the duration of your lease. There's a good amount of supple surfaces that feel nice, and although there are a few hard plastics lower down, they still look good. 

On the dashboard, you get a big 11.6-inch portrait infotainment system that's similar to the systems found in modern Volvo's. It has a DAB radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and voice recognition technology. If you want sat-nav, you'll have to upgrade to the mid-range Field trim. 

Three trims are available: Limited, Field, and Touring. 

Limited comes with 18-inch dark metallic and high gloss alloy wheels, LED lights, privacy glass, roof rails with black built-in cross bars, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, fabric seats, heated seats, eight-way adjustable front seats, keyless entry/start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear parking sensors, and an analogue reversing camera. 

Field adds to this with 18-inch dark metallic wheels, a black exterior colour pack, a roof rail with a black ladder, water-repellent leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, and sat-nav. 

Touring has 18-inch dark grey metallic wheels, an electric sunroof, a roof rail with silver built-in cross bars, Nappa leather seats, a smooth leather-wrapped steering wheel, a digital reversing camera, and a Harman/Kardon audio system. 

Under the bonnet, you get a 2.5-litre petrol engine with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. 

It's a decent unit with a power output of 169bhp and achieving 0-62mph in just over 10 seconds. There's no denying that this is slow compared to the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and you'll find that overtaking around town or on the motorway can be time-consuming. 

It returns a decent fuel economy of a combined 32.8mpg, but this still falls short of the Suzuki Across and Volkswagen Golf Estate. 

You'll find that the Outback is pretty straightforward to drive when on the road. The steering is light and accurate, meaning that around-town manoeuvres and tight parking spots are okay to navigate, although not as easy as in the Golf Estate.

At low speeds, you'll find that the ride quality can be a bit firm, but as you up the speed, it settles well and is comfortable enough to not kick up a fuss. 

Where the Outback stands out is its off-road capabilities. With plenty of ground clearance, the Outback can tackle most obstacles, and thanks to its four-wheel drive system, you feel safe and secure even in poor weather or road conditions. 

Prices for the new Subaru Outback start from £35,690.00 OTR* or to lease from £391.47 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Subaru Outback? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.