Long-term test review: Subaru Outback ~ station of gear

Long-term test review: Subaru Outback first report header

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12 Mar, 2017 10:00am James Disdale

First report: we see if rugged estate deserves to be more than an alternative choice

It’s fair to say that Subaru has slipped off the radar of most UK car buyers. At the end of the last century, the Japanese brand’s World Rally Championship exploits with Scottish legend Colin McRae meant it was rarely out of the headlines. Yet since bosses pulled the plug on the rally team in 2008, Subaru’s British sales have slumped by nearly three-quarters.

However, it’s clinging on, thanks to a loyal band of fans. And what’s more, there’s a refreshed line-up in showrooms and a works-backed squad in the British Touring Car Championship. So are the good times set to roll again? To find out, we’ve taken delivery of the firm’s flagship Outback, which mixes the rugged appeal of an SUV with the space of an estate.

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Long-term test review: Subaru Outback rear quarter

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We collected our car from Bell and Colvill in West Horsley, Surrey. The dealer is more famous for its near-50-year association with Lotus and its recently acquired Morgan franchise, but it has been selling Subarus since 1995. I was greeted at the site by sales director Miguel Andre, who offered us a complimentary coffee before giving us a brief tour of the quirky but well kept showrooms. You can see everything from a one-off Lotus 3-Eleven racer to a humble Impreza hatchback.

• Best estate cars

However, after a quick nose round, it was time to get the keys to our car. Specifying our Outback was pretty straightforward, as Miguel pointed out that “virtually everything is standard”. Looking at the kit list reveals leather trim, heated seats, LED headlamps, keyless entry and climate control, among many other features. In fact, the only extra we added was the restrained Dark Grey Metallic paintwork.

One option we’d have liked was the tan leather interior we spotted on a similar Outback in the Bell and Colvill showroom, although Miguel explained this had been a special order and took six months to arrive!

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Long-term test review: Subaru Outback interior James

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There was an engine choice, though, with either a 2.5-litre flat-four petrol or a similarly laid-out 2.0-litre diesel. No other manufacturer in the world offers this type of diesel, so it made sense to see how it stacks up against more conventional rivals.

The boxer is hooked up to a Lineartronic CVT gearbox, and as with all Subarus, power is delivered through the brand’s trademark symmetrical four-wheel-drive transmission.

• Best family cars

Other highlights include the Eyesight system, which uses a pair of cameras on either side of the rear view mirror to deliver adaptive cruise control and lane departure warnings. Miguel also ran us through the infotainment system, which is controlled via a seven-inch touchscreen and features crisp graphics and a logical layout. Sat-nav and Bluetooth are standard, as is MirrorLink. While DAB isn’t included, Subaru’s Starlink set-up gives you access to a wide variety of Internet radio stations via your smartphone.

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Long-term test review: Subaru Outback rear seats

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Elsewhere, the car impresses with its solid build quality, comfortable driving position, strong refinement and family friendly practicality, plus its all-wheel drive has proven invaluable in changeable winter weather. It’s early days, but the Outback is already showing that Subaru deserves to be taken seriously once again.

At first glance, the Outback appears a little utilitarian alongside more upmarket models such as the Audi A4 Allroad. But spend a little time with it and the car’s engineering integrity and quality shine through. Although we’ve only done a handful of miles, the rugged and capable Subaru is already impressing.

Model: Subaru Outback 2.0D SE Premium Lineartronic
On fleet since: January 2017
Price new: £34,680
Engine: 2.0-litre flat-four turbodiesel,
CO2/tax: 159g/km/£185

Options: Metallic paint (£500)
Insurance*: Group: 19 Quote: £425
Mileage/mpg: 2,495/40.4mpg
Any problems?: None so far

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