Subaru Outback review

An all-new version of Subaru’s ‘original crossover’ – not that you’d spot that. It looks like a slightly stockier version of the old car, but Subaru insists that’s exactly the point. Buyers were polled for what they like and don’t like about their estate-only, all-wheel drive tough-mobile, and said they’d like lower running costs, improved refinement, but didn’t give a monkeys about a fresh suit.

The spec is refreshingly simple too: one petrol and one diesel engine, a manual or CVT gearbox, and two grades of trim. The whole car just oozes no-nonsense simplicity.