Subaru Outback (US) review

The Subaru Outback starts at $34,995 for the Premium model, which comes with a heap of standard features like X-Mode, the EyeSight safety pack, and much, much more. You’re getting a complete car, is what you’re saying, with very few basic functions gated away within trims. Indeed, the levels build on the base properly by adding amenities or upping the quality, like how the Limited trim adds a moonroof, heated rear seats, leather-trimmed upholstery and a wireless charging pad.

Touring goes even further, adding the advanced driving assists, while Wilderness better equips the Outback for off-road use with a small ride height increase, electronically-controlled dampers and all-terrain tires. Wilderness also comes standard with the 260hp turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. Limited XT and Touring XT also include this powertrain.

If it were our money on the barrel, we’d be compelled to go for the Outback Wilderness, just because our jaws are still rattling from going off-road without that trim’s superior dampers. Depending on what extras you’d like to include, the Wilderness is priced between $44,995 and $49,085 which is the priciest Outback you can get.

If you can get by without the extra off-road goodies, the Limited fitted with the 180hp 2.5-liter pretty much gets the job done at just $41,715.

Cross-shopping the Outback against other wagons? Good luck finding any, first of all. More to the point, its rivals are other small SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, a new version of which has also just debuted. At $33,350, the plucky Toyota will continue to be a thorn in the side of other affordable utility vehicles with all the versatility it brings to the table.

Honda’s CR-V is competitively priced, with a smaller engine that has a slightly higher output of the Outback’s 2.5-liter. It also comes in a hybrid version that’s pricier, but still within reason and offers around 40mpg of fuel economy. What’s the Outback’s rating? We don’t know just yet, but the previous version had a combined 28mpg, and we feel that’s a fair benchmark to use.

Hyundai’s Santa Fe is stylish and charming, though it lacks that extra, rugged edge that Subaru drivers are keen on. Still, it’s got 277hp on tap, with a starting price of $34,800 and available AWD. You might not want to get it dirty, but it would be an alluring alternative for a daily driver.