2009 Subaru Outback

Review

An AWD Samurai Sword in a World of Butter Knives

 By: Nathan Adlen

Okay, I admit my title is a bit melodramatic. When you live in snow country and need to cut through snow and ice – ANY Subaru is a samurai sword compared to most of the competition. Ask an owner who’s passed an oversized SUV or truck in the snow and they will agree.

Let me rephrase that…

Ask any Subaru owner and (after they stop their Joni Mitchell/Grateful Dead CD/MP3) they will agree. At least that’s what the newest batch of Subaru commercials wants you to think. This whole “Love is what makes a Subaru a Subaru” garbage undermines the engineering excellence that all Subarus have. This is (potentially) a rip-snorting, rally bred car that allows you to drive stupidly and still have a safety net.

Truth be told, earth loving types may not like averaging 22 mpg for a car like this. Granted, it’s always motivating all 4 wheels and is one of the best AWD systems sold, but that requires go-juice. Still, I managed to peak at 27 mpg on a long highway cruise when I was driving mellow (baby onboard) which is damn good. Uh, after that, when I was bounding up and down Pikes Peak here in Colorado, my mileage fell to an average of 14 mpg.

T’aint no tree huggin’ car!

Even the affordable, base model Subaru Outback 2.5i is built for a purpose. AWD, along with a boxer 2.5 liter, 4 cylinder, 170 horsepower (with 170 lbs feet of torque) engine comes standard. I drove the 5 speed manual (the automatic 4 speed with Sportshift is a $1,000 extra) and had a ball. I wish the shifts were more positive, I hear you can get a STi shift kit for a reasonable price, dealer installed – which should help.

170 horsepower is adequate and there is a satisfying growl, but I constantly longed for the burly 243 horsepower, turbocharged Subaru Outback. Given the extra $9,000 for the 2.5 XT over the 2.5i, and the mediocre mpg, AND the need for premium gas – it’s a pricy proposition indeed.

The base model, Subaru Outback 2.5i prices in just over $22,000. This is not a stripped down bucket! You get a nice sounding single disc in dash CD player with MP3/WMA and XM capability. In addition, you get a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and the full compliment of traction/stopping aids (ABS, traction control, vehicle dynamics control, etc). Standard all season, 16 inch tires come on steel wheels with plastic caps. I had the $598 optional aluminum wheel set – which was the only option on my tester and made the Subaru Outback look much better.

This is one of the few cars in Subaru’s fleet that managed not to look, uh, terrible. Usually, you have to cock your head to the side and squint to see good lines in the current batch of Subaru designs. Not so with the Legacy and Outback – they look great. I wouldn’t call the looks “exciting” but they are tasteful and all the lines flow the right way. I especially like the profile view and tight body contours.

Despite the light horsepower and low revving nature of the normally aspirated 2.5 boxer, I still say this is a budget driver’s machine. Steering is very communicative and the balance is excellent. The driver’s seating is comfy, firm and purposefully built. I love the easy to position, telescoping/tilting steering wheel. Legroom is better than most up front, as is headroom.

This is a matter of driver’s taste: I LOVE that the rear end kicks out when pushed hard. Over-steer is hard to coax out of most AWD cars, the Subaru Outback 2.5i allows you to swing the rear out and do an AWD drift. This is only if you drive beyond the limits of logical boundaries of physics. In my case, it was blasting down a curvy, gravel road. I do not recommend this type of driving for the untrained.

Remember: I push hard to test these cars – and I’m a bit of an idiot behind the wheel.

If driven normally, the Subaru Outback 2.5i is extremely competent, smooth and utilitarian. In fact, I highly recommend looking at this wagon before looking at a crossover. It will outperform about 85% of small and medium crossovers on a majority of same terrain they traverse competently.

Space is another matter. The sporty, tight dimensions and low roof do wonders for the Subaru Outback’s drag coefficient. Low roofs tend to limit cargo space. Without the box shaped rear (like most crossovers) overall storage space is closer to small crossover’s numbers despite the fact that this is a mid sized machine.

The back seat is a bit tight. Room is adequate for average sized people (easy loading for child seats), but anyone over 6 feet will be left wanting. Still, the seating materials are good and the padding is comfortable for the lower regions. Hip room is also tight for three adults, but fine for the kiddies. I dislike the location of the rear folding cup-holders as my foot could easily crush the contraption (I should say that this is common on many vehicles). 

The interior as a whole was recently restyled. Tasteful materials, good fit and finish with a hint of European restraint make this one of the best interiors Subaru offers (next to their Tribecca). All of the switches, plastics and fabrics feel much better than what Subaru offered just a few years ago. Everything feels and looks intentionally built rather than scavenged from the Subaru parts bin. Trust me, that is a big step for Subaru.

Folding down the rear seats reveals a nearly flat, very useful loading floor. There is a nifty under-floor storage tray that can hold quite a lot of stuff. I immediately thought of fishing gear. Better still, there is enough room in there for a vehicle emergency kit – if you spread it out. I wish the Subaru Outback’s rear loading area and rear seatbacks were either washable rubber or plastic. The carpet used is a dirt magnet, not the outdoorsy or utilitarian image Subaru wants to submit I’m sure.

The rest of the vehicle’s storage is typical and rather limited. Subaru should look at the Dodge Journey’s multitude of storage spaces and take note (it’s the only true redeeming quality of the Journey). Allow me to clarify one thing about that point: there is so much extensive under-vehicle engineering under the Subaru Outback that additional lower storage boxes and trays would compromise its current, excellent underpinnings.

One final point about the Subaru Outback (and ALL Subaru vehicles for that matter): they are incredibly safe. Subaru has consistently ranked at the top of every safety test administered in this country AND Europe! Such a safe machine with safety advantages like AWD, a low center of gravity and great handling is a great way to sell a great package.    

I say you get a lot of car for the money. Subaru tends to be pricy with most of their models. Usually you get what you pay for. In the case of the Subaru Outback 2.5i, you get a bit more than what you pay for.

Photos: Subaru USA