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Subaru is known to us in Germany as a niche manufacturer of all-wheel-drive cars, but the Japanese company played a major role worldwide as early as the late 70s. The Japanese have been starting the Outback in the fifth generation since 1996. With the crossover, the engineers have combined the comfort of a car with the high utility value of an SUV. In addition, his driver assistance system "EyeSight" shows a new option for capturing environmental data using two camera lenses. Since March 2015 the Outback offers new engines and a new design. The combinations of engine and transmission promise a high level of driving pleasure and effectiveness. With its 2,5 liter gasoline engine from the boxer light metal engine production under the hood, the Outback starts at a base price of 34.400 euros.
Subaru Outback 2,5i Sport CVT
With the second he sees everything
Newly developed crossover
The fifth generation of the crossover from Japan is not a completely new development. Nevertheless, the outback comes with a new design. The front features an apron that runs dynamically to the sides. The brand logo is prominently displayed in the hexagonal grille. The headlights run out on the side of the fender and are intended to create a recognition of the model family. The bead beginning at the front wheel arch ends at the rear lights, which ensure a strong appearance. In its overall performance, the Subaru Outback is very robust and wide on the road and serves us all the optical properties of an SUV.
Soft off-roaders for the city
The roof rails are firmly attached to the body. That improves the aerodynamics. At just under 4,81 meters in length and 1,84 meters in width, the car is longer and wider compared to its predecessor, but that doesn’t miss its slippery air. We did not always achieve its consumption values of combined 7,0 liters (corresponds to exhaust emissions of 161 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer) in the course of the test, but we still achieve an acceptable 7,6 liters. The Outback, which is only available as a five-seater, can be used both as a city dweller and as a soft off-roader, which it masters very well thanks to its symmetrical all-wheel drive.
Appealing ambience
In the interior, high-quality leather covers, touch-friendly softouch surfaces and applications in piano lacquer in 3-D look create a high-quality ambience. When we get in, we get the impression that the controls are slightly inclined towards the driver. The basic equipment of the "Sport" variant we tested includes automatic climate control with two-zone control and cruise control, seven airbags and a hill descent aid (electronically controlled). The fittings offer the driver a great deal of useful information, and the on-board computer display never appears overloaded. The navigation device in connection with the multimedia system not only provides us with entertainment such as digital radio or a good sound system. Thanks to sufficient map material, even the smallest destinations are easy to navigate.
EyeSight sees more than others
In terms of flexibility and assistance systems, the outback has grown significantly. Its already sufficient trunk volume with full seating of 559 liters extends to an impressive 1.848 liters up to the roof with the rear seats folded, which should be among the best values in the segment. The three-seater bench in the rear has a practical entrance because the doors can be opened wide. The roof rail offers a quick mounting device for the roof rack. Subaru is the only manufacturer in the world to offer the "EyeSight" system, which is only available in conjunction with Subaru's own Lineartronic. In detail, this system combines an emergency braking system with a collision warning system, a lane keeping assistant, an adaptive cruise control system, a collision protection system and a stop & go start-up assistant. The overall "EyeSight" system works purely optically. A so-called stereoscopic image is generated by the two camera lenses attached to the right and left of the inside mirror. This largely corresponds to the function of our human eyes. Cars, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians are recognized. These are reliably identified and prioritized by the camera system with distance measurement and angle measurement. The evaluation of this image information enables the consolidation of the five components of the "EyeSight".
Good driving dynamics
The 2.5 four-cylinder light alloy gasoline engine known from the engine range of the Subaru boxer family conveys a lot of driving fun in a very confident manner. Because with a maximum torque of 235 Newton meters from 4.000 revolutions, the unit comes out of the lower speed range very convincingly. Our test car is combined with a sporty CVT automatic transmission that never seems clumsy, not even when starting off. The steering is designed to be extremely track-safe for the European taste, so that even in the city in conjunction with the small turning circle, very relaxed driving is possible. The wide-angle reversing camera supports you when parking.
High entry price
The outback, which is only available with a symmetrical all-wheel drive system, is available from a price of 34.400 euros. For this, Subaru offers an 2.0-liter boxer diesel with 150 PS. The petrol engines, on the other hand, start with the 2,5i Boxer with a power level of 129 kW (175 PS) and Subarus Lineartronic (CVT automatic transmission) at a base price of 35.900 Euro.
The price differences between the three equipment lines "Active", "Comfort" and "Sport" are kept moderate. With petrol and all-wheel drive, the difference between the "Comfort" equipment and the "Sport" top equipment is slim 2.700 Euro. It already includes the navigation system with an 7 inch multi-touchscreen monitor, LED headlights with automatic level control and afterglow function, leather interior and an electric tailgate control.
And finally ...
With the in-house development "EyeSight", Subaru is taking a lonely, but very determined way in the collection of environmental data. In conjunction with the 2,5 Boxer petrol engine and the Lineartronic, the outback conveys a pleasant driving experience.
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Subaru |
Outback 2.5i Sport |
| Motor | R4, petrol, boxer |
| Capacity | 2.498 ccm³ |
| Performance | 175 hp @ 5.800 rpm |
| kraft | 235 Nm @ 4.000 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT automatic |
| drive axle | all wheel drive |
| Length Width Height | 4.815, 1.840, 1.605 mm |
| wheelbase | 2.745 mm |
| Empty weight | 1.621 kg |
| turning circle | 11,8m |
| top speed | 210 km / h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 10,2 sec |
| standard consumption | 7.0 l / 100 km |
| everyday driver | 7.6 l / 100 km (Diesel) |
| Eco-expert | 6.9 l / 100 km |
| Field service mode | 7.8 l / 100km |
Text and photos: Stefan Beckmann
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