The 2011 Subaru Outback once again makes a compelling choice for shoppers looking for something different than a traditional wagon or crossover SUV. And following last year's redesign, which made the Outback both larger and more comfortable, it's appeal widened, as evidenced by the subsequent huge spike in sales.
No longer sought after only by those living in mountainous or snow-ridden environments, the Outback has become well-suited for a wide variety of locations and climates. With its standard all-wheel drive and ample ground clearance, the Outback possesses impressive off-road performance capabilities for a wagon. And with its comfortable drive, spacious cabin, topnotch crash test ratings and excellent driver visibility, this cross between a wagon and an SUV has the makings of a solid alternative to both.
True, the Outback's size increase came at the sacrifice of some of its fairly engaging road manners. But it's still no slouch and has added plenty of headroom, a nearly sprawling rear seat and more cargo capacity than many midsize SUVs.
And the use of high-tensile steel has helped it earn the highest possible crash test scores, while keeping its weight down at the same time (the Outback weighs 550 pounds less than the Toyota Venza, for example). This also aids the four-cylinder and V6 engines, while helping fuel-efficiency as well.
The larger design of the Outback has brought it closer to a crossover than a wagon. As such, those shopping this segment may also want to consider other worthy vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, the Chevy Equinox and the Toyota RAV4.
Trims, Standard Features And Options:
The 2011 Subaru Outback is catorgorized as a 5-passenger wagon and is offered in six trims: 2.5i, 2.5 Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6R, 3.6 Premium and 3.6R Limited. Features for the 3.6R models are generally the same as those of the 2.5i models.
Standard features on the base Outback 2.5i include full power accessories, air conditioning, automatic headlights, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat, an alarm system, a tire-pressure monitor, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, 16-inch steel wheels, adjustable roof rails and cross bars, and a 4-speaker audio system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Outback Prices:
Auto sales have been historically weak now for over two years, evidence of a continuing sluggish car buying trend.
Subaru dealers have recently made some progress in offsetting at least some of the market weakness through strong incentives and easier-to-get discounts. The bottom line? Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.
Moving up to the 2.5i Premium adds an 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, foglights, 17 inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass. There's also an optional All-Weather package for the Premium that includes heated front seats, a windshield wiper de-icer and heated side mirrors. The optional 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is also available for the Premium and includes Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity as well as a 6-disc CD changer.
Opting for the 2.5i Limited adds leather upholstery, the Harman Kardon audio system, the All-Weather package, a 4-way power passenger seat, a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and dual-zone automatic climate control.
The Power Moonroof package is available on the Premium and Limited models and includes a sunroof and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated rearview camera. Navigation is available on the Limited, as long as the Power Moonroof package has been installed, and features a touchscreen interface, a bigger rearview camera display in the touchscreen, a CD player (single disc) and an iPod interface.
Finally, there are port-installed options which include a Bluetooth system that plugs into the open dash slot under the stereo (has its own small speakers) and satellite radio on non-Limited models.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
Powering the Outback 2.5i models is a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed ("boxer") four-cylinder engine that's good for 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission on the base and Premium models. A CVT, with manual-mode shift paddles, is standard on the Limited and optional on the other models. And all 2011 Outbacks are all-wheel drive.
The EPA-estimated gas mileage for a 2.5i Outback with the CVT is a very respectable 22 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway. These numbers drop a bit with the manual to 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Under the hood of Outback 3.6R models is a 3.6-liter flat-6 that produces 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. It's coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles and is gas-mileage-rated at 18 mpg city and 25 highway.
Safety:
Standard safety features on all 2011 Subaru Outbacks include traction control, stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes (ABS), front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
In government crash testing, the 2011 Outback was awarded five out of five stars in all front and side-impact occupant protection categories.
Interior:
The new Outback's interior is attractive and well-designed, while the seating is comfortable and supportive. The controls are generally very easy to see and operate, however, models outfitted with the navigation system have a significantly different dashboard due to the large LCD screen with controls that take some getting used to.
The Outback's larger dimensions are also most noticeable in the cabin. By lowering the back seat, cargo capacity is actually greater than many conventional SUVs, such as the Ford Edge and Subaru Forester, coming in at a very useful 71.3 cubic feet. The generous roominess of the backseat makes for ample legroom and family-friendly road trips.
As a side note, the optional Harman Kardon sound system (includes integrated Bluetooth) is a big improvement for the rather ho-hum standard 4-speaker system.
Drive:
Due to its larger size and transition to a more SUV-like than wagon vehicle, the 2011 Subaru Outback no longer maintains all the driving athleticism that previously had set it apart from crossovers. Neverthless, with its all-wheel drive and generous ground clearance, the Outback still offers impressive off-road performance for a wagon. While the Outback may have lost some of its fun-to-drive qualities, the overall ride experience is much improved. Roadbumps and rough spots are easily absorbed, resulting in a smoother and quieter ride.
The CVT is considered one of the best available with smooth and well-timed shifts, while the 2.5-liter engine provides fiesty power with either the CVT or the manual transmission. Its impressive fuel efficiency with the CVT, however, make it a compelling choice for most shoppers. On the other hand, the increased torque of the 3.6-liter six-cylinder will be most appreciated by those who live in mountainous terrain or who often carry many passengers.
Prices:
2011 Subaru Outback:
2.5i, manual: list price: $23,195, invoice price: $21,848
2.5i, CVT: list price: $24,195, invoice price: $22,766
2.5i Premium, manual: list price: $24,495, invoice price: $23,094
2.5i Premium, CVT: list price: $25,495, invoice price: $24,012
2.5i Limited, CVT: list price: $28,495, invoice price: $26,730
3.6R, auto: list price: $28,195, invoice price: $26,369
3.6R Premium, auto: list price: $29,195, invoice price: $27,416
3.6R Limited, auto: list price: $31,495, invoice price: $29,484
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