The Subaru Outback is the most popular station wagon in America. This is not because it does any one thing particularly well, but because it offers so many benefits to such a wide audience. Let’s take a look at the Subaru Outback specs that make this unlikely vehicle so popular.
What are the most important Subaru Outback specs to consider?
- Extremely practical vehicle in every way imaginable
- 5-seater with large amount of cargo space
- Impressive suite of safety features
Let’s be honest: No one is going to jump up and down with excitement when talking about a station wagon like the Subaru Outback. But the Subaru Outback sales numbers don’t lie. The plucky station wagon is the most popular family vehicle in America, outselling many of its rivals by a wide margin.
What’s the secret to the Subaru Outback’s success? While most car-makers try to be best in class by offering “excellent” ratings in one or two areas, the Subaru Outback strives to just be “good” in every possible area. The strategy has obviously paid off!
Here’s an automotive expert pondering the wildly unlikely success of the Subaru Outback.
Basic Subaru Outback Specs
The latest iterations of the Subaru Outback are available in four trim versions: Base, Premium, Limited, and Touring. The two lower trims feature a 4-cylinder, 16-valve 2.5L engine. It offers 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft.
The two higher trims have a slightly bigger 6-cylinder, 24-valve 3.6L engine, which you would expect to see in many of its crossover SUV rivals. It offers a boost to 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. The bigger engine is even rated to tow up to 2,700 pounds.
The larger engine only adds about 180 pounds to the curb weight of the vehicle. Both engines are estimated to bring 25 MPG for city driving fuel economy, and 32 MPG for highway driving. Once again, nothing is “great” about any of those figures — but everything about it is “good” in terms of owner satisfaction.
Subaru Outback Interior Specs
The interior of later model Subaru Outback vehicles is adequate enough that you won’t feel like it’s really missing anything. From power windows and adjustable front seats to a generous vehicle information display, all of the basics that you would expect in a modern car are there.
The upper trim levels will even include a few “luxury” features like voice-activated air conditioning and an anti-theft engine immobilizer. It will also have hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM radio and the latest version of the Subaru Starlink 8″ entertainment system in the upper trims.
If there’s one thing about the Subaru Outback that catches everyone’s attention, it’s the cargo space.
Behind the rear row of seats, it offers around 35 cubic feet of storage space. Lower the rear seats and it more than doubles to 73 cubic feet of space, not counting the hidden storage compartment underneath.
Subaru Outback Safety Specs
Even the base models of the Subaru Outback are highly rated for driver and passenger safety. Most model years manage to achieve a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Additional modern safety features that can be added on as options include warning systems for lane departure and forward collision, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support. The Subaru Outback is intended to be a family vehicle, and the vehicle’s track record for safety reflects this.
Subaru Outback Pros & Cons
Some car buyers just can’t get past the fact that the Subaru Outback is, and always will be, a station wagon. If you’re considering a Subaru Outback for your next vehicle purchase, here are some of the main pros and cons to consider.
Pros:
- Fulfills a wide range of user needs
- Huge cargo space
- Reliable vehicle with great resale value
- More fuel efficient than many rivals
- Many built-in safety features
Cons:
- Friends will mock you for driving your mom’s station wagon
- Nothing rates as “excellent” in the vehicle
- No true off-road option; no true luxury option
Run a Vehicle History Check before Buying a Subaru Outback
If you’re considering a used Subaru Outback as your next vehicle purchase, you can take a lot of the mystery out of the process by doing plenty of research beforehand. We’re here to help! Run a Vehicle History check on any used car right here to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises as soon as you drive the car off the lot.
