Aug 27, 2019, 11:24 AM by Mike Blake

Beginning with its 2015 fifth-generation re-design, the Subaru Outback hasn’t been thought of as “rugged” as much as it has been presented as a sport-utility wagon, residing somewhere between a wagon and an SUV, with handling akin to a mid-size sedan. That mix of capabilities merges to make Outback a true crossover.

The Outback ends its fifth generation in 2019, as the Sixth-Gen model is due out for 2020 with a full redesign (though a similar body style, with new taillights similar to the ones on the Forester and upcoming Legacy), an updated, modern interior and several powertrain options that provide more torque and power.
 
Going out in style, the 2019 Outback adds EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as standard on all Outback models. The system includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management, Vehicle Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. 

The 2019 Outback also features interior enhancements for 2019. The 2.5i base model gains an overhead console shower light and dual front center console USB ports. A high-grade instrument panel combination meter with 5.0-inch LCD is now standard for all models. Outback 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited models have a standard auto-dimming rear-view compass mirror with Homelink® featuring a thin-frame design. The most capable Outback ever, 2019 sees 73.3 cu. ft. max. cargo room.

Equipped with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, 8.7-in. ground clearance, X-Mode, Hill Descent Control, Hill Holder and roof rails, Outback conquers soft-road outdoors-oriented activities while exhibiting everyday versatility.

Built at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) in Lafayette, Indiana, Outback’s sleek, clean and aggressive front-end look includes a raked windshield, sculpted lines, and a front fascia that combines the hexagonal grille and bumper into one smooth piece. An aluminum hood reduces weight over the front wheels, which helps enhance steering response. In the Outback 3.6R Limited I tested, the standard HID low-beam headlights give the car a distinctive nighttime signature. 

Outback measures 189.9 inches in length, 66.1 inches in height and 72.4 inches in width on a 108.1-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.7 inches and the 3.6R weighs in with a curbweight of 3624 pounds.

Comfortable inside with seating for five, interior sightlines are unimpeded, and roominess abounds with 40.8 inches of front headroom (38.3 with a moonroof) and 38.9 inches for those in row two; 42.9 inches of first-row legroom and 38.1 inches for second-seaters, and shoulder room of 58.1 and 57.3. Cargo volume is 73.3 cu.ft. with seats folded . 

Soft-touch materials, thick cushioning for armrests and the center console, and sporty instrument panel give Outback a premium cabin feel. The panel is highlighted by two binocular-style gauge pods with a center LCD information display -- 3.5-inches on cars without the EyeSight® driver-assist system and 5-inches on EyeSight® vehicles. An ECO gauge indicates and promotes fuel-efficient driving habits using color bars. The Premium and Limited trim levels feature gauges with elegant blue ring illumination.

The Outback line-up offers two engine choices. The 2.5i model utilizes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that provides 175 hp and 174 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating 25/city, 32/highway and 28/combined mpg. And my 3.6R was powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC 6-cylinder, horizontally opposed BOXER engine with sequential multi-port fuel injection with multi-spray injectors and electronic throttle control system. Mated to a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), which features paddle-shift control switches, the system is rated at 256 hp and 247 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating of 20/27/22 mpg. My week of mixed-use testing yielded an average of 22.9mpg.

Acceleration is smooth for the niche, and passing at speed is predictable. From a stop, my test Outback 3.6R polished off a zero-to-60mph dash in a steady 7.3 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in a solid 15.7 seconds.

Not really an off-roader, Outback is soft-off-road capable and generally drove like a sportwagon with better ground clearance. The relatively low roof height for an SUV and stiff body made for good on-road worthiness and yaw and wobble were respectable.

Outback has been a crash safety and passive safety leader for years and that level is reached again for 2019. Outback is equipped with the EyeSight® crash prevention system now receive Lane Keep Assist, which the driver can activate with a steering wheel mounted switch. In addition to EyeSight®, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking and Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Subaru’s safety engineering uses the brand’s proven Ring-shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure, which has been shown to excel in all crash tests by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The base 2019 Outback 2.5i is priced at $26,345 and runs through four trims, topping at the 2.5i Touring at $36,795. The more powerful 3.6R has two trims: the Limited ($34,995) and Touring ($38,995). My test Outback 3.6R Limited started at $33,395. The 3.6R gets the larger engine and the Lineartronic transmission. In Crystal White Pearl paint with a Slate Black Leather interior, my test ride added the Starlink/Multimedia Navigation package with 8.0-inch screen and more for $2150; Splash Guards added $175 and Destination and Delivery charges added $995, for a sticker-as-tested of $38,295.  

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Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>