Subaru Outback

Five years after its global debut (April 2019) and first locally-previewed over a year ago, the new Subaru Outback, officially launched in Malaysia.

An adventure-ready lifted-wagon (station wagon-SUV), the sixth-generation model underpins the Subaru Global Platform (SGP).

Fully-imported (CBU - Japan), available via TC Subaru Sdn Bhd are two variants (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 280,390 and MYR 310,390 respectively, included is a standard warranty (five years/100,000 KM).

Ten exterior colours. Crystal White Pearl, Sapphire Blue Pearl, Crimson Red Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Brilliant Bronze Metallic, Storm Grey Metallic, Autumn Green Metallic, Magnetite Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, and Cashmere Gold Opal (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

High-quality, the new Outback gets a tiered and streamlined dashboard design, linked to a slanted centre console.

Soft-/hard-touched, it sees a dual-tone (Black-Brown) colour scheme (dash, door cards), with trimmings (Silver - dash, steering wheel, centre console, door cards). 

Filling-in the layout are the display units (infotainment, instrument cluster), dash storage (passenger side), and air-conditioning vents (corners, centre).

Inclusively, the design is clutter-free and ergonomic with accessibilities purposefully-arranged (user-friendly, driver-oriented).

Installed is a digital-analogue instrument cluster (coloured), featuring a 4.2-Inch LCD Multi-Information Display (MID).

Comfortable, the interior (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight) sees leather (Nappa) upholstery in a dual-tone (Black-Brown) colour scheme.

The front gets electric-powered (driver-10-way, passenger-eight-way, driver-lumbar/memory) bolstered seats.

The rear gets a manual-operated (recline - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight, 60:40 split-flat-fold) bolstered bench seat.

Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre-seat fold-out), headrests (front - tilt/extend, rear - fixed), and a glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, anti-pinch).

A borderline broad build, the five-seater offers generous cabin space, providing the occupants (front, rear) with ample interior mobility.

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke-round steering wheel, wrapped in leather (Black) with trimmings (Silver).

Features are multi-switches (media, voice recognition, EyeSight), paddle shifters, column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and heating. 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, side door/back seat pockets, dash storage (passenger side), and a glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (one - side door pockets).

Installed are multiple USB ports (front, rear - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight) and 12 V sockets (front, rear - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Accessing its powered-tailgate (handsfree - remote/key fob - memory) opens up to 522-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,711-Litres (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight)/1,726-Litres (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight) (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 1,682 KG (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight) and 1,756 KG (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight), the new Outback measures at 4,870 MM long, 1,875 MM wide, 1,675 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,745 MM.

Ruggedly-streamlined, it exudes a robustly-solid exterior, emphasised by angularly-sporty and cleanly-cut contours.

The front-end sees a formed bonnet, broad quarter panels, Subaru’s hexagonal grille (Chrome - double-slatted, Subaru emblem), and a vented bumper (central-meshed).

Accentuations are body cladding (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), body trimmings (Chrome - fog lamp/side window surrounds), and an under guard (Silver). 

Variant-specific details are side mirrors (body-colour - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, Satin - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight), and cross-bar roof rails (Black - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, Satin - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Athletically-stocky, it continues the robustly-solid silhouette with horizontally-symmetrical lines and protruding contours.

The rear-end sees a straight roofline, roof-edge spoiler (D-pillar flowing), broad quarter panels, angularly-tapered tailgate, and a thick-squared-out bumper.

Accentuations are body cladding (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), body trimmings (Chrome - side window surrounds), and an under guard (Silver).

Variant-specific details are exhausts (single - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, double - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight), tailgate badging (XT - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight), and cross-bar roof rails (Black - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, Satin - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Angular and thick, the head lamps are housed inward-tilted with pointed edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are C-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off/leveller, adaptive driving beam, Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH), High Beam Assist (HBA), and turn signals. 

Included is a set of LED fog lamps (single-unit-circular design - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, six-unit-hexagonal design - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Angular and thick, the tail lamps are framed in a wraparound-inverted-C design. Installed are LED combination (bulb) units.

Features are automatic On/Off, and turn signals. Included is a set of LED fog lamps.

The side mirrors (body-colour - 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight, Satin - 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust, key-link-fold, reverse-auto-tilt). 

Features are turn-signals, blind spot-indicators (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM - Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection), and automatic-dimming.

Fitted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Incorporated is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Gripping the terrain is a set of 18-Inch multi-spoke alloy rims, wrapped in 225/60 R18 (front, rear) Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 tyres.

The new Outback features the Subaru EyeSight 4.0 suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Pre-Collision Braking System, Autonomous Emergency Steering, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centring Control, Lane Sway Warning, Preceding Vehicle Adaptive Steering Control, Lane Departure Prevention, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lead Vehicle Start Alert, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Speed Sign Recognition, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), EyeSight Assist Monitor, High Beam Assist (HBA), Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD), Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB), Steering Responsive Headlights (SRH) Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Multi-View Monitor System (360-degree camera).

Others include, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Down-Hill Assist Control (DAC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Brake Override (BO), Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDCS), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes seven SRS airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front-side, front-rear-curtain), seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two - outer rear), reverse camera, automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (interior, exterior), parking sensors (four - rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Rear Occupant Detection System, rollover-safe structure (roof, cabin ceiling), side impact door beams, shock-absorbing bumper (front), automatic-retracting safety pedals and collision detection unlock. 

Two drive modes (SPORT, INTELLIGENT) are selectable via Subaru’s SI-Drive programme (Subaru Intelligent-Drive).

Included is Subaru’s Dual X-Mode off-road drive programme (Snow, Dirt, Deep Snow, Mud, Normal).

Installed is an 11.6-Inch HD touchscreen setup (portrait-mounted), supporting Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), voice recognition, Bluetooth, AUX-in and USB.

The new Outback features variant-specific petrol powertrains.

Variant 2.5 i-Touring EyeSight harbours a 2.5-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve direct-injection naturally-aspirated DOHC boxer engine (FB25D), producing 185 HP at 5,800 RPM and 245 NM at 3,400 to 4,600 RPM.

Variant 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight nestles a 2.4-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve direct-injection turbocharged DOHC boxer engine (FA24F), making 246 HP at 5,200 to 6,000 RPM and 350 NM at 2,000 to 4,800 RPM.

Mated to the setups is an automatic transmission. An eight-speed Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with manual mode.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels, via Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. Incorporated is Subaru’s Active Torque Vectoring system.

0 to 100 KM/H acceleration reads at 9.6 seconds (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight) and 7.5 seconds (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight). 

Top speed maxes out at 206 KM/H (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight) and 221 KM/H (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

Fuel tank capacity is 63-Litres, and combined fuel consumption figures are 7.3 L/100 KM (2.5 i-Touring EyeSight) and 9.0 L/100KM (2.4 XT Touring EyeSight).

The new Outback features these conveniences.

E.g., Keyless Access (engine Start/Stop button), dual-zone automatic-climate control (rear vents), steering wheel (multi-function, paddle shifters, column adjustments, EPS), electric-powered (driver-10-way, passenger-eight-way, driver-lumbar/memory) seats, multiple interior storage areas, powered-tailgate (handsfree - remote/key fob - memory), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (interior, exterior), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), parking sensors (four - rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/leveller), High Beam Assist (HBA), and speed-sensing door locks.

Installed is a dual-zone automatic-climate control system (rear vents).

Courtesy of the Subaru Global Platform (SGP), it offers a nice solid drive with a grippier, steadier and more responsive handling.

Improved chassis, in terms of rigidity, suspension (four-wheel independent) and stabilisers. Installed setups are MacPherson strut (front) and double wishbones (rear).

Elsewhere, it is spacious and safe, and the seats are supportive and well-bolstered, offering a sporty driving dynamic.

Overall, the ride quality is satisfactory. Safe and suitable as a daily-driver and off-roader.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, with the tyre, road and wind noises mostly hindered. 

The new Subaru Outback offers both performance and comfortability, well-equipped and -built for the everyday speeders and off-roaders. 

Athletically-robust and sporty, it exudes a bold and striking exterior with powerful contours, emphasising its muscular demeanour.

Performance-wise, it boasts a superb qualification, accounting on the four Subaru Core Technologies (Subaru Global Platform (SGP), Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD), Boxer Engine, EyeSight Advanced Driver Assist Technology).

Overall, the new Outback bargains more than just good looks, as it has more inside, waiting to be unleashed.