Handling is decent. Around town and on the highway, it feels stable and goes willingly where it’s directed. The full-time AWD system adds a measure of confidence and comfort, even when the road is dry, via its more balanced delivery of torque to all four corners (translating to less corrections at the steering wheel).
Outback can certainly hold its own in spirited driving over curvy roads – but you might not enjoy it that much. The big body pitches a bit, and it just doesn't feel like it’s got its heart into it.
Concluding remarks
Outback pricing starts at $28,995. Our tester was the most expensive, topped-out Outback you can buy – a 3.6R Limited with Multimedia Option, asking $40,795. Highlights of the Limited package include 17-inch aluminum wheels, roof rails with swing-in-place crossbars, automatic headlights, halogen fog lights, power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated and power-adjustable front seats, leather, and woodgrain.
Highlights of the Multimedia Option include connectivity to everything, voice command, rearview camera, DVD playback, navigation, and colour touchscreen.
As a quasi compact-to-midsize crossover, the Outback competes in the largest segments of the auto industry. There are probably over 50 nameplates you could stack it against, but the closest ones to Outback in design execution are probably Toyota Venza and Volvo XC70.
Like Outback, both are “tall wagons” with raised ground clearance and AWD. Like Outback, the Venza’s top model is just a shade over $40,000. It offers similar overall cargo capacity as Outback, but with its sloping hatch, the Venza’s “trunk” is noticeably smaller. The XC70 is a more luxury-oriented beast, with models ranging from $44k to $50k.
Even in the hyper-competitive crossover market of today, the Outback is doing just fine, finding more buyers than it ever did. It remains a solid contender in a segment known for providing optimal utility for price, footprint, and fuel economy.
Outback can certainly hold its own in spirited driving over curvy roads – but you might not enjoy it that much. The big body pitches a bit, and it just doesn't feel like it’s got its heart into it.
Concluding remarks
Outback pricing starts at $28,995. Our tester was the most expensive, topped-out Outback you can buy – a 3.6R Limited with Multimedia Option, asking $40,795. Highlights of the Limited package include 17-inch aluminum wheels, roof rails with swing-in-place crossbars, automatic headlights, halogen fog lights, power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated and power-adjustable front seats, leather, and woodgrain.
Highlights of the Multimedia Option include connectivity to everything, voice command, rearview camera, DVD playback, navigation, and colour touchscreen.
As a quasi compact-to-midsize crossover, the Outback competes in the largest segments of the auto industry. There are probably over 50 nameplates you could stack it against, but the closest ones to Outback in design execution are probably Toyota Venza and Volvo XC70.
Like Outback, both are “tall wagons” with raised ground clearance and AWD. Like Outback, the Venza’s top model is just a shade over $40,000. It offers similar overall cargo capacity as Outback, but with its sloping hatch, the Venza’s “trunk” is noticeably smaller. The XC70 is a more luxury-oriented beast, with models ranging from $44k to $50k.
Even in the hyper-competitive crossover market of today, the Outback is doing just fine, finding more buyers than it ever did. It remains a solid contender in a segment known for providing optimal utility for price, footprint, and fuel economy.
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| Our tester was the most expensive, topped-out Outback you can buy – a 3.6R Limited with Multimedia Option, asking $40,795. (Photo: Mike Goetz/Auto123.com) |
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Package
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Package
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