Subaru Outback – the dark horse

YOU could reasonably describe the Subaru Outback as the dark horse of the Japanese company’s model range.

The only non-hybrid in the current line-up, the Outback was once a car that nobody noticed, now it’s the object of admiring looks – at least from those who don’t particularly want to go with the flow.

It is also a far better vehicle than people have previously given it credit for, that rare bird of a jacked-up estate cum crossover with serious off-road capability to boot.

That means the likes of permanent all-wheel drive, hill descent control, snow/dirt and deep snow/mud driving modes and a gaping degree of ground clearance – 213mms to be precise. You can haul a heavy load too, with up to 2,000kg braked towing capacity.

Adding to the attraction are prices that start from £37,995 for entry level Limited trim and rising through Field for an extra £4K up to our tested Touring variant which costs £43,995.

What you also get with the Outback is a car that’s appreciably safer than before – not that previous models weren’t extremely safe – with the latest driver assistance tech as well as superior passenger protection as standard.

Principal among all this is something Subaru calls Eyesight, now with almost double the field of vision of the previous model.

It uses two cameras in conjunction with AI to act as a second pair of eyes on the road, scanning the area ahead to identify potential hazards and comprises six safety systems to provide warnings and brake assistance.

Outback buyers only have a single engine to choose from – a 2.5-litre boxer petrol unit developing 167bhp and 186lb ft of torque, though acceleration is fairly sedate at 0-62 in 10.2 seconds.

And while the engine does sound a bit coarse, the CVT automatic transmission works well and the Subaru performs better than adequately in everyday road conditions.

Introduce some winter weather to the equation, or some seriously cloying farm tracks, and the Outback really lives up to its name making light of the worst the British countryside can throw at it, all helped by a raised ride height too.

Don’t expect much in the way of generous fuel economy though – we struggled to get close to the official Combined consumption figure of 33.0 miles per gallon, returning closer to 28mpg during a 200-mile week of urban, rural and motorway miles.

Move inside and the Outback is both rugged and distinguished, our top spec Touring trim grade ensuring plenty of leather, comfortable seating and sporty touches like a leather steering wheel and drilled alloy pedals.

All models come with a dominant 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen at the centre of the dash complete with some refreshingly proper buttons for things like volume/tuning and demisting, while Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also standard along with heated seats all round.

Practicality is a priority with this car, to the point that there’s ample space for five adults along with a whopping 561-litre boot, which expands the load space to 1,822 litres with the rear seats flipped down.

Flexible, attractive, safe and offering genuinely decent value for money, the Outback forges the perfect link between a family-friendly estate and tough off-road vehicle – with a touch of style as well.