The Subaru Outback has always been a car you could think of as being four cars in one. A vehicle which subscribes to the connotations of fusing the best attributes from various vehicles into one practical station wagon. Now the new Subaru Outback range for 2014 spans three models featuring traditional Boxer engines, with ‘Lineartronic’ Continuously Variable Transmission and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
Subaru believe one of the standouts in the range is the Subaru Outback Diesel CVT which features the world’s only Boxer diesel engine, the new Outback 2.5i-S with a CVT two-peddle transmission. The horizontally-opposed punching action of the Subaru Boxer engine means that the engine itself is flat and can therefore be mounted lower-down in the engine bay, which in turn leads to a lower centre of gravity and more dynamic handling. The low placement of the engine also means that even with 213 mm of ground clearance, the Outback maintains good on-road dynamics of a brand with a strong motorsport heritage. While Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system keeps dynamic handling at the highest level.
Starting with the Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium Lineartronic, the naturally-aspirated Boxer power plant delivers 123 kW and 229 Nm of torque coupled with rugged styling, a practical interior, raised ride height and CVT gearbox. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, hard-wearing bumpers and side sills, a sunroof, roof rails, ambient cabin lighting, leather upholstery, dual zone climate control, cruise control, a rear-view camera, an electric driver’s seat with memory, a premium 6-speaker sound system with MP3/CD/AUX/USB compatibility and Bluetooth.
Moving up to the Subaru Outback 2.5i-S Premium Lineartronic, the new Outback 2.5i-S Premium Lineartronic realises urban adventure with ride height and practicality intact, but the more-sporty model in the range also features a number of visual enhancements which lend it a classy look and feel. Colour coding all-round gives the 2.5i-S a more powerful stance, the front being augmented by dark-painted headlight clusters and a black radiator grille with a strong chrome accent imparting power and aggression. 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels also increase visual appeal, the look being completed by the silver-painted roof rails. Feature upgrades to go with the Sport nomenclature on the inside include carbon-like interior trim and sports alloy pedals.
Then we get to the Subaru Outback 2.0D Premium Lineartronic. Subaru say the low-down torque profile of the turbocharged diesel motor with 350 Nm of torque from 1 800 r/min, means the Lineartronic transmission is pretty economical by Subaru standards – 6.5 L/100 km of 50 ppm diesel fuel on the combined cycle, while still providing the characteristic burble of a Boxer engine.
The range-toper features dark-painted 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-button starting, innovative roof rails which feature built-in cross-bars which can be easily folded across the roof for fitment of a bike rack or roof storage box, contrasting black-painted side skirts and bumper edges and a striking intercooler scoop on the bonnet, along with dark-painted xenon headlight clusters and a black-painted grille.
The Outback’s 5-star ANCAP and Euro NCAP safety ratings was achieved thanks to a host of electronic aids which include ABS, EBD, BAS, VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) and traction control. The Subaru Outback also received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, something it shares with the rest of the Subaru product offering.
Pricing:
Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium Lineartronic R409 000
Subaru Outback 2.5i-S Premium Lineartronic R419 000
Subaru Outback 2.0D Premium Lineartronic R469 000
