Sadly, station wagons are not so popular in South Africa but Subaru's Outback has soldiered on regardless in a market that has turned its attention to crossovers and SUVs. The Outback, however, remains a practical choice and now South African buyers can look forward to the arrival of a new-generation Outback in May 2021. Subaru has also recently introduced the updated Forester locally, which we reviewed here.
It’s built on the Subaru Global Platform and while it has a familiar but more chiselled look, it not onlyretainsits practicality but it now offers more advanced features.It’s stiffer and safer than ever before and Subaru says that the new Outback’s body absorbs up to 40% more energy in a front-side crash. 8 airbags are fitted as standard as is Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology which now offers advanced adaptive cruise control with Autonomous Corrective Steering and improved lane-keeping functionality.Subaru has also adopted various sound-deadening strategies to create a quieter cabin and improvedcomfort levels as a result.
The South African market will receive the Outback in 2 trim levels namely the Outback Field, which adopts a more rugged design, and the Outback Touring which features more urban-inspired trim elements.
The new Outback adopts a sharper look and remains as practical as ever.
In terms of engines, the new Subaru Outback is powered bya revised naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre engine offering 136 kW and 239 Nm of torque, which is slightly more powerful than the outgoing unit (129 kW/235 Nm). This uprated 2.5-litre Boxer engine will be offered in South Africa and all Outbacks are mated with a CVT which features an 8-speed manual mode and steering-mounted paddle shifters. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is standard.
The Outback is also fitted with an all-new suspension system which is said to be lighter and more responsive. MacPherson struts with a new internal rebound spring, aluminium L-arms and 23 mm hollow stabiliser bar is found up front while a double-wishbone setup with a subframe, coil springs, and 19 mm stabiliser bar is fitted to the rear.
A large infotainment touchscreen and a host of comfort and convenience features are offered on the new Outback.
The new Outback features an 11.6-inch tablet-style StarLink infotainment system and central information display for the driver. The infotainment system is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is also on offer.
Added comfort is provided by 10-way electric front seats with heating and cooling functions and while rear passenger space has increased, the Outback can also be equipped with up to 4 USB ports and 2 12 V DC power sockets. As you would expect, luggage space remains generous and the tailgate now opens automatically by waving in front of the Subaru badge on the centre of the tailgate while a new single-touch lifting cargo cover is also a new feature.
In addition to Subaru's praised EyeSight safety suite, the new Outback will also introduce a Distraction Mitigation System called DriverFocus which will be rolled out into the rest of the Subaru vehicle range in due course. The camera utilises cameras and facial recognition to monitor fatigue and distraction and presents a warning to the driver when a lack of driver focus is detected. The system also allows for up to 5 individual driver settings to be programmed and stored in the vehicle.
As always, the Subaru Outback is going to be capable when the going gets tough. There's 213 mm of ground clearance,19.7 degree approach angle and 22.6 degree departure angle as well as Subaru's X-Mode and Hill Descent Control.X Mode is a driver-selectable programme for use in less than perfect terrain such as slippery or uneven surfaces, i.e. snow, mud, grass, ruts, rocks etc. The system has 2 settings that can be used depending on the severity of the surface, but each of these will optimise the vehicle to overcomethe situation bysending power to the wheels with the best traction.
Subaru South Africa has imbued its Outback with a raft of safety systems, both passive and active. Starting with the platform, the new Subaru Global Platform features an inner collapsible body structure that's 70% more rigid than before and achieves 100% more energy absorbtion in a crash. The Subaru Outback is fitted with ABS, EBD, ESC, Hill Hold as well as Active Torque Vectoring. There are 8 airbags fitted and the vehicle comes with the latest version of Subaru's Eyesight which is the collective name for theAdaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure, Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.
These systems have been enhanced for this new model. There's alsoBlind Spot Monitor (BSM); Lane Change Assist (LCA); Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA); Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) and EyeSight Assist Monitor.
Subaru Outback 2.5i-Field ES R699 000
Subaru Outback 2.5i-Touring ES R729 000
The Subaru Outbackis sold with a 3-year/75 000km maintenance plan as well as a 5-year/150 000km warranty.
Buy a new or used Subaru Outback on Cars.co.za
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