The Star: May 21, 2020

26 The Star Thursday May 21 2020
Trim upgrade keeps Outback fresh
IT WAS SUPPOSED to be a
vacation and lengthy road trip to
Queenstown, but following Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern’s call to
abandon non-essential travel due
to the Covid-19 outbreak, my wife
and I cancelled.
Abiding by the rules at the time,
the new Subaru Outback X evaluation
car was then used only for a
couple of short journeys, one being
to pick up some award-winning hot
cross buns from Artisan Rangiora
Bakery, however, it was enough to
gauge opinion on the fresh new
model into the Outback line-up.
The Outback X is a variation of
the popular sport utility vehicle
that has garnered huge sales
throughout New Zealand, more so
in Canterbury where its prowess in
winter conditions has won it
many friends. The X is pretty
much a dressed up model with
black wheels, black exterior garnish
and green trim accents,mostly
interior.
Mechanically, the Outback X also
gets the latest generation X-Mode
traction system that works over the
four-wheel-drive network, providing
more flexibility in snow and
mud. It’s an advanced version of
what was previously in place, and
what was first fitted into the latest
generation Forester.
At 4.8m the Outback is large
SUV, it is a true station wagon with
suspension raised for that outback
journey.
The X variant is fitted with a
2.5-litre horizontally-opposed fourcylinder
engine. I make special
mention of that because there is a
3.6-litre six-cylinder unit available
in Outback, but it is not an option
in the X; however, the four-pot
boxer has been Subaru’s trademark
design for at least the last 30 years.
It is rated at 129kW and 235Nm,
both outputs realised at usable
points of the rev band – 5800rpm
and 4000rpm.
Drive is carried through a
paddle-shift six-step continuously
variable transmission, between the
two elements there is a smooth
transition of power and a seamless
ratio which means the engine
is constantly near its maximum
torque delivery. It’s a big ask for
CVT to harness these power
outputs but it works perfectly, it is
so much like a traditional torque
converter gearbox that it’s hard to
notice that CVT is an inclusion.
In terms of acceleration, the
Outback in this form will make
100km/h from a standstill in
10.2sec, and will scamper through
a highway overtake in 5.6sec, the
latter delightful with a strong surge
of power through the mid-range.
Also featuring on the Outback X is
the Subaru system of performance
drive modes controlled by steering
wheel-mounted buttons.
In recent years Subaru has been
hugely active in lowering the fuel
consumption figures in each of its
models.
Today the four-cylinder Outback
is rated with a 7.3-litre per 100km
combined cycle average. The dash
SPACIOUS: The interior of the Outback X is functional and
comfortable.
SUBARU OUTBACK X: Black wheels and green garnish elements add cosmetic appeal.
panel readout was listing constantly
at 7.8l/100km during my time
with the test car, I thought that was
impressive even though I was in
fuel conservation mode much of
the time I was driving. A 6l/100km
figure lists at a steady 100km/h (engine
speed 1600rpm). Together, all
of these figures represent economical
motoring, the Outback 2.5 has
solid power and good fuel usage, a
hard equation to get right in engine
design.
Because it has high ground
clearance (213mm), the Outback
has long travel suspension that is
absolutely delightful in terms of rut
and bump absorption, it floats over
the rough bits of road and affords a
luxury ride.
The Outback X lists at $49,990.
For that money it gets a healthy
level of specification including
keyless entry and ignition, electric
sunroof, satellite navigation and
powered rear tailgate, just to name
a few of the key items.
It must also be noted that almost
all of Subaru’s range now gets the
clever camera-based Eyesight safety
technology which incorporates a
host of driver assistance modules
so that the car is kept out of trouble
in the first instance.
For the reasons I mentioned
earlier, I didn’t take the test car
off-road either which given the
dry conditions of our Canterbury
landscape was also a sensible
decision, but I can report that in
previous drives of the Outback offthe-beaten-track,
it is vastly capable
• Price – Subaru Outback X,
$49,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4820mm; width, 1840mm;
height, 1675mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
four-wheel-drive,
2498cc, 129kW, 235Nm,
continuously variable
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 10.2sec
• Fuel usage – 7.3l/100km
through X-Mode and hill descent
control.
Given its ride height and tall
body structure at almost 1.7m, you
could be forgiven for thinking the
Outback would move a lot over the
suspension when presented with a
quick corner or two. However, that’s
not the case, simply because Subaru
have been engineering Bilstein
shock absorbers into the Outback
for many years. The German-company
product has long had a reputation
for quality and an expertise in
dealing with ride/handling challenges
that the Outback requests.
The result is a beautiful, controlled
ride along with the dampening
needed to arrest gravitational
force. That’s not easy when you are
also talking about a vehicle that has
definite cross-country potential.
The front-strut/rear double wishbone
suspension of the Outback
adapts to all situations and that is
one of the main ingredients why
drivers can rely on the Outback to
perform off-road, it is as good as
any four-wheel-drive SUV off-theseal,
and yet it has driveability on
the seal that cocoons the occupants
in a style that borders on luxury.
The only other vehicles that I
believe have a better ride and are
just as capable off-road are those
that command twice the price.
Grip in the first instance is supplied
by an all-road Bridgestone
compound (225/60 x 18in). The
tyres are quiet at highway speed
and provide solid feedback to the
steering wheel when presented
with a tight corner or two.
The Outback has developed into
a comprehensive range of variants,
they list from $46,490 to $59,990
for the six-cylinder model. Each
commands its own area of appeal.
The X is there for those who want
something with just a few extra
cosmetic standout enhancements.
I particularly like the wheels, they
give the model an aggressive look
while the rest of the tweaks add a
point of difference.
First and foremost, though,
the Outback is the quintessential
station wagon which has lured
Legacy wagon owners from previous
generations. It is an all-rounder
that feels just so right to be behind
the wheel of.
However, if it is just that fraction
too big for a buying decision, check
out the XV, the Impreza-based
wagon has similar credentials,
packaged just that little bit smaller
but similarly capable.
WOF
$
50 .00
• Courtesy cars • oil changes
• Full mechanical repairs
• Brake & clutch repairs
• transmission flush service
• tyres & batteries
• Petrol & diesel servicing
Fitzgerald Motors
PHONE 03 349 7813
Unit 8, 193 Waterloo road, Hornby
(6 doors down from our old site)
95 Gasson Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8140, NZ | www.carlights.co.nz