Overview

The days when Subaru was a leading World Rally Championship team and producing some of the best affordable performance cars have long since passed. Today, Subaru UK sits in relative obscurity, selling cars in very small volumes. And yet, in a market crammed full of copy/pasted SUVs, products such as the Outback, a rugged mid-sized estate car, stand out as being something appealingly left-field. 

It’s available in the UK in three trim levels and is arguably the last one standing in a once-popular market niche typified by the Audi Allroad, Volvo Cross Country and Skoda Scout – jacked-up estates with four-wheel drive and more than a hint of off-road chops – all of which are now unavailable in the UK. The Outback is sticking to the old recipe established in the 1990s: off-roader inspired styling and Subaru’s signature boxer engine and full-time four-wheel drive. 

Therefore, the Outback should appeal to those who demand space, a lofty ride height, and a long list of safety and comfort features with some genuine off-road ability. And let’s face it, Subaru dealers are well established in rural communities, and has a loyal customer base that’s satisfied with the service they get, and this car’s abilities in tougher, winter conditions.

There aren’t any direct rivals, but instead, this car might find itself on the same shopping lists as a selection of family estates, such as the Skoda Octavia or Volkswagen Golf, or family friendly SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Kia Sportage and Suzuki Across. Getting it into perspective comes down to having driven a number of examples, as well as long-term experience of other Subaru models. You can find out exactly how we test cars here. 

While many of the Outback’s traits pair up nicely with current requirements, there is one obvious outlier. There is only one engine option that comes with this car and it’s not a hybrid or small frugal unit boosted by turbocharging. It’s a big 2.5-litre petrol which combined with the full-time four-wheel drive means efficiency and economy aren’t very impressive at all. Not ideal with fuel costs something of a worry for many. Of course, the Outback isn’t some off-road wannabe, it’s the real deal with capabilities far beyond your typical front-wheel drive SUV.

It’s available in three flavours – Limited, Field and Touring – and all are well equipped with LED lights all-round, keyless entry, 18-inch alloy wheels, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a large portrait-format 11.6-inch infotainment screen. The main differences between the models are limited to seat trims and comfort features, such as a heated steering wheel.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Subaru Outback including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.