2002 Subaru Outback Reviews

Subaru's largest passenger car, the Liberty, has a well-deserved reputation for toughness and reliability with Australian buyers. The Subaru Outback is an interesting variant on the Liberty station wagon. On the market since 1996 it is intended as a halfway step between a conventional station wagon and a dedicated 4WD.In its earlier models Subaru Outback had a tougher appearance than the standard wagon because of the additional protective plastic facings on the doors. These were discontinued with the new generation of 2003 to give the vehicle a more upmarket air, though there are many Subaru advocates who preferred the tougher look of the original.Since 1995 only all-wheel drive Liberty models have been sold in Australia, prior to then there were also front-wheel drive versions, even by 1995 these were comparatively rare because buyers had already sussed out the advantages of driving all four wheels.Unusually for Japanese cars, Libertys and Outbacks, indeed all Subarus, are popular with country drivers as well as those from metro areas. Libertys and Outbacks are much loved by snow skiers because their permanent all-wheel drive system makes them safer and more capable in slippery conditions than a 2WD vehicle.Subaru Liberty first arrived in this country in 1989 and struck a chord with local buyers almost immediately. These older models are generally getting long in the tooth so may be near the end of their lives. You’re probably better off avoiding them.Liberty is sold as a four-door sedan and a five-door station wagon, with a much larger percentage of wagons being sold than in other models in the mid-size class. The combination of the traction of all-wheel drive and the practicality of a wagon rear end is a strong one.The engines have a flat ‘boxer’ layout to lower the centre of gravity for improved road holding. Engine capacities in the four-cylinder models are 2.0, 2.2 and 2.5 litres. The 2.0 actually has more performance than the 2.2 being a later design.Flat-six engines began with a 3.0-litre unit in the Outback and later the Liberty range, its capacity increased to 3.6 litres in September 2009. Subaru calls the flat-six engines the H6 - ‘H’ for horizontally opposed, but most owners tend to retain the use of flat-six or boxer for it.There are a couple of high-performance Subaru Liberty variants. The Liberty RS has a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit and was introduced here in 1992. It was on sale for less than two years, when it was upstaged by the smaller and lighter Subaru Impreza WRX, a car that went on to be a huge success.The Liberty B4 sports machine has a twin-turbo 2.0-litre. It first came here in August 2001 but was somewhat of a disappointment in Australia because the engine had to be significantly detuned from the one offered on the Japanese market to run on our lower-octane petrol.These Subarus are reasonably easy to work on and most routine jobs can be carried out by an experienced home mechanic. However, safety items and most areas of the high-performance variants are best left to the professionals.Spare parts prices are about average for a car in this class. The Subaru dealer network, though relatively small, works efficiently. Because of Subarus’ popularity in country areas there are dealers in comparatively remote areas.Insurance charges on all but the turbocharged high-performance Liberty RS and Liberty B4 are moderate. The turbo models can be really expensive to cover, especially if you are a young and/or inexperienced driver. Living in a high-risk area further increases charges. Be sure to get a quote before falling in love with a turbo Liberty as premiums can be scary.Look over the interior trim and carpets for signs of damage, though they usually hold up well to all but the most outrageous of treatment. Mud or a real buildup of dust may indicate a lot of time spent of the beaten track.Check out the luggage area for signs of harsh treatment caused by carrying big and/or sharp loads. Have a look underneath a car, particularly the Outback, for signs of damage through it coming into contact with the ground. Some owners really do treat them as though they are ‘real’ 4WDs.The undersides of the bumpers, especially on their corners, are usually the first to suffer. Be sure the engine starts quickly and immediately idles smoothly no matter how cold the conditions. The sixes are naturally smoother than the fours, but the latter should be pretty good as well. Manual gearboxes should be quiet in operation and gearchanges should be smooth and light. Automatics which tend to hunt up and down the gears, or which are slow to go into gear, could be due for an overhaul. Rust is not common in Subarus, but if one has been badly repaired after a crash it may get into the metal. Call in a professional inspector if there’s the slightest doubt.

No matter how schmick the car looks, though, at this sort of money there are probably one or two expensive time bombs lurking within it.

Holden has caught on, so has Ford, but both have got a long way to go if they want to catch up with Subaru who hit the market in 1996 with the first family wagon with the ability to go off-road. As Holden rolls out the Commodore-based Adventra all-wheel drive wagon, and Ford makes noises about its all-new Territory which is due in 2004, Subaru’s Outback continues to rack up sales in a market segment that shows no sign of slowing.The idea of blending a regular family wagon with all-wheel drive makes a lot of sense. You get the roominess of a wagon, the dynamic safety of all-wheel drive, and the ability to explore bush tracks in the one package. The great news is that you don’t have the massive size and on-road clumsiness of the bigger four-wheel drive wagons.MODEL WATCHSubaru made no bones about the Outback when it was launched in 1996. It was a Liberty wagon put on a course of steroids, they admitted, but it was conceived to offer buyers the flexibility of a four-wheel drive without the downsides of size, compromised safety and sloppy chassis dynamics. It was perfect for the buyer who wanted an all-round vehicle with reasonable off-road capability without sacrificing the comfort and style that goes hand-in-hand with a passenger cars.It was clear from the outset that the Outback was a jacked-up Liberty wagon. It looked like a Liberty, but with increased ground clearance, although the large front and rear overhangs rather limited its approach and departure angles.Add to that the lack of low range gearing and no real protection for vulnerable components underneath and you get the idea that the Outback wasn’t intended to go deep into the bush. Subaru admitted as much at its launch when it quoted data that said as many as 95 per cent of new off-roaders never leave the black top.To give it the ability to go off-road Subaru raised the suspension by 35 mm and fitted some 70-series tyres to 15-inch rims, which resulted in 200 mm ground clearance and made it comparable to many more serious off-roaders.The suspension was also retuned to handle the tough stuff, with retuned shocks and springs, and increased wheel travel, which made it quite comfortable even when traversing some relatively rough forest tracks.But it was at its best on slippery surfaces when its all-wheel drive and passenger car chassis dynamics combined to give it an assurance and level of safety unheard of in an off-roader.Power came from Subaru’s 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed double overhead cam four cylinder engine. Boasting a modest 115 kW and 221 Nm it was sufficient to give the Outback good performance without ever threatening to leave you with whiplash.More performance was unleashed in 2000 when the H6 was released with the 3.0-litre engine, which delivered 154 kW and 282 Nm, but ran on PULP.Initially there was no choice of gearbox, it came with a four-speed auto and that was it. Still, it shifted smoothly, and there a choice of ‘power’ or ‘regular’ shift modes, and a ‘hold’ button that would lock the trans and control up or down shifts. The choice was expanded to include a five-speed manual with dual-range four-wheel drive in 1997, which added to its off-road prowess if you were serious about going bush.Inside there was plenty of room even for tall occupants with generous front and rear seat leg and head room, plus generous load space in the rear. The 70/30 split-fold rear seat added to the capacity and flexibility of the interior, and there was a retractable blind to cover the contents in the load area.The interior was also well equipped with lots of knickknacks, like delay courtesy lights, cup holders, and a powerful sound system.Two models were launched. The regular model which came with alloy wheels, ABS, remote central locking, cruise, fog lamps, power windows and mirrors, roof racks, and velour trim. On top of that the Limited got standard air-con, dual airbags, leather and wood grain, and CD sound.IN THE SHOPSubarus are generally bulletproof in the mechanical department. Subaru dealer servicing tends to be on the high side, so check service record carefully to see that it has been done, and who has carried it out.Although few Outbacks travel off-road, apart from the odd foray down a gravel road, look for signs of bush bashing anyway. Take a look underneath to signs of impact that might have damaged exposed componentry. Get it up on a hoist if you’re not sure.Tyres can wear out quite quickly, particularly on the hotter H6 model, and 50,000 km is not unusual. Brakes also need doing around 50,000 km.OWNERS SAYOutback owners are generally lavish with their praise of the car. They particularly like the combination of the wagon size and flexibility with the safety of the all-wheel drive system. Many say it’s great for towing, and a number have towed pop-tops and campers around the country on their holidays.One, Darren Wilkie, has been off roading in his and says it performed exceptionally, handling creek crossings, steep heavily rutted tracks, and soft sand with surprising ease.Main gripe is the headlights, which a number of owners say are “poor” to the extent that they have replaced them with more powerful units.LOOK FOR• good build quality• tough, reliable mechanical package• roomy accommodation for family• safety of all-wheel drive• handling on slippery roads• surprising off-road capability