2010 Subaru Outback Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2013 Subaru Liberty and Outback as used buys.

City types can venture off-road in Subaru’s high-riding wagon. New The idea of a high-riding station wagon with limited off-road capability seemed a clever one when Subaru introduced the Outback. After all, not everyone wanted to go serious bush-bashing and most SUV buyers really wanted the high-driving position

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.

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I was prepared not to like Subaru's first attempt at a diesel.  The Japanese brand has lost my vote when it comes to the new Liberty/Outback styling direction - although the interior is well-equipped and roomier.A drive in a couple of the new-look models from the Liberty/Outback range had shown better interior room and comfort but a dislike for exterior.  I have, however, regained some faith in the brand after some time in the new diesel.Drivetrain and PriceOnly the lack of an automatic transmission - like the 2.5-litre petrol models' continuously-variable transmission or a more conventional automatic - is an oversight.  The Outback 2.0D meets EuroV emissions standards with 160g/km.The claimed combined fuel economy figure of 6.4 litres per 100km is frugal for a family-sized wagon and Subaru says local testing suggests an 1100km touring range of steady freeway driving.We're in the entry-level Outback 2.0D model, priced at $40,490 - a $2500 price premium over the entry-level petrol model - but the 51kg-heavier oil-burner is a manual-only proposition. The new two-litre turbodiesel engine produces 110kW at 3600rpm and 350Nm of torque between 1800 and 2400 rpm, although there's a claimed 300Nm at 1600rpm.EquipmentThe base-model might not have all the bells and whistles but the base-model's sound system is good quality, flooding the comfortable and roomier interior with crisp and clear music.  All-wheel drive, stability control and dual front, side and curtain airbags - as well as an airbag for the driver's knees - are the safety feature highlights.DrivingYou wouldn’t know it's a diesel straight away - the engine isn't overly chuggy or rattly and noise suppression is good; Subaru also claims its new single-cradle engine bay design helps reduce noise.It doesn't give the impression of a strong low end - the power delivery is linear and smooth for a turbodiesel powerplant, which might normally have a big low-down shove and then run out of puff at higher engine revolutions.  While the petrol 2.5-litre flat-four produces 123kW and 229Nm, the 110kW/350Nm two-litre turbodiesel offers more torque and a reduced thirst of around two litres per 100km.Subaru says for 25,000km per year at $90 per 65-litre tankful, an Outback diesel owner could save approximately $2500 over 20 months on an equivalent petrol car.The diesel is rated for up to 1700kg braked towing, a 200kg improvement above the petrol model.  But the lack of automatic will deter plenty in this market, as will the issues with the six-speed maual.The gearbox itself is OK to use, the shift action is smooth, but the shifting into third gear can result in the driver's hand hitting the hazard light switch.  It's below par for Subaru, a company which normally gets things like that right.SUBARU OUTBACK DIESELPrice: from $40,490.Engine: two-litre 16-valve DOHC common-rail direct-injection four-cylinder.Transmission: six-speed manual, four-wheel drive using a centre differential with a viscous limited slip differential.Power: 110kW @ 3600rpm.Torque: 350Nm between 1800 & 2400rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 9.7 seconds.Fuel consumption: 6.4 litres/100km, on test 7.8 litres/100km, tank 65 litres.Emissions: 168 g/km.Suspension: MacPherson strut (front); self-levelling double wishbone (rear).Brakes: four-wheel discs, front ventilated, with anti-lock and stability control systems.Dimensions: length 4790mm, width 1820mm, height 1615mm, wheelbase 2745mm, track fr/rr 1535/1530mm, cargo volume 490/1690 litres, weight 1551kg.Wheels: 17in alloys.RIVALSSkoda Octavia Scout, from $39,990.Suzuki Grand Vitara DDiS, from $35,990.Nissan X-Trail, from $37,740.VW Tiguan, from $36,690.