The Subaru Outback is one of the best known model of cars of all time. The Subaru Outback model has revolutionized - and many say even started - the crossover style of vehicle. The 2011 model hasn't changed much from the 2010 model, although there are subtle differences that should be noted.
Every model includes anti-lock brakes, seatbelts with pre-tensioners, side curtain airbags, stability control and all wheel drive - to ensure that you remain in control of the vehicle at all times. The Subaru Outback model has consistently earned top honors in many safety tests and measures.
If users do desire more power, the six cylinder model should provide adequate power to get the job done.
The 2011 model is basically the same as far as styling goes when compared to the 2010 model. The 2011 Subaru Outback retains many of the great features that the 2010 model had.
The 2011 Subaru Outback continues to offer value and versatility. Unlike previous generations, the latest Outback diverges further from its wagon roots and embraces the crossover trend.
Redesigned for the 2010 model year, the 2011 Subaru Outback receives only a handful of small changes.
The Outback’s pleasant interior carries over for 2011. Despite a sales hike of $200 for all 2011 Outback’s over their 2010 counterparts, the Outback still represents a terrific value. Reviewers say drivers accustomed to light off-roading or snow will greatly appreciate the Outback’s standard all-wheel drive system
Somewhere amid the parade of crossovers and wagon-like vehicles is the Subaru Outback. The Outback's formula for success is no secret. Trim levels include the four-cylinder Outback 2.5i and six-cylinder Outback 3.6R, each of which come in three versions: base, Premium and Limited (compare them here). As with all Subarus, all-wheel drive is standard. The Outback was redesigned for 2010; you can compare that version with the 2011 Outback here. We evaluated the four-cylinder Outback last year; this time around we tested a six-cylinder Outback 3.6R Limited.
Loaded with passengers, the four-cylinder drivetrain requires patience reaching highway speeds, and it strains to keep up under hard acceleration.
The combined EPA gas mileage estimates range from 20 mpg with the six-cylinder and automatic to 24 mpg with the four-cylinder and automatic.
Employing a car-based four-wheel-independent suspension since its mid-1990s inception, the Outback displays admirable ride quality. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate the steering wheel's heavy weight at low speeds, while average drivers will want more power assist for easier parking-lot maneuvers. Find a winding road, however, and the Outback handles well. Credit the standard all-wheel drive, whose power distribution skews slightly rearward in six-cylinder Outbacks. All automatic Outbacks distribute power between the axles electronically; the manual Outback uses a simpler viscous coupling that's less proactive in doling out power when the wheels start to slip. We've driven previous Outbacks on trails, and the all-wheel drive — along with an impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance — make for better capability than you'd expect in a crossover.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard, with larger discs installed on six-cylinder Outbacks. Loaded down with some 500 pounds of cargo, our test car took significantly farther to come to a halt.
Cargo volume behind the rear seat is a competitive 34.3 cubic feet, and the Outback's wide, rectangular cargo area accommodates large cargo better than many.
In crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Outback received the highest score, Good, in front, rear, side-impact and roof-crush tests. The Outback 2.5i comes with power windows and locks, remote entry, cruise control, air conditioning and a CD stereo with an auxiliary jack and steering-wheel audio controls. A conventional moonroof (not the dual moonroof available in prior Outbacks) and the navigation system are optional.
The six-cylinder Outback 3.6R comes standard with a five-speed automatic transmission; the CVT automatic runs $1,000 in the 2.5i and 2.5i Premium (it's standard on the 2.5i Limited). Load up a six-cylinder Outback, and the price tops out around $34,000.
4/10/11
2011 Subaru Outback Reviews
