The Subaru Outback may appear to be a sporty crossover SUV but its history is rooted in the Subaru Legacy sedan. Offered as an estate or wagon version of the Legacy sedan, the Outback has, over the years, carved its own niche in the model lineup for itself, receiving bespoke design and engineering along the way.
The sixth-generation Subaru Outback is due for a global release shortly but South Africa will remain with the updated fifth-generation for the time being.
Related: We compared Subaru Outback engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…
The Outback offers a blend of comfort, convenience and impressive semi-autonomous active safety systems along with its trademarked, permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system. It's a combination of all of these features that has made the Outback a firm favourite for those that depend on rugged reliability and are not willing to sacrifice.
Trims
Subaru South Africa offers only two models in the Outback lineup, both of which receive the highest trim level possible. Subaru knows that it has a decerning clientele base and aims to cater specifically to their needs.
The two models have different engines and that's about where the differences end. You can get the Outback in 2.5i-S EyeSight Premium or in a 3.6R-S EyeSight Premium. Both offer largely the same in terms of trim with only a few small differences.
| Subaru Outback 2.5i-S ES Premium | Subaru Outback 3.6R-S ES Premium | |
| 225/60 R18 | Alloy wheels | 225/60 R18 |
| Auto LED | Headlights | Auto LED |
| Auto | Wipers | Auto |
| Power | Tailgate | Power |
| Standard | Sunroof | Standard |
| Leather | Upholstery | Leather |
| 7-inch touchscreen | Infotainment | 7-inch touchscreen |
| Automatic Climate Control | Air Conditioning | Automatic Climate Control |
| Keyless - Push Button Start | Key | Keyless - Push Button Start |
Engines
As stated earlier, the only real difference between the two models are the engines. You get to choose from a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder boxer engine or a 3.6-litre, 6-cylinder boxer engine. South African models use the EJ25 engine in the 2.5 rather than the newer FB25 engine. This is largely due to the quality of our fuel, our high average climate temperatures and our altitude at the reef.
| Subaru Outback 2.5i-S ES Premium | Subaru Outback 3.6R-S ES Premium | |
| 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder boxer (F4) | Type | 3.6-litre, 6-cylinder boxer (F6) |
| 129 kW | Power | 191 kW |
| 235 Nm | Torque | 350 Nm |
| 10.2-seconds | Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h | 7.6-seconds |
| 7.7 l/100km | Fuel consumption (Claimed combined cycle) | 9.9 l/100km |
Safety
The Subaru Outback places a lot of emphasis on safety. There are no fewer than 10 different active and passive safety systems at work in the Subaru Outback, ranging from a comprehensive array of airbags, to the preemptive EyeSight safety system. Below are only a few of the safety features found on the Subaru Outback. We suggest watching this test of the Subaru Eyesight system to find out more about the active safety system that every car should have: Putting Subaru Eyesight to the test
| Subaru Outback 2.5i-S ES Premium | Subaru Outback 3.6R-S ES Premium | |
| Standard | Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection (SRVD) | Standard |
| Standard | High Beam Assist | Standard |
| Standard | Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) | Standard |
| Standard | Active Torque Vectoring | Standard |
| Standard | Cabin Protection design | Standard |
| Standard (7) | Airbags | Standard (7) |
| Standard | Integrated Roll Bars | Standard |
| Standard | Head Restraints (height and tilt adjustable) | Standard |
| Standard | Pretensioner Seatbelts | Standard |
Verdict
Both the 2.5i-S EyeSight Premium and the 3.6R-S EyeSight Premium are attractive propositions with only the engine and power output coming into play. If you are looking to tow a caravan or boat and need the extra pulling power, we suggest the 3.6 for your needs. For everyone else that would like a sensible, user-friendly sportswagon, the 2.5 will do just fine.
Recommended next:
Which Subaru XV model retains its value best?
Volvo V90 Cross Country vs Subaru Outback: here's our winner
