2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback is available is a feature-rich seven trims. With two engines and a plethora of interior and exterior features, they have made sure that the trims are all different and not marketing gimmicks! The safety features are standard from the base up making even the base trim appealing. The pricing is also very competitive and not very wide-ranging from $ 26645 to $39695 with ample updates.

Trims	Base	Premium	Limited	Touring	Onyx Edition XT	Limited XT	Touring XT
MSRP	$26645	$28895	$33445	$37345	$34895	$37745	$39695
Engine	2.5L BOXER 4	2.5L BOXER 4	2.5L BOXER 4	2.5L BOXER 4	2.4L Turbo BOXER 4	2.4L Turbo BOXER 4	2.4L Turbo BOXER 4
Features	Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive	All the features in Base and includes or is replaced by:	All the features in Premium and includes or is replaced by	All the features in Limited and includes or are replaced by	All the features in Touring and includes or is replaced by	All the features in Onyx Edition XT and includes or is replaced by	All the features in Limited XT and includes or is replaced by
	SUBARU STARLINK Dual 7-inch Multimedia	Dual Zone Climate Control	Leather-Trimmed Upholstery	Power tilt moonroof	18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels	Leather-Trimmed Upholstery	Nappa Leather-Trimmed Upholstery
	EyeSight Driver Assist Technology	10-WAY power-adjustable driver's seat	18-inch alloy wheels	Satin Chrome finish ORVMs	Body-colored door handles	ORVMs with integrated turn signals	2-position Driver Seat Memory
	Lineartronic CVT	Heated Front Seats	Power adjustable driver and front passenger seat	Ventilated Front Seats	StarTex water repellent upholstery	LED Steering Responsive Headlights
	Hill Descent Control (HDC)	Dual Rear seat USB charging ports	Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink	STARLINK 11.6-inch navigation
	Reclining 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks	Retractable Cargo area cover	Harman Kardon Audio System
	Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control		Reverse Automatic Braking
	Vehicle Dynamics Control
	Brake Assist

We recommend

The choice here is tough as it's like taking candy from a jar. Each one has its own sweetness. So here we have two very sweet candies for you. The Premium trim of $28895 is the pocket-friendly one that comes with all the latest safety features and is a shockingly impressive off-roader. If you are willing to shell in a few more bucks, then the Onyx Edition XT of $34895 makes more sense with Subaru’s more powerful 2.4L Boxer engine which pumps out 260 horses and a more adaptive 4 wheel drive system. It even gets a unique water repellent upholstery on the inside for your weekend beach getaways.

The Subaru Outback has got rid of the old 3.6L flat-six which never used to sync as a whole package. It now houses two varying disciplines; a 2.5L Flat four and a more powerful 2.4L turbocharged flat-four. With a very complementing all-wheel-drive setup, the Outback can take you places!

What's under the hood of the Subaru?

The base trims of Outback are powered by a 2.5L flat-four pumping out 182 horses and 176-pound feet of torque.cThe higher XT trims are all powered by the 2.4L turbo Flat 4 producing 260 horses and 277-pound feet of torque. All of the above are coupled to a continuously variable transmission which mimics an 8-speed setup.

It is surprisingly silent given the fact that it houses a flat-four. The CVT doesn’t make the vehicle feel laggy nor does it feel slow from a standstill. It complements the car’s character well.

At times the more powerful variants tend to get choppy at offroading. The ride tends to get sensitive with acceleration and is not comfortable for crawling or over soft terrain.

Models	Subaru Outback   (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe   (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
MSRP	$26645	$25900	$25200	$23990
Engine	2.5L Flat4	2.4L I4	2.5L I4	2.4L I4
Transmission	CVT with  manual shift	8-speed Automatic	CVT with automatic shift	6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	182hp @5800rpm	185hp @6000rpm	170hp @6000rpm	181hp @6000rpm
Torque	176lb-ft @4400	178lb-ft @4000	175lb-ft @4400	175lb-ft @4000

Subaru performs better than most of its competition, except the Hyundai Santa Fe which has 4 more horsepower and 2 more pound-feet of torque. Moreover, Subaru is the only one with an all-wheel-drive setup which helps in tackling varying terrains. Nissan Rogue is the least powerful of the lot with 170hp and 175lb-ft of torque. The added premium of Subaru is totally justified with all its perks which makes it a better ride. 

How quick is it off the line?

The outback sprints from a standstill to 60 in a decent 8.7 seconds and crossed the quarter-mile within 17 seconds. Given the fact that it is the heaviest of the lot, the figures are pretty decent.

The All-wheel drive system is a boon as it helps propel the car without any latency which helps it achieve such numbers. The CVT is impressive as it doesn’t have any lag and has a very direct and instantaneous response.

Models	Subaru Outback  (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe  (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue  (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
0-60 MPH	8.7	8.6	8.7	7.2(est.)
Quarter mile	16.8	16.5	16.9	16.5
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	6.8	7.1	6.1(est.)	7.0

The most powerful car in this competition, the Hyundai Santa Fe does 0-60 miles in 8.6 seconds. It marginally surpasses the Outback in spite of having the upper hand. Kia Sportage is the quickest of the lot courtesy of a very impressive power to weight ratio which outclasses the rest. 

How are the driving dynamics on the Outback?

The Outback drives like no other Subaru. In Spite of being tagged as an SUV, it handles more like a premium sedan! All this is thanks to the all-new SUBARU GLOBAL Platform which has upped the torsional rigidity by a whopping 70%. This has given the engineers at Subaru to fiddle with the suspension steering and brake setup. 

It has very good body control and handles precisely. The car feels very nimble because of the short steering ratio which requires less movement for maneuvering the vehicle. This makes it a breeze to drive even in cities in spite of its dimensions.

Is the Outback a stern stopper?

Braking is not the strong point of the Outback. The combination of weak brakes and a hefty body makes it a poor stopper. The brake pedal isn’t progressive either, but it still comes to halt from 60mph in 130 feet. 

Models	Subaru Outback (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
Brake Front (in.)	12.4	12.6	11.7	12
Brake Rear (in.)	11.8	12	11.5	11.9
60-0 MPH (ft)	130	114	113	115

Compared to the competition, the Subaru stays head to head in terms of dimensions but loses on braking performance due to sheer size and weight. 

Subaru returns an acceptable fuel economy with a combined range of 29 MPG. With 33 MPG, it can travel long distances without hiccups. The most impressive part is that in spite of flaunting an all-wheel-drive setup, it still manages to give a very good range.

Models	Subaru Outback (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
MPG (city)	26	22	26	23
MPG (highway)	33	29	33	30
MPG (combined)	29	25	29	26

The Nissan Rogue and Subaru Outback give a combined MPG of 29. Hyundai Santa Fe is the least with 25 MPG(Combined), followed by Kia Sportage with 26 MPG.

Subaru has completely revamped the interior of the Outback and I dare say, it is the best interior of any Subaru to date. It has soft-touch plastics, leather upholstery on perfectly contoured seats with ample head and legroom. The generous seating dimensions do not compromise on the cargo space as well.

The entry and exits are wide for comfortable pass through. It provides a perfect balance of occupant comfort with ample legroom for a 6 footer to sit behind another one.

How Comfortable is the Subaru outback?

The added length and width of the Outback have improved seating comfort. It has a power-adjustable driver's seat with the heated front row. Automatic climate control with sound insulation on the front windows makes it a quiet place to be in.

Well, contoured seats with excellent thigh support all around keeps the occupants cocooned and comfortable. The rear seats are raised which gives the passengers a clear view of the road in front. The optional Nappa leather makes the cabin ooze in luxury. There is even a neoprene based upholstery on the Onyx Edition XT which Subaru sweetly calls StarTex. Subaru claims it to be water-resistant so that you are not hesitant to foil it after your weekend chill at the beach.

Models	Subaru Outback (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.1/58.1/42.8	41.2/59.1/44.1	41.6/56.6/43.0	39.3/57.1/41.5
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.1/57.4/39.5	39.2/58.3/40.9	38.5/55.9/37.9	39.1/55.1/38.2

Infotainment

The most highlighting feature is the introduction of a massive 11.6-inch tablet-style infotainment display which takes up all of the centers in the dashboard. This is available in all trims except the base which uses two 7 inch screens, one for multimedia and the other for the climate controls.
 

Subaru uses two processors to power the whole setup to provide a seamless and fluidic experience. The top trims have optional navigation-equipped units which give out a TESLA vibe.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard for better ease of usage.

Interior Features

• Dual 7 inch/ unified 11.6-inch Multimedia
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Nappa Leather-Trimmed Upholstery
• Ventilated Front Seats
• Heated Rear Outboard Seats
• Eight Cup and Bottle Holders
• Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity mirrors
• Water Repellent StarTex Upholstery(only on Onyx Edition Trim)

How much can the Subaru take on expeditions?

The cargo space is at 32.5 cu-ft, which is decent given the fact that it has grown on both seating and the cargo. The Outback is a typical two-row SUV which has a 60-40 split second row. Many of the previous owners were frequent offroaders which show its off-roading capabilities. 

Models	Subaru Outback (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	32.5	35.9	39.3	30.7

With 39.3 cu-ft, Nissan Rogue has the most cargo space followed by the Hyundai Santa Fe at 35.9 cu-ft. Kia Sportage comes in last after the Subaru with 30.7 cu-ft. 

The design has not gone through much of an overhaul when compared to the outgoing model. But nevertheless, it has been refreshed to get noticed enough. With a longer and wider dimension that before, it's impressive that the Subaru retains its offroading character. When the terrain gets challenging, there are certain limitations due to the long front overhang. It tends to scrape when going through a steep ascent or descent. Most of the owners seldom take it for extreme offroading, so it doesn’t create much of a situation.

Does the Outback demand a second look?

The use of high strength steel helps keep the A and B pillars thin for better outward visibility. The low beltline also gives a better view of the road upfront and the sides. The use of plastic cladding on the lower half of the car makes it usable on frequent offroad trails. The combination of the colored top and the black cladding gives the outback a distinctive look. 

Models	Subaru Outback (Base)(AWD)	Hyundai Santa Fe (Base)(FWD)	Nissan Rogue (Base)(FWD)	Kia Sportage  (Base)(FWD)
Length (in)	191.3	187.8	184.5	176.4
Width (in)	73.0	74.4	72.4	73.0
Height (in)	66.4	66.1	66.3	64.4
Ground clearance (in)	8.7	7.3	7.8	6.4
Wheelbase (in)	108.1	108.9	106.5	105.1
Track width (in) F/R	61.8/62.8	64.1/64.5	62.8/62.8	63.3/63.8
Curb weight (lbs)	3634	3591	3464	3305

Exterior Features

• LED Steering Responsive Headlights
• Roof Rails
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Endurance Plastic Body cladding
• ORVMs with integrated turn signals

Subaru has kept the Outback safe by providing all the important safety features from the base up. Adaptive Cruise control and side curtain airbags for the rear passengers are features that come in as standard. The body has also been souped up with high strength steel and reinforcements to the chassis for better crash protection. This also makes the ride much more rigid which improves handling as well.

Safety Features

• EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
• High Beam Assist(HBA)
• DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System
• Blind Spot Detection 
• Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Brake Override System
• High-Resolution Rear Vision Camera

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Santa Fe is the most powerful of the lot in performance figures. But this bump makes it suffer in fuel efficiency due to its added power. The interior is more cramped and the outside visibility is hampered by thick roof pillars. The Subaru is superior in all of these aspects and is a very competent offroader. The Outback is the better choice of the two as it provides better power, efficiency and comfort features.

Nissan Rogue

The Rogue is the least powerful of the lot and this also translates to sluggish acceleration. This makes it a very poor offroader. It also loses in the interior which is dated and houses an outclassed infotainment system. Outside visibility is a bummer that slashes it below the Outback in almost all aspects. With all these, the Rogue doesn’t stand a chance against the All rounded Subaru

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage makes a good cause with its excellent ride and handling, comfortable and spacious interiors and a very immersive dashboard layout. The sound insulation brings it at par with the Subaru Outback. But the Outback outshines it in cargo space and better power transmission and makes it a better offroader with dedicated all-wheel-drive setup.

 

The Subaru Outback falls into a very sweet spot that incorporates all the best features of its competitors while eliminating the downsides. It combines practicality, comfort, and power in a well-rounded package which is hard to come by. Being a Subaru it is very light on the pocket to live by as well. If you are in the market for an utterly reliable, spacious and feature-rich SUV which can occasionally take a beating then the Subaru Outbreak is the one for you. Who else would be willing to throw in a water repellent upholstery so that you can have fun!