The Subaru Outback essentially a Legacy with increased ground clearance is just the kind of car people in these parts need.
Ever since Subaru launched their first diesel engine in late 2007, they have become much more viable in Courier Country. Finally, they could compete, if not beat, rivals in terms of fuel economy and the standard four-wheel drive gave them an edge during harsh winters.
The Outback range still includes some petrol units a 2.5litre four-cylinder that’s slower than the diesel and a bonkers 3.6litre six cylinder that barely returns 28mpg but virtually every UK buyer is going to plump for the 150bhp diesel.
Its unique-to-Subaru boxer engine layout gives a lower centre of gravity which when coupled with four-wheel drive improves handling and grip.
There’s a lot of startup clatter, but once it’s been running for a while it’s a very quiet, biddable unit. Given that it has a lot of car to haul around, it isn’t the quickest, but it gets to 62mph in under 10 seconds, which ain’t bad, and has plenty of low-mid range pulling power.
Fuel economy is 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions 167g/km. These were pretty decent figures when the boxer diesel engine was new, but other manufacturers have leapfrogged Subaru in terms of engine technology since then, with BMW, Audi and Volkswagen all offering large estate cars with diesel units that return mpg in the high 50s and even low 60s.
However, the Outback’s economy is perfectly acceptable and I at least found the official figure quite easy to match (according to the car’s trip computer at least), getting mpg well into the 40s over my week with the car.
It’s a very roomy beast. Internal space has always been one of Subaru’s strong points and the Outback has tons of room for five people and a huge 526-litre boot. Drop the rear seats and there’s a cavernous 1677 litres.
The interior doesn’t quite feel like £28,000 worth, but you do get leather seats and most of the standard equipment you’d expect at this level including a handy reversing camera.
The ride is on the soft side, which makes it good at absorbing potholes but a little bit bouncy on motorways and A roads. Overall, it’s a big, comfortable cruiser just don’t expect it to be quite as refined as an Audi A6, BMW 5-Series or Ford Mondeo.
But then, none of those can handle a snowdrift, stream or muddy field with anything like the aplomb the Subaru can.
As an all-rounder that can carry five passengers and their luggage, cope with a bit of off-roading and return pretty decent fuel economy, the Outback makes quite a lot of sense.
Price: £28,070.0-62mph: 9.7sec.Top speed: 120mph.Economy: 44.1mpg.CO2 emissions: 167g/km.