Subaru Outback (09 on) - Review

The ride does a decent job of ironing out bumps and rough surfaces, although it can get caught out by deeper potholes, but it's impressively smooth on the motorway, making the Outback a relaxing cruiser. The downside is considerable road and engine noise which take the edge off refinement. But there's plenty of room in the cabin and four adults can travel in comfort, while the high roof makes it feel particularly roomy. Three adults can fit in the back, with enough elbow room and generous legroom, but the raised central tunnel on the floor means there's limited foot space for the person unlucky enough to be stuck in the centre. The rear seats do recline though while those in the front are heated - the driver gets electrical adjustment too although the front passenger only has manual adjustment (except on the 3.6R where it's also electric). Dual-zone climate control is standard on all models.

Thanks to a wide boot floor and impressive luggage room of 526 litres - more than a Volvo XC70 and larger than its predecessor - the Outback is great for families or as a workhorse. There's no boot lip, so loading heavy or large objects is much easier, while the rear seats flip down in one motion with the simple pull of a lever located in the boot. There's also extra storage under the boot floor. The Outback comes with self-levelling suspension as standard, making it ideal for towing trailers and caravans or for carrying heavier items, along with a hill-start assist system. In the cabin there's decent storage with reasonable door pockets that can accommodate a 500ml drinks bottle, a large central cubby with an armrest and a glovebox that can hold 31 CDs.

The interior of the Outback is a lot sleeker than the previous model with a more modern appearance, but it's still dominated by some hard and drab-looking plastics. It certainly doesn't feel like a car with a price tag of more than £25,000 and compared to other cars at this level, seems somewhat low-rent. That said, it is well put together and there are no squeaks or rattles on the move while the materials used are hard-wearing. The layout of the main buttons is straightforward and everything is easy to use, including the touchscreen sat nav and CD stereo. There's also an electric handbrake, which frees up space on the central console, but the button is slightly hidden away by the driver's right knee. The driving position is good with plenty of movement in the seat along with both reach and height adjustment in the steering wheel.