Finally, and the initiative is worth mentioning, Subaru installed removable roof rails as standard equipment that can be moved to the side to accommodate larger objects. Gone are the days of purchasing extra supports, and goodbye wind resistance: once back in place, the side bars are invisible and everything is quite solid.
On and off the road
So all that was left to do was put this new Outback through its paces on Newfoundland's roads. A relatively simple task in the beginning, as the towns we drove through required us to slow down, the streets being narrow and the children being many. The Outback does beautifully, and the H6 engine, never winded, purrs on. Only the automatic transmission is slow to downshift sometimes, but a little help from the steering wheel paddles is all it takes to get it back on track.
The H6 takes over on the highway, and the cabin remains shrouded in silence. But where the Outback really surprises you is off-road, particularly on highly bumpy and rocky trails. It nimbly threads its way across country, and only once did we feel any rocks scrape the floor of the car. Surprising for a vehicle that, all things considered, is simply a glorified station wagon.
Of course, its size and weight make themselves known, but Subaru did a good job, and the new Outback should put a smile on the faces of adventurers, or those that still think they're adventurers, of all ages.
One question though: with such an all-round efficient Outback, and one that's so well equipped, does Subaru still need a more expensive Forester? Only the market will tell.
photo:Marc Bouchard
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| The Outback has an electronic hill descent and ascent control to stabilize the vehicle on sharp inclines. |
On and off the road
So all that was left to do was put this new Outback through its paces on Newfoundland's roads. A relatively simple task in the beginning, as the towns we drove through required us to slow down, the streets being narrow and the children being many. The Outback does beautifully, and the H6 engine, never winded, purrs on. Only the automatic transmission is slow to downshift sometimes, but a little help from the steering wheel paddles is all it takes to get it back on track.
The H6 takes over on the highway, and the cabin remains shrouded in silence. But where the Outback really surprises you is off-road, particularly on highly bumpy and rocky trails. It nimbly threads its way across country, and only once did we feel any rocks scrape the floor of the car. Surprising for a vehicle that, all things considered, is simply a glorified station wagon.
Of course, its size and weight make themselves known, but Subaru did a good job, and the new Outback should put a smile on the faces of adventurers, or those that still think they're adventurers, of all ages.
One question though: with such an all-round efficient Outback, and one that's so well equipped, does Subaru still need a more expensive Forester? Only the market will tell.
photo:Marc Bouchard
2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
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