Review: 2015 Subaru Outback

Cars, Reviews, SUVs  /   /  By Alex Kramer

The Off-Road Capable Station Wagon Rolls On

Likes:

  • Impressive off-road capability for a wagon
  • Good fuel economy courtesy of the new CVT
  • Spacious interior is comfortable and easily swallows lots of gear
  • Still an excellent value for a very capable, practical car

Dislikes:

  • Engine options are basically the same
  • Exterior design is still less than handsome

For years Subaru has marketed the Outback as the go-to vehicle for the outdoor crowd. Although the previous generation, launched in 2010, made the Outback look more like a crossover SUV, for most people the Outback continues to serve as a modern day station wagon, but one with surprising off road capability. The new 2015 Outback continues with the same basic recipe, but offers a few tweaks here and there to help perfect the formula.

We recently had the opportunity to take a 2015 Outback 3.6R Limited up into the Sierra Nevada mountains for the annual Downieville Classic mountain bike race. Taking the new Outback to this event almost felt like a homecoming of sorts, as plenty of bikers, hikers, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts rely on an Outback to lug their gear every weekend. We also had a chance to really test if the new Outback still has the off-road chops that Subaru claims it does.

2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

Before we get to the details of the trip, here’s a quick rundown of what’s new for 2015. The engines are essentially the same as before, with a 175 hp 2.5 L boxer 4-cylinder under the hood for the three 2.5i trim levels, and an optional 256 hp 3.6 L boxer 6-cylinder for the 3.6R. A CVT is now the only transmission offered, regardless of engine choice. All Outbacks now come with X-Mode, which integrates the all-wheel drive system with the ABS and traction control systems to help the driver conquer more challenging off road terrain.

The exterior receives a subtle redesign, including a new front grill, but unfortunately it doesn’t make the Outback any more handsome. The interior is also largely the same, although a new touch screen and updated electronics grace the dash. Altogether, this is definitely more of an evolution than an all-new design, but given that the Outback continues to be one of the top sellers for Subaru, we can’t fault the “don’t mess with success” approach.

Getting back to our road trip, the beauty of heading up to Downieville is that you get to spend almost an hour on one of the nicest driving roads in the country. Highway 49 twists and turns its way through the gold country, with enough high-speed sweepers mixed with tight hairpins to give any car a thorough workout. Unfortunately, loaded down with three passengers, three bikes, and a bunch of camping gear, the Outback isn’t really your best cornering companion. Body roll is present the moment you pitch the wheel. Pitch it too hard and the all-season tires start to howl with complaint. Fortunately the 6-cylinder engine provided plenty of power to charge up the occasional steep grades, and the CVT was perfectly competent, although offering paddle shifters to actuate a set of manual “gears” seems a bit silly, especially given the lack of cornering agility.

After a few miles of hard charging we opted for a more relaxed pace, which allowed us to appreciate the rather luxurious interior of our top of the line test car. With comfortable leather seats and plenty of room, the Outback does a surprisingly good job of coddling its occupants. Aiding the perception of luxury is a surprising level of quietness, achieved through new acoustic laminated glass. Before we knew it we were rolling into town, feeling quite refreshed and ready for a weekend of fun. Even the fuel efficiency was a pleasant surprise, as we averaged just over 24 mpg, certainly a bit better than what you’d get in most mid-sized SUVs.

2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

On our final day in the mountains we decided to give the Outback a real off-road test by heading up to the Sierra Buttes, a group of rocky crags that dominates the landscape. An old fire service lookout is still perched on top, offering the finest views of the entire northern Sierra. To avoid having to hike the full 2 miles from the main trailhead, we took a jeep trail that claws its way up the mountain and deposits you right at the base of the Buttes, leaving only a half-mile hike to the top. The only catch is that this is a steep, rutted, and bumpy track, and is only recommended for high clearance 4WD vehicles. Should be no problem in an AWD wagon with standard tires, right?

After engaging the X-Mode we started up the hill, slowly but surely making our way up to the top. There were a few anxious moments, as the tires clawed for traction in the dry, dusty dirt mixed with loose rocks, but the Outback’s symmetrical all-wheel drive was more than up for the challenge. Even more impressive was the hill descent control, which allowed us to creep down the mountain at about 3 miles an hour without even touching the brakes. Just pick a good line and the Outback will literally do the rest.

2015 subaru outback sierra buttes trail

Needless to say, we came away very impressed with how capable the Outback is in truly challenging terrain. This was the kind of trail that would leave most modern crossover SUVs stranded, and yet the Outback didn’t even look like it was sweating too much. After loading up our bikes and gear, it was time to head back down to civilization, and we enjoyed the quiet and comfortable ride home.

2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited

  • Engine: 3.6-liter DOHC aluminum-alloy 24-valve horizontally opposed 6-cylinder SUBARU BOXER® engine
  • Power: 256 hp @ 6,000 rpm
  • Torque: 247 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
  • Transmission: Lineartronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
  • Fuel economy estimates (hwy/city): 27/20 MPG
  • Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive – standard
  • X-MODE™ traction assist system with Hill Descent Control – standard
  • MSRP: $32,995
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