With all the commercial showing us that the Outback is a go anywhere, appearing to be a slightly larger than average wagon on larger wheels this car has an unquestioned following to make owners of other vehicles stop and think. Anyone who wants a car that can haul it, camp it, push it or pull it should certainly shop at their nearby Subaru dealership and check out the Outback.
Offering exceptional handling in all types of weather the Outback has an excellent series of upgrades for 2014 to add more functionality to the already functional Swiss Army Knife of the car world. Most popular among buyers in the Snow Belt, the Cold Weather Package has been made standard on the Premium model along with a LCD display radio. The Premium model is also offered with a navigation system and EyeSight driver assistance to aid the driver in knowing where they are going and making the drive as safe as possible.
The Outback can be equipped with either a four or six cylinder engine both with manual transmissions and fuel mileage ranging from 22 city/29 hwy mpg to 24 city/30 hwy mpg in the four cylinder models to 18 city/25 hwy mpg in the six cylinder engines. The biggest difference between these two engines other than the mileage is the horsepower. The four cylinder engine possesses a modest 173 horsepower while the six cylinder engine brings in a nice 256 horsepower. Thankfully both engines run on regular 87 octane fuel to help keep the cost in this category down some.
The Outback offers three different trim packaged to choose from: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. Even in the base model 2.5i the Outback has some great features that come standard to any car buyer. The 2.5i is equipped with a single CD stereo and USB port, power windows locks and mirrors, Bluetooth, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls built in, a remote keyless entry, roof rack, and 16-in plastic wheel covers. For all this the price tag starts out at a modest $24,320 for a great car.
Once moved up to the 2.5i Premium the price jumps to $26,620, but for this small bump in price a ton of great features are added. Coming in with the Subaru known Cold Weather Package which includes heated seats, side mirrors, and windshield defrosters, 17-in alloy wheels, an audio system with a 4.3-in LCD display, fog lights, 10-way power driver’s seat and a retractable cargo cover, which is a ton of additions for the price.
The top of the line of the Subaru Outback, the 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited add leather seating, a Harman/Kardon audio system, power passenger seat, automatic climate controls, the CVT automatic transmission, rear seat vents, electroluminescent gauge package and wood trim accents. For all these great features the price is raised to a still affordable $29,920 for the 2.5i Limited, add the 3.6-liter engine and the price moves to the top range of $32,920, still a lot of car for the money.
The Subaru Outback does offer a lot of optional features depending on the trim package from the EyeSight driver assistance to a power sunroof and backup camera. Some packages can also add a choice of exterior colors, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and push-button start.
The Outback earned five stars from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its crash test rating and is a Top Safety Pick. The Outback performed really well when tested, only being limited by the lack of a sixth gear in the 3.6 liter engine model, but is a very capable and dependable vehicle to own and use for off-road trips as well as a daily commuter.
For Outback fans and enthusiasts, a newly redesigned version is scheduled to make an appearance at the New York Auto Show in April of 2014, promising to offer another round of fantastic upgrades for its followers to fall in love with.
Although specifically designed as a take a trip kind of vehicle, the Subaru Outback is fully capable of performing a vast range of functions and can be utilized for just about any need an owner may have. It’s no wonder owners of the Subaru Outback stick by their vehicles and when shopping again chooses to simply upgrade their already great vehicles.
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