2020 Subaru OutbackBrian Harper / Driving WHITEHORSE, Yukon Although its sales in Canada currently have it in third place in behind the Crosstrek and Forester, the Subaru Outback remains the manufacturers most iconic nameplate, as well as its most successful marketing coup taking a Legacy station wagon, jacking it up, adding on some macho body cladding, larger wheels and mud flaps, and then having Australian actor Paul Hogan (a.k.a. Crocodile Dundee) pitch it in commercials. Beating the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 to market by a year or two, the public, sensing the need for compact, all-wheel-drive, winter-friendly transportation, ate it up.Twenty-five years later, the sixth generation version makes its debut, having long ago lost most of the plastic cladding that identified its predecessors, yet retaining the core attributes far more car-like ride and handling than the bulk of its crossover rivals, paired to characteristics that define both the Outback and Subaru, including standard full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive, 220 millimetres of ground clearance, and Subarus standard X-Mode assist with hill descent control.Of course, Subaru, not wanting to upset its very loyal customer base who, according to the companys marketing gurus, loath change for the sake of change has made sure the new model is instantly familiar to one and all. So, yes, the Outback is now packed with the latest in comfort, convenience and safety features, and its exterior dimensions and cargo room have increased slightly, though it retains the same wheelbase. But it looks a lot like the previous model which is to say, if you squint your eyes, its profile resembles a hiking boot.The standard 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is familiar, albeit now thoroughly overhauled with 90 per cent new parts and putting out a few extra horses 182 horsepower, to be exact, plus 176 pound-feet of torque as well as direct injection and automatic start/stop for reduced emissions. The optional 3.6L six-cylinder from the previous two generations has been deep-sixed in favour of a more powerful, turbocharged 2.4L Boxer four-cylinder that pumps out a solid 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. (It should not come as a surprise that these same two engines are found in the equally new 2020 Legacy sedan.) Towing capacity also increases to 3,500 pounds from the four-cylinders 2,700. Conservatively restyled it might be, but the 2020 Outback is now built on the modular Subaru Global platform that, along with an increase in the use of structural adhesive and ultra-high tensile-strength steel, means a much stiffer car. Subaru claims torsional- and front-suspension rigidity increase 70 per cent and front lateral flexural- and rear-subframe rigidity increase 100 per cent compared to the previous Outbacks platform. So the car a $40,995 Premier model with the 2.5L engine was more than tough enough to handle what turned out to be remarkably smooth (and lightly travelled) highways. We headed south from Whitehorse, through northern B.C. and into Skagway, Alaska for lunch, just in time to bump into a horde of tourists coming ashore from two cruise ships.The Outback proved to be impressively quiet over the entire route, no matter the road surface. Equally notable was the crossovers ride and handling. The Outback offered up well-damped suspension and an agility bordering on jaunty the standard active torque vectoring holding up its end in the sweepers. The steering is light to the touch and a bit remote, though, seemingly more so in models with the turbo-four.As with the new Legacy we sampled a few weeks ago, the Outbacks 2.5L Boxer four is smoother and quieter than the engine in the previous-generation model. The issue is a paucity of solid mid-range urge, the engine requiring a solid prod of the gas pedal needed for passing pokier RVs on steeper, longer inclines. Stepping up to one of the XT trim levels, which comes with the turbo-four and an additional 78 horsepower, renders this issue moot. An added plus is that the turbo engine is engineered to perform on regular-grade 87 octane.After lunch, we grabbed the keys to the newest addition to the Outback model range the Outdoor XT ($38,695) touted by Subaru as the most off-road-ready version to date. Though the engine and transmission are the same as the other two XTs (Limited and Premier), the Outdoor gets dual-function X-Mode, which adds Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes to the equation. There are a few detail differences as well, including all-weather seat surfaces, heavy-duty floor mats, a front-view camera and a full-size spare tire instead of a doughnut. A quick off-road detour onto a hilly and rutted dirt trail showcased the Outdoors competency as far more than a suburban mall assault vehicle. Whether out adventuring or just heading to the local Dairy Queen for a milkshake and a burger, families get the peace of mind that comes from Subarus standard
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Subaru Outback