Luxury of a different flavor

Subaru has never been known to make everyman cars. The company’s insistence on making all-wheel drive standard in all its models has been both boon and bane to prospective buyers. Great if you really need the traction, not so great if you’re concerned about saving an extra 10 or so percent in fuel costs from friction losses. Then there’s the styling bent, which at times has caused one to wonder if the brand’s designers were perhaps under the influence of…something when they came out with devil-may-care models like the bug-eyed Impreza and the atomic wedgie-like Tribeca a generation past.

So, it’s a good idea to approach the Outback – Motor Image Philippine’s most expensive car (excepting the STi) – with altered expectations. As luxury cars go, the Outback has the sole distinction of being the only wagon body in a market dominated by sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. And as cars go, the Outback has SUV-wannabe credentials going for it: it has all-wheel drive (natch), ruggedized bumpers and body cladding, and raised ground clearance. You would be insane to attempt a river crossing in an Outback, but flooded streets (so long as you don’t submerge the hood) shouldn’t be a problem. So too would be dirt and gravel roads largely free of Picanto-sized potholes. In short, it’s capable enough to do the light “off-roading” real world owners would ever subject their vehicles to.

Of course, where most SUVs at the Outback’s price point throw you acres of hard plastic and tacky fake wood, the Scooby’s interior is sincerely luxurious: pliant leather, fine grain plastic, and elegant instrumentation provide a comfortable atmosphere. The overall look is conservative and likable, no pretense of avant-garde styling or effeminate touches here, boys. It’s a man’s car even if it’s a wagon. After all, real men don’t need an SUV’s “commanding view” of whatever’s in front. Heck, they just drive around it. To help with this, the Outback gets an increasingly politically incorrect 3-liter, 245 PS flat-6.

With the help of a 5-speed manumatic, acceleration is brisk and it effortlessly holds triple digit speeds. It also drinks gas as copiously as any other engine of similar displacement, although keep it on the highway and you’ll get 8.5 kpl most of the time. Semi-guzzling tendencies aside, the flat-6 is typically Subaru in that it growls up the tach with a determined urgency accompanied by a sewing machine-like beat. There is an SI-DRIVE feature for the drivetrain. Manipulated by a rotary dial below the shifter, it allows you to tailor the responsiveness of the throttle and transmission: “Intelligent” for city driving, “Sport” for more responsiveness, and Sport Sharp for when you want to drag race, P60/liter gas be damned.

In “Intelligent”, the drivetrain feels lethargic at any speed; shifts are slow to come on, and throttle tip-in feels sleepy. “Sport” quickens things up nicely and is ideal for both cut-and-thrust driving and highway cruising. “Sport Sharp”, however, felt too jumpy and out-of-character whether in low speed or high, although yeah, if you ever need to drive like a bat out of hell, I suppose it’s just right. A multi-information display on the instrument panel tells you what mode of SI-DRIVE you are in, while a shortcut “Sport #” button on the steering wheel gets you in “Sport Sharp” without having to use the rotary dial.

Despite the moniker, the Outback needn’t be driven off the road to be fully appreciated. Long high speed drives, the type that actually make you use the cruise control, are enjoyable in the Subaru. The car’s low center of gravity relative to an SUV means you can go faster with more confidence, and the all-wheel drive means you needn’t let up on the throttle when rain starts to fall. The all-independent suspension has been tuned for comfort over performance, and what it lacks in athleticism, it makes up for in all-day comfort. Actually, drive it after a stint in Subaru’s own WRX and it feels like an OSIM massage chair. A day trip to Subic via the world-class Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway seemed tailor-fit for the Outback as the long open stretches let one switch on the cruise control at 150kph. At that speed, the chassis is exceptionally stable despite the raised ride height, with the steering giving ample feedback. Ride comfort from the all-independent suspension is also top-notch, providing SUV-like bump absorption without the “tall n’ tippy” feel.

With a retail price of P2.240M, the Outback won’t appeal to bargain hunters or for those who value size with value, but it’s a more affordable alternative to that other pseudo-SUV wagon – the Volvo XC70.  For the money, the Outback throws in a moonroof, 6 airbags, ABS, stability and torque control, 55-series tires, and its own brand of “luxury outdoorsy” motoring that’s quite endearing if you’re tired of the usual SUV behemoth.  The Outback will forever be a niche vehicle in the Philippine market, but for those who choose to go the Subaru way, that’s just another reason to own one.

The Good: Handsome styling. Peerless all-wheel drive. Balanced ride-and-handling compromise. Excellent build quality.

The Bad: Thirsty engine. Somewhat complicated drivetrain settings. Average stereo quality. Pricey.

The Verdict: A niche wagon for those who want SUV-performance without the SUV-bulk.