Subaru Outback review and buyer's guide | Auto Expert John Cadogan
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- Опубликовано: 28 дек 2024
- New Subaru Outback - the sixth generation of what began as a mad experiment with the Liberty wagon in 1994 - I’m at the end of a week in the poverty pack 2021 Outback, and about to swap to the high-spec Outback Touring. What’s it really like, and is it a contender for you? Here’s my initial assessment.
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So, I’m being facetious referring to this car as ‘poverty’ in any way. It’s simply a piece of insider slang - the entry-level model always called the ‘poverty pack’. This is anything but.
Poverty Outback gets the big centre screen (11.6 inches - portrait orientation, too - bucking that ‘landscape’ trend). Plus, virtually all the safety systems are standard - which, admittedly, are a bit intrusive at times. Nature of the beast.
Poverty Outback is, essentially, fully-loaded on safety - including driver monitoring and autonomous emergency steering. This is one area where Outback really delivers across the range.
LED lighting too - like, LED headlamps, turn signals and daytime running lights, even in ‘poverty class’. Respect to Subaru for packing all that in, for the basic price, and remaining competitive.
2000 kilos of braked towing capacity, CVT’s got manual mode. Plus, 213mm of ground clearance, so Outback has some legitimate off-road ability.
Senior executive Subaru dudes say the engine is 90 per cent new - but I’m on the fence about this engine. Like, it’s still 2.5 litres and atmo, and a boxer, and I’m sure it’s perfectly adequate for 90 per cent of Outback owners.
It’s refined, but mediocre … adequate - meaning it’s exactly what a lot of people need/want. Speaking personally, however, I’m not one of those people. I’ll take ‘more’. I did take more. I’ve owned two WRXs and a Forester XT: all awesome, trouble-free cars.
It is, therefore, a deadset shame in my view that they do not make the 2.4 turbo petrol engine available here, as it is in ‘Murica. That’s a real step backwards - they dropped the 3.6, and didn’t replace it with anything punchy or otherwise inspirational.
On balance, I’d suggest Outback is a net evolution for Subaru - long awaited, but a proper step forward, in most respects. Subaru does have its bolted on fans. They don’t shop around. The Symmetrical AWD and the awesome customer care - it certainly builds loyalty.
Outback has a lot of appeal - especially if you are in Club Conservative. Nothing wrong with that.
But the passion deficit is a thing. It kills brands. Just look at Honda and Nissan - both having near-death experiences today. I think some other brands - like Hyundai and Kia - are taking the fight to Subaru, and their incremental evolution is proceeding at a faster rate than Subaru’s.
You know that expression: ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’? I think Subaru needs to channel its inner product planning Ghandi, and reverse the tide on passion - if only to protect the terrain it has fought so hard to occupy today.
Outback is a really good SUV. The value proposition is solid. And the company is awesome at customer care. And I don’t say that about every vehicle, as you know. In fact, Outback is the right SUV for a great many people … it’s just unfortunately not quite as good as it otherwise might have been.
It is now 2024 and they offer a 2.4-Liter, 4-cylinder, Turbo charged engine in the Outback. It is amazing. The quick acceleration is phenomenal, getting on the highway or when you need to pass another vehicle. Subaru can’t decide whether this is a family station wagon or a high performance vehicle. This is the best vehicle I have owned.
My 2016 Outback's Eyesight system saved me from a bad wreck when a woman ran a traffic light. I didn't even know it was happening. Suddenly my car was stopped about 3 feet from the drivers side door of her Toyota Camry. The woman looked terrified with my Outback mere feet from t-boning her car. It happened so quickly that I was confused as to what had just happened. That day the Eyesight sure made a believer out of me.
Lucky no one was behind you too close. 🙈
Just out of curiosity, where were you looking at that you didn't see a car in front of you?
Clearly the other 2 who replied before me didn't read the first 2 sentences of your comment, I love it when a safety feature saves you from a really bad day or worse, I bet that day you were really happy with your purchase 👍🏼
@@daveamies5031 looks like you don’t understand how rear ends happen when people for example brakes at the first sight of an amber light. But ok, I didn’t read the first two sentences.
@@offroadingfoz I do understand how rear ends happen, but nothing in the OP comment indicates he would have had a rear end, so I still fail to see the relevance of people picking on him for not paying attention and almost having one?
As you drive along Dingo Piss Ck, you will appreciate the CD player when Spotify stops as your phone loses reception.
You can play spotify offline aslong as you download the music and a member
Get a flash drive
Yup, relying on the cloud or on streaming services is for mugs. Fyi, the free Spotify has such terrible audio quality - it makes my ears bleed - I won't listen to such highly compressed and low data rate music.
Get an Android phone and chuck an SD card in it. S10's come in 512GB built in and take a 512GB SD card. That's over half a Terabyte of storage.
I'd have to agree with a CD player being a bit outdated, however Spotify don't have the Jimi Hendrix Albert Hall experience playlist which i have on a CD, so take that John, Subaru and Lexus CD players for the win, epic Hendrix riff I think you'd agree 😎
There is something special about putting a CD in and just letting it play. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory, Back in Black, Daryl Braithwaite Lemon Tree...
@@ScottMurrayBestFamilyCars plus how would you enjoy the audiobook version of Dick Head Pro
Put down a deposit on one of these today after miraculously finding a dealer with stock. Just went for the poverty pack and I'm rapt with the decision, it's a lot of car for the money! If I could sum up the engine in one word it would be "adequate" but the rest of the car was good enough to convince me
Smart choice. It's such a good vehicle overall.
Just put down a deposit on one ourselves and the base model is more than enough the other features just weren’t worth the extra cost in my opinion and now just have to wait for it to be built and delivered which may be not till next year :’( I shall wait
@@1800dontcare Good decision, I'm now up to 7k on the odometer and it's been fantastic. Yours will be worth the wait!
@@andyharrison5238 thanks so much for coming back and giving an update on your experience.
Just scored one on the boat which was a canceled order. Looking forward to it. Got the Touring but the car at any level looks fantastic.
Gotta agree with you John. I have a 2019 Outback 3.6R and there's no way I'd "upgrade" to the new atmo 4 cyl model. The 3.6R isn't exactly what I'd call "sporty" but having the extra oomph is certainly a lot more fun than not. It's been a bloody good car thus far too.
I too have a 3.6R and while it is not tyre shredding, it makes overtaking a breeze. Sports+ mode around town is fun, although a tad harsh on the upshifts (as far as a CVT upshifts.......) for me. A damn good car.
I’ve got the 2.4T in my Ascent (US Market) and it rocks. Does suck down the gas if you like to drive it aggressively, but it is nice for those two lane passing maneuvers.
I’ve also had the 2.5 in the Forester and it worked and was surprisingly zippy around town, but I would be more hesitant to go with that in the heavier Outback.
A Subaru without a turbo, is like a wee without a fart, or a dance without music.
Yes no six cylinder or diesel either.
There’s some elegance in the examples you used
Honestly i was trying to pass on a back road and it took like 10 seconds to pass someone going 50 mph and i was going full throttle. The 2.5 is fking pathetic
A tug without a happy ending ?
Thought a poo without a wee was more accurate
The best thing about the new Outback is the 90 second ad that starts with the kid catching the keys to the brumby
Yep
@@timmarks8941 You need to actually take Outback for a test drive. Honestly, I've owned previous-gen Outback for nearly three years and the new one is substantially better, in almost every way. The 7 per cent power increase is good and it's more responsive thanks to direct injection, and it's ridiculously comfy over long trips.
The roof rails are so bloody handy.
But who is the prospective buyer for the Outback given there's no diesel and no turbo engine options? It would be a massive Subaru own goal if the only people considering the Outback would have otherwise bought a Forester.
Give us the turbo! Only reason I wouldn’t consider an Outback or a Forester is the lack of turbo options.
Ex-bolted on Subaru owner here. Only will be re-bolted if/when the 2.4T arrives. I’ve had a Gen5 2.5i Outback Premium (and a Gen4 diesel before that) and wouldn’t contemplate the 2.5 again - adequate when not loaded up, sluggish with an load aboard, and don’t even attempt towing anything. I’m so disappointed, I’ve been waiting ages for this car ever since it was launched almost 2 years ago in ‘Murica
Still use CD’s occasionally and love the long term reliability and simplicity aspects of normally aspirated. I don’t care for all these boosted out GDI’d 4 bangers. Keep the faith Subaru. Nice to have a choice still.
I suspect the Subaru Outbacks in this review still do nought to 100 km/h in around ten seconds. The available acceleration is usually enough for overtaking, and from a standstill is faster than most drivers accelerate their vehicles.
Re CDs... I’m in my mid 20s and am a fan of cds. I have lots of cds that I can’t find on Spotify or anything. CD recordings are also better quality than streaming services generally, so combined with the better audio system and price tag I can see it appealing to certain people.
Can't beat the sound of uncompressed audio. That's half the point of getting a CD, at least for me anyway.
@@Toddreneeh If you need a sound system when driving, the car is a boring piece of poop.
@@bruceparr1678 Agree
@@bruceparr1678 Long highway drives are boring in any car. A good soundtrack makes them go by quicker.
I've got CD players in both my cars (though I also have bluetooth in one). Recently also bought myself a proper Akai Cassette Deck from the 90s to plug into my Sony home stereo (turntable, tuner/amp and CD player) so now I can play everything from my past, including the suitcase of tapes I'd forgotten about in the shed. Personally, I still prefer the more organic sound of LPs when at home.
Thanks for your honest opinion John. I bought the Liberty based on your review back in 2016 and have loved it. It has been a great car and like you said back then - why are we all obsessed with the SUV? There are plenty of good alternatives out there.
This is much more like a wagon than any other SUVs. They're just easier to live with in ever way.
John Cadogan I had so much fun listening to you I had to listen again - brilliant!
General Motors has advanced safety features, too. It doesn't actually run for more than a few days at a time before breaking down and sitting in the shop for two weeks. Thereby almost eliminating any change of getting involved in a crash in it.
On 0n0npopoño0p0 plpo00oo0np
I have a CD in my 98 Corolla. I listen to Ace of Base regularly.
I've got a KISS CD you can borrow.
I had an au falcon which was a good car that had a CD player and I thought it was unreal
Sounds like you got it made dude 👍
surely you spelled Ace of Spades wrong?
@@bazbbeeb7226 Must be.
Good catch!
Hey John, why was the outgoing model service intervals 6 months but in New Zealand the exact same model was 12 months ? Like was Australian dealers just getting one up on us compared to our Nz cousins ?
Yes Pickle, it’s called gouging!!
Always owned Subaru's - my current H6 Outback is on the way out and I'm not even considering Subaru anymore. Depresses me no-end but between the CVT and the under-powered engine - I can't even consider it for my moderate towing needs.
John my wife has a 2017 touring wagon. We love. It's so much more comfortable that our 200 landcruiser. But I would ditch it today without a tear for the turbo if it was available. Like you said missed opportunity for Subaru.
awesome, can we have your Subaru forester review?
he has one from 2019.
The new "Outback Sports" roof rack set up, enables carrying long sea kayaks etc, because the standard cross bars on the chunky fixed built in roof racks - can not be moved sufficiently away from each other.
John does love those Fleshlights. :p
You guys need to get real boyfriends.
@@pierrebuffiere5923 Did you take the plastic tab off the battery that is mandatory for battery products that are being shipped?
Honest car reviews are near impossible to find on youtube..i dare you to search for crap car, you will not find one..but this dude is the real deal.
I love how youtube put a mercedes gtr pro ad just before john's vid. Proudly announcing it was pcoty 2021. I like to think that John shudders randomly out of the blue everytime this happens.
I have many CDs from times past .... yes I want a CD player :P
I love CD too, better quality sound than mp3
John - what’s your thoughts on dealer pre paid services when purchasing a new car (Hyundai etc)
Avoid! Don't let them suckers draw more money out of you. It's always "bullshit o'clock". I had the wiring of an electric window fail on a recent i30 and it required extra payment to repair, despite it being under warranty and with a servicing plan. Which I didn't proceed with.
Subaru is my favourite. Reliable sticks to the road in all conditions and never an issue with service people
I love the the outback but why market your vehicles as something that can take you off the pavement while adventuring and then put a CVT in it that is going to shutdown as soon as the going gets tough.
Everything's a tradeoff. Cvts are fine for probably 99.9999% of the off-roading people will actually do in them, while providing better fuel economy and various other benefits the whole time to boot. Anyone thinking they can drive one on the rubicon trail needs their head examining irrespective of what tv ads imply.
I've had my 2015 3.6R in plenty of tough places in the Victorian High Country and the CVT is not an issue. Ground clearance and departure angles will defeat you before the CVT does.
I'm one of those bolted on Subaru fans. I've owned 10, currently have 3 being a WRX, Legacy GTB import and 2019 XV (wifes). I'm still waiting for the 2.4T in the Outback before I'll buy one. I'm in the 10% who want that bit more and aren't happy with mediocre.
I hear you Mark. I too am waiting for the turbo but not holding my breath. Test driving a VW Tiguan tomorrow with the same engine as the r line. If it goes ok might look at the 2021 VW Tiguan r line when they arrive in country next month. I’m not holding my breath for the suby turbo model
I picked up a spotless and well maintained 2017 Outback Premium for well under $30K. Dealer wants it badly but I just can't go another n.a. 2.5 with that uninspiring CVT and drop $55K plus for the touring. I already have leather, 2 memory heated seats, sunroof, 18's, satnav, adaptive cruise and integrated roof bars. 2.4t might have been enough but alas...
I’m thinking you could do a dedicated flashlight/torch channel.
Oh! ...no more "flashlight torcher " please..
“Flashlight Expert”
It could be called “Torch Expert John Cadogan”
he could even do fleshlights as well , you know a real good hands on review.
I'm a bolted on customer that is now looking elsewhere (Hyundai) because I need a little more grunt for towing.
Subaru have fallen into the classic trap of measuring the sales of the performance models, and saying they only make up a small percentage, when it's actually what people 'aspire' to buy that helps sell models lower in the range as well: Sad, The 2.4T would have been a top replacement for the 3.6H6 power plant, a missed opportunity for sure.
Having been a Toyota guy, I described what I wanted as a 4WD Celica station wagon - I needed a sports car with a big boot. THAT described what I wanted in a car for most weeks of the year, well, it's called a Subaru Outback and my first one was in 2000. About every three years my local dealership sold me another one and I must say they have looked after me very well in sales and service. The service manager, more than once, loaned me his car when mine needed to stay over night. 2009 saw my first diesel and I loved it for towing. 2015 was the next one because the 2009 just didn't want to the traded in. at the very end of 2017, John, your team found my next Outback, another manual diesel with a CD player. Except there was so much stuffing about that I missed out on the manual and ended up with a CVT. I'd already stripped all the accessories off the old car and fitted a standard Subaxtreme bull bar so I could keep the custom bar. I was committed to another Outback. This has been the most depressing car to drive, the cornering is downright dangerous and the transmission is SO depressing. The fuel bill around town went from 8.5 to 10.5L/100. I used to do 30,000km per year and this one is now 3y3m old and has not hit 70,000km. If Subaru GAVE me my eighth Outback for free I'd hesitate. I've had so much trouble with turbo pipes blowing off when towing a 1000kg camper that I carry a dedicated set of tools with an instruction sheet in case I'm not the one fixing it - AGAIN. Way too much tech, too much Nanny mode and None For the Driver would be a far more suitable slogan. Hello Toyota, I'll be back in June for my next car. John, once you stop with all the mindless dribble, the comment towards the end was spot on, Subaru has lost the plot about the car, what it was intended for and who is going to buy it. Oh, BTW, the audio quality of bluetooth or internet music compared to CD... yeah, nah, give me CD and it works when the car is out of phone range for calling the NRMA.
Had several Outbacks for work vehicles, both petrol and diesel, average 75k a year, never had an issue, but had a personal preference for the diesel, never had a days trouble with it !
Would you buy a used one if it was well maintained and no accidents?
How does the CVT reliability stand up to towing? Sorry if this may seem a dumb question but I've never had a CVT before apart from a rental.
Thanks.
Skip the 2.4 turbo. We got a 2021 Touring (with turbo standard). Within a few months (March) it started dripping oil. Months later (December almost a year now) it still does. Subaru cannot figure it out. Car is in fact in the garage again this week. You are lucky they don't have them "down there". Get a truck with a v8, that's where I'm headed.
Greetings from Canada and great review IMHO. I realize your well being makes these videos possible but I do not like the embedded advertising that I have to work harder to bypass. Although, I somewhat appreciate your elaborate and colourful descriptions as to how the product may benefit me - an advertising concept that has disappeared with 10 second ads.
Does this mean that the Outback recall of the other week is now over?
Would love to get another outback in my life, unfortunately I won’t consider it without either the 6 cyl or 2.4 turbo! I miss my ee20 outback lol
I would hate the transmission more then the FA, the fa in a manual transmission was wonderful, the CVT makes it feel like a garbage dump
Why not just add a turbo?
@@jasonvanderwel3272 mostly because the NA engines aren't strong enough to handle the power. Rebuild or replace the engine to make it stronger, add a decent turbo and all supporting mods you're already $10k deep. Just think it wouldn't cost that much from the factory and at that point I'd rather build a super gramps.
Outback XT coming in 2023! 😁
Drove one today, works just got a couple in. Having had the current and previous model Forester, will Subaru stop moving the bloody start stop engine switch which you have to turn off every time I start the car. And to top it off rather then removing the buttons from the previous generation, now that its a button in the centre screen, they just leave the buttons where it was blank.
Quite a few complaints on this one actually and im just getting started…
The isight system is not a LOT more sensitive then before, not only will it go mental if you go vaguely near the centre line or heaven forbid another car does but it now detects things on the road. I couldn’t get it to do it again for the life of me but it picked up a pothole as a “obstruction” in the road. It started braking and going off its tits with alerts, which i dunno about you, but it took my eyes off the road trying to read the tiny message on the screen to see what its concern is!
I think its a bit like driving with your mother, the car reminded me to “check the back seat” as id put some gear there before leaving for the day and some how it knew and reminded me when I got out!!
@@bazbbeeb7226 interested to see what you think.
@@joshlegg8600 i cant see my previous comment?? Anyway, i took a Forester and the new Outback sport for a test drive today. The Forester was great, amazing all around visiblity, nicely elevated driving position, a bit quicker than what i was led to believe, i was impressed. The new Outback on the other hand was really sluggish, i double checked that the electronic handbrake was off. The autumn green sport edition was amazing to look at, was quieter than the Forester but i dont believe it drove ~$10,000 better than the base model Forester. The salesman and team were a bunch of knts, i wont ever grace the doors of that dealership again, wouldnt even discount the asking price by $1. I drove around to Toyota and received a completely different level of service, not that they have anything that i was really interested in anyway.
Hi John. Just watched thus video & your gearbox videos on the bounce, why? Well I am just looking at a new vehicle & am considering 2 or 3 different cars, ineffective if which us the 2024/25 Subaru Outback new Limited model & as thus us tge only one that has a CVT Box, do you still think CBT is the best choice?
Cheers
Stuart in the UK
I still use CDs. Miss that feature in the Hyundai Tuscon I bought last year.
Some "modern" digital sound systems, play tracks in alphabetical order and not track number sequence. CDs are the only way to go if you play albums with tracks which overlap and merge.
I'm still on CDs. I just don't care to pay a second time for music I've already bought. Everything I have is on CD (except for a few on cassette and vinyl that aren't even offered in digital form.) I figure you gotta be a bit of a conspicuous consumer to go out and pay again and again for the same tunes on different media, keeping up with the Jonses in terms of electronic gimmickry. And the new stuff they call music is crap on a sandwich, so not worth paying for anything current, regardless of the medium it's offered on.
@@aussiebloke609 There are more options than CD and streaming services.
I ripped all my CDs to FLAC and mp3 so they can be played from a USB stick (those very short ones) or BT streamed from your phone, and thus available everywhere.
@@davidstuckey7463 Yes. Someone still gets it. Dark Side of the Moon. Queen. INXS. Wacko Jacko.
Yep, I also rip the CDs I might want to listen to in my car to MP3 on my phone. It is kind of dangerous to change a CD in the player while driving.
If even a quarter of those who whine about the demise of the XT had actually bought one Subaru would still be making them. I guess this was also true of the 3.6 Outback.
You can always tell who hasn't a clue about Subarus. They're the ones ranting .about head gaskets which haven't been a problem for a decade.
I have owned a Gen 1 H6 since 2004 and it is an easy car to live with, not a squeak or fail to report.....it is not an exciting urban car, but get it onto rough rural dirt roads and it comes alive, especially in the wet. My version is slim too, so it squeezes into a shopping centre car park space easily. These new ones look nice, but there is no mongrel in the range and for me I really need a performance model to get me across the line this time. Totally agree with you John that this mediocrity will bite Subaru in the long term. The Subaru board really needs to spice up this awesome platform.
Seeing complaints that the turbo isn’t available (I presume in Australia). The 2.5 was improved in either 2020 or 2021 from 175hp to 182. May not be much but it is noticeable nevertheless. According to one review I read it was redesigned with almost 90% newly designed parts. I put 17,000 miles on a 2021 Outback 2.5 before upgrading to the 2.4XT. 260hp vs. 182with only an 8% drop in gas mileage. I now have 11,000 miles on the XT. Bottom line, the 2.5 is great for city driving but if most of your driving is highway I strongly recommend the turbo. Lots more power and at lower engine rpm so it’s quieter too.
I found the 182HP 2.5 was quite a bit louder when accelerating, but was much quieter at idle than the 176hp 2.5. you do feel the extra 6HP on the Butt dyno.
As for the car... Another friend had her outback cvt blow up... Again. So... Subaru joins Nissan and Jatco as a first rank car company transformed by mechanical failures to third rate recommendation in my "I don't want to do another head gasket, oil leak or fight a field rep over a premature CVT again" rant.
And the turbo here is expensive. Subaru packs on the options for the turbo models and the dealers go for the throat. Not a good deal. And the handling is not up to adding a lot of power.
So... the 2.5 flat four is 90 percent new! GREAT!
I am still miffed cassette players replaced cartridge players. Still haven't decided what to do with my collection of cartridges ?
I'd like to know how they upped the towing capacity from 1600 kg to 2000kg. Its virtually the same engine and CVT . Did they really alter anything other than the advertising?
Probably increased the cooling capacity of the CVT.
@@markwilkinson3048 I have the Gen 5 - 2 litre diesel. Also in the range was the 3.5 litre petrol. I would have thought that both these engine/drivetrains would have had pretty decent cooling systems to begin with. Towing capacity also has something to do with chassis, brakes etc, but I wonder if the increase to 2000kg is partly due to Suburu simply having more experience and confidence in the robustness of the CVT. 1600-1800kg was pretty pathetic for a vehicle this size and would have turned a lot of potential 'nomads' off.
Bigger brakes
@@theairstig9164 My research leads me to believe they are the same size. 300mm rear and 315mm on the front, on the 2015 and 2021 -2022. US Spec
Hey John, Do you think there's any chance of the Subaru Outback Wilderness model coming to Australia? (Bit more ride height for getting further up Dingo Piss Creek)
Yup accurate review. We have a 2014 2.5 poverty which is . . . with 200k on the clock, still solid. Hasn't missed a beat. We recently got our SECOND one (we need two cars) via a salary packaging deal--the 2021 Touring. 100% agree with everything said; glad they introduced the WRX engine (if I have that right) afterwards as our next one will be that.
Turbo version suppose to be arriving in NZ later this year, expect the same for Aus. I'd only be interested in the Turbo version especially in a manual.
Where'd you hear this? Exciting news if true.
I had a Levorg, sold it. I felt that a souped up stationwagon felt like a compromise. Bought a new sensible outback! Then bought a sportscar to keep it company in the garage.
Hehehehe John, you’ve wandered into my domain. The advantage of CD over “internet” or mp3 comes down to audio quality. Whereas you and I value the convenience more, audiophiles might prefer the bit rate, uncompressed, available on that silver platter. Love your work dude.
You can put lossless encoded digital music onto your phone -- FLAC or Apple Lossless -- just fine. Even source it from your own CDs if you want. No need to carry them in the vehicle to be exposed to the hot summer sun -- rip them and keep them in a temperature controlled oxygen-free atmosphere as they deserve.
@@BruceHoult how do you connect you phone to the car ? Bluetooth? There is the problem. Yes, there is high rate bluetooth that is not bad (still worse than cds) by only the premium phones support it. Most most people will have a slightly worse, to terrible, audio experience connecting their phone via blutooth to their cars.
Fyi, I use the highest end bluetooth device available to interface my tablet to my home audio and it sounds decent.
Fyi 2, why would you recompress your CDs to 'lossless flac' (that term allways makes me laugh, as it clearly isnt lossless) when you can simply load a 600MB cd onto your phone ?
@@nordic5490 yes FLAC is lossless. When you uncompress the file you get back bit for bit the exact same thing as is on the original CD. That's the whole point of it. Why would you use it? So you can put MORE CDs on your phone than uncompressed -- or leave more space for apps and photos etc.
So right John, have an Outback 2019, was so looking forward to changing over to the Turbo, not now. 😡😟.Not happy Subaru .
Ive watched many of your reviews but this was my favorite - thank you sir
why do they have outback and forester the same time?
Outback is bigger.
CD's have a higher audio recording quality than almost anything else that you can get without pirating. Since the car has a good audio system, it make sense.
Hi John, no turbo made me look for something like the outback. Took a Skoda 200TSI Scout for a test drive as the Skoda dealer is in my town. Same price, heaps of power and better quality. The dealer told me they are getting 30% of sales from people trading in older model Outbacks Eg 3.6R.
Any early thoughts on the wilderness
I’d finally upgrade my 2010 poverty Impreza to this if only it had a manual gearbox.
Me too.
Same situation. My sentiments exactly.
Hi John, I like your videos in general. In this case, I was quite confused about some of the statements you made. Tingks like, "it is good, but not as good at it could have been" is a kind of statement valid all time and not very useful. Anyhow, I would buy this car, as it is reliable, good and not too expensive ! If I understood well what you'd said, this is the useful summary...
A bit off track, but can anyone tell me, are the 2litre diesels say, 2017, better in torque and power then petrol? Do they have s bit of go, and tow a tinny ok?
Evening John, are we going to get the Hyundai Santa Cruz Ute in straya?
I like having the cd option in my 2016 Cerato hatch.
I love my Outback XT here in ‘Murica. Waiting to see what the Toyota-Subie mashup will bring with ‘lectrics. It’s a damn shame they don’t offer the 3.6R or 2.4T over there still. Our Touring trims have ventilated seats as well, but none have those fancy side view cameras. I’m on my 4th Subaru now…
Yeah, I'm sticking with my 2008 Outback 2.5XT with 104000 km for the moment. It's got eyesight cruise control and lane departure and collision warning at that modern stuff (yes, in 2008 no typo). And 265 ponies. I actually like driving a CVT more than the 5 spd automatic, but I have a suspicion Subaru will change wholesale to the far more robust planetary gear based Toyota hybrid eCVT in the near future.
I have never driven one however when driving around the outback l have seen then go well in some area that you would think this low vehicle wouldn't make it and it did, so if you like it get one.
Ok on a good road, but... in the remote areas of the NT, it is all Landcruisers amd a few Patrols.
Those new Subarus looknice. A bit like an AU wagon. I might buy one if my AU ever wears out.
Olight upvote here. Picked up a keychain one and a little one for the toolbox. Full beam can nearly cut through walls
Test drove the Subarus and hated the cvt, they lost the plot. Going for Hyundai or Kia with conventional boxes
Let's talk petrol/diesel economy ...diesel dpf filter issues ?
What's with the wheel arch plastic on most SUVs these days? Its like someone forgot how to colour between the lines.
Is it not true no one is disappointed by any Subaru?
Since you have an M2R Pro and an evaluation car handy. Could you test the hypothesis that an M2R Pro can be used to break through automotive glass in an emergency?
Or is that kind of damage outside the motoring journalist code of ethics?
Spring-loaded centre punch...
Thanks @@AutoExpertJC. Cheaper than an M2R Pro as well. I still bought the flashlight for the car. Conveniently Mazda have a USB port in the centre storage compartment that will keep it charged.
How often should i change my transmission fluid in my 2019 subaru outback?
Just got myself the Mara under 2 thanks to your last special announcement.... the 14000lm one. Fuck me dead..... John you got no idea mate......
My wife thinks its the biggest waste of time. She has no idea about my boy brain. I needed this torch like my life depends on it.
Life is perfect now.
Thank you John.
It is brilliant - in both senses...
My boy brain just can't wait until John puts the ming mols up!
Now that really gets my attention. 😄👋👍
Cousin ended their relationship after 5 Subaru Forester XT’s because no more turbos. Ended up in Audi Q5. So silly.
Hi John. Will you be doing a review on the 2020 and 2022 releasing in October Subaru BRZ TS.
Çheers.
The CD player is required for the drive to dingo piss creek as the last 100 km (61 miles 'merica) has no phone data or FM radio.
Would this car tow a caravan just curious 🤔?
When do the Subaru EOFY deals typically come out??
they should have begun, and theres a 3-5 month wait on the Forester, probably the same timeline for the Outback. Mazda are advertising the fact that they have EOFY deals but the prices havent changed, theyve also got very little in stock.
Do you know if the boxer diesel is still in the outback range?
No diesel superseded.
Boxer diesel has some very interesting DPF behaviour. I know someone who gave a 2015 boxer diesel away after three visits to the DPF doctor in 10 weeks
even has steering on wrong side?
Went and had a look at one of these today - the lack of engine options is about the only think that makes me think twice. I do like it more than the Sante Fe and Sorento though after driving both of those (They drove fine but I hated the interiors and that's what I'd be looking at most of the time). The Outback is heaps quieter inside the cab too.
We've got a 2014 Forester at home (2nd we've owned) which is a good honest toiler, perfectly comfortable, practical and reliable. But I hired a top-spec current model Outback for a recent country trip and it felt like a Bentley in comparison. Brilliant car.
Can you please do a video on used cars at different price ranges
how is it on the road? did you drive it? you talk about passion...ok-but in real life whats different to the last one?what about comfort and road noise etc....hey.
I have had 5 Subarus, most 6 cylinders. I did not want to replace my last 6 with the same old 12 year old plus engine but I still wanted a true AWD with 2000 litres of cargo space. There is not too many around. I bought a Discovery, and before people go on about reliability, I have never had a mechanical issue and no recalls in 3 years. (Yes I am lucky) . I would go back to the Outback if the Turbo came.
Not exactly the prettiest of cars, but I suppose you buy it for what it can do, not whether it's a looker. Maybe they should look to poach a few Mazda stylists, as all of Japan's best appears to work for that firm at the moment.
There is a short coming to the Outback, that being the Navigational mapping available! Yes, I do possess the new Outback 2021 Touring (thanks Georgie), with all the needs that I require, but when I type into the Maps, it is cumbersome & slow to recognise what I had typed. I tried entering my home location, but it seems that my address does not exist & my house is a figment of my imagination.
I tried putting in Heritage Valley Golf club, it did not recognise this, even though, if you went to the area on the map, it has it listed on the screen.
Tried entering Springwood Country club, that also does not exist!
So, the maps available need to be upgraded as I can find all these on WAZE without any issues!
Apart from this minor hiccup, unless you need the navigational maps to get to a wedding, funeral or an important place to be, the Outback is a pleasure to drive with the luggage space exceptional. The seats with the Napa leather, are very comfortable.
All in all, a great SUV / Wagon depending on how you would define the Outback!
The old way of looking for a location via sat nav was to know the address. Now because google maps (waze is google too) we have all forgotten this skill. As for the home address i assume you tried the east before and after a suburb if you live in a direction of said suburb for example? Otherwise shows how outdated their license and mapping is...
@@offroadingfoz Still have the faithful Gregory's in the car & I still know how to read & find a place using a grid! 😱🤪🤣
And I still remember where I live! 🤔😉
@@scottsainsbury8603 imagine showing kids the melways or Gregory’s. lol
@@offroadingfoz you would have to have it in a text format! Dude! 🤪😂
I still miss those 8 track players... got a produce box full of tapes.
Great review mate!
Unfortunately we haven’t experienced the awesome customer care with out 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R at our local dealer. We love the car but compared to our local Nissan dealer in Albion Park (our other car), the Subaru dealer has a lot to learn about customer care, in my opinion.
My Mrs test drove a forester and Mazda she chose the forester because it had a CD player and orange accents. 😂
Hi John - Of the 10 Subarus I’ve owned (GC98 WRX Hatch, 97 Auto Forester, 2010 XT Forester …….) the 1996 Outback was only outback in name - the suspension was harsh and also useless offroad due to its poor approach and departure angles - it performed superbly as a city/regional tourer on all weather roads and beautifully made - I would happily own another Subaru but unfortunately Fuji decided to use the flawed CVT and my newly acquired Hilux is better suited for my new regional/outback lifestyle - John in SA
I had a look at an outback to see how close it was to my touring Mazda 6 wagon, I love it, will be trading up to the tourer next year as will have to wait 6 months for it to come.
I really want a new forester. I have a 2017 XT, and was looking for a new purchase, but cannot get another Subaru... It's just not enough without the turbo or 3.6 litre
What is with the ugly shape of those black plastic things over the wheel arches?
Have to agree about the intrusiveness of Subaru safety measures. Having driven one recently on a trip of several hours, each way. I can personally attest that I will never, ever, consider purchasing any Subaru product.
That is some passion for hatred you have to write off the manufacturer, have fun with a merc.
My assumption is you drive like a maniac if those features were kicking in that much in a few hour trip.
Can you read the fine print of bumper stickers of cars in front of you?
How often do your brakes and tires need replacing?
I've been in cars with automated safety, they aren't intrusive at all, but I don't tailgate and generally drive defensively an calm around other humans.
See, it isn't that you disliked it. You said it was too intrusive for you on a few hour trip, which can only mean you drove in a way to activate the systems enough to annoy you that much. That is definitely a personal problem with your driving approach. I bet if you tried one of those insurance obd2 things, it'd beep constantly and your rates would go up instead!
Now that I've had a poke at you. Maybe you want to just take a deep breath and evaluate that drive again ... and test drive a 6 speed wrx before you write off subaru.
I don't give a fuck what you drive or like, but bullshit o'clock on the real reason why those safety systems annoyed you.