My one week behind the wheel of the 2015 Subaru Outback was a first for me. In the three years I’ve been reviewing cars, this was my first Subaru test drive and I was excited to drive it on a prairie dirt road.
In the back of my mind, I was really hoping that we would have snow. Prior to my Subaru test week, and you can blame the Subaru commercials and the vision in my mind was a Subaru driving through mud or snow in the mountains.
My first impression of the Subaru Outback was its rugged look and the need to take the wagon down a dirt road. The all new style included lower body cladding to help protect the vehicle from stone chips, potholes and ice ruts. The 18” alloy wheels, raised suspension and roof rails on the top add to the adventure ready look of the Outback 3.6R.
There’s a lot of space inside the Outback and interior design includes high quality, soft touch leather that enhances the interior design. There’s generous storage and multiple cup holders too. The centre stack features a 7” touch screen with swipe and voice activated navigation/infotainment controls.
Sitting in the rear cabin, there’s lots of head and leg room along with the added feature of heated rear passenger seats.
There is an abundance of rear cargo space with more space available with folding 60/40 rear seats. Rear passenger seats can be released from the trunk cargo area with a quick pull. The added rubber mat is wear resistant with high grip and ready for your camping gear or weekly groceries.
The 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited is powered by a 3.6L dual overhead cam, 24-valve, 6-cyclinder SUBARU BOXER engine and Lineartronic CVT and pumps out 256hp at 6000rpm and 247 lb-ft torque at 4400rpm.
I was definitely impressed by the Subaru Outback 3.6R as my first Subaru review. The Outback handled the pothole laden streets of Winnipeg including the bumpy prairie backroads of rural Manitoba. The Outback is definitely one alternative to an SUV.
Price as tested $38,895, plus freight & PDI $1,650.
Photos by Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
