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All-new 2015 Subaru Outback reestablishes higher ground

All-new 2015 Subaru Outback reestablishes higher ground

Much of Subaru’s modern day success in America can be attributed to one car: the Outback.  Born in 1994 as a response to the growing popularity of SUVs, the Outback established a winning formula of combining a high-riding suspension, butch body cladding and big round fog lights to its comfortable, no-nonsense Legacy wagon. It is the kind of unique product that only a quirky company like Subaru could build, and was one that kept Subaru from slipping into ubiquity even as traditional SUVs and crossovers have taken over the world.

The debut of an all-new 2015 Outback at the New York Auto Show brings the original crossover wagon into its fifth generation, which Subaru promises to be the most spacious, capable and fuel efficient yet. Interior comfort, refinement and safety features are all up considerably, meaning there’s even less reason to buy a tippy SUV than ever. As Subaru put it, “We are reestablishing our high ground.”

Naturally, the new Outback adopts much of the styling and innovations found on the new, 2015 Legacy sedan on which it’s based, which itself only made its debut in February and is set to go on sale later this year. The transition replaces last year’s almond-shape headlamps with the new Legacy’s LED-accented units. A prominent, hexagonal grille is perched above a lower air intake that now features active grille shutters to enhance high-speed aerodynamics. Its more angular body boasts increased interior space, yet it casts roughly the same shadow as last year. And of course, the Outback is still festooned with body cladding, skid plates, chunky roof rails and other addenda to try and make people forget it’s a station wagon.

As usual, the Outback rides much higher than the Legacy, with SUV-like ground clearance of 8.7 inches. Given the long-ish wheelbase and overhangs, real rock-hopping might best be left to Jeeps and 4Runners, but the average family should be able tackle muddy roads on the way to their favorite campsite in an Outback without tearing off its bumpers.

As before, the Outback is available with two boxer-style engines. Standard, Premium and Limited trim levels are offered with the Outback’s standard 175-hp 4-cylinder, which is up from 173 hp and boasts noise reduction measures, less mass and friction, and a broader curve along which its 174 lb-ft of torque can be accessed. It comes mated to a CVT gearbox, which Subaru credits for the excellent estimated fuel economy figures of 25 mpg city / 33 mpg highway, up from the 2014 model’s 24/30 mpg ratings.

The more affluent Subaru buyer may spring for the Outback Limited model, with the option of upgrading to a 256 hp 3.6-liter 6-cylinder boxer engine that produces 247 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the 2.5i models, the 3.6i is mated to a CVT, resulting in a rise in fuel economy to 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg  on the highway, compared to the 2014 model’s 17/25 mpg ratings. Incidentally, both models CVTs offer six preset ratios through which drivers may “shift” up and down manually with steering wheel paddles, should they feel the urge.

Subaru’s trademark all-wheel-drive system has also been reprogrammed for the 2015 Outback, adding brake-based torque vectoring as well as a new “X” mode that tailors traction and steering response based on steering, acceleration and stability conditions, helping to reduce wheel-spin at individual wheels. X-mode also automatically engages hill descent control.

Back on paved roads, alas, where most new Outbacks are destined to spend a majority of their lives, the new model should be more tranquil than ever. The body makes big strides in terms of stiffness, and new features include an acoustic laminated windshield, thicker sheet-metal in key areas, and added foam insulation and under-carpet sound-deadening that should help quell all manner of unwanted noise. Just as important, the springs and shocks have been re-tuned to offer a more composed ride without giving up that all-important ground clearance.

Standard equipment has also risen. All Outbacks feature 17-inch wheels, a 6.2-inch touch-screen display, electric power steering, and lots more, while the 2.5i Premium adds fog lights, alloy rims, fancier gauges, an upgraded infotainment system with a 7.0-in display, satellite radio, two USB inputs, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob, and a 10-way power driver’s seat. The 2.5i Limited and 3.6i Limited models brings a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon stereo with 576 watts as well as heated rear seats, matte woodgrain trim, 18-inch wheels, and on 3.6i models, HID headlamps. Options for Premium and Limited models include a moonroof, navigation, and Subaru’s latest EyeSight driver assist system that uses twin “stereo” cameras mounted behind the mirrors for the adaptive cruise control, pre-collision warning and braking systems, and lane departure warning. Blind spot detection, lane change assistance and rear cross traffic alert is optional on Premium models but comes standard on the Limited.

No word on pricing at this point, but we expect to hear Subaru make an announcement sometime before the Outback goes on sale this fall.

For nearly two decades, the Outback has kept the eminently practical station wagon body style palatable to Americans who (unlike automotive journalists) generally find wagons—how do you say—unsexy. It has even sprouted a smaller, Impreza-based sibling, the Outback Sport (now known as XV Crosstrek) and inspired a number of copycat wagons from premium brands—at far higher price points. Now, with its newfound style, higher fuel economy and other innate advantages of being a wagon in an SUV world, we don’t see its popularity waning any time soon.