It’s hard to believe that Subaru’s iconic Outback has been around for 25 years. Now entering its sixth generation for 2020, the latest Outback aims to be more stylish, more tech-focused and more premium-feeling than ever before.
The look of the 2020 Subaru Outback is much more evolutionary than revolutionary. Subaru’s standard protocol of taking a standard Legacy wagon and making it more outdoorsy is in full effect here, as seen by the new Outback’s bold cladding, 220 millimetres of ground clearance and rugged roof rack with integral folding crossbars. Big windows enhance visibility while available LED fog lights and available LED adaptive headlights help illuminate the path ahead when the weather gets bad.
The 2020 Outback’s interior is bigger than ever before and the cargo area opening is significantly wider than before. To help gain access to the cargo area, a hands-free power liftgate is available for the first time ever in a Subaru. Inside the cabin, soft-touch and available double-stitched materials are featured prominently and Subaru’s engineers have been hard at work making the cabin of the new Outback almost three decibels quieter at highway speeds than the outgoing model. When it comes to in-cabin tech, the 2020 Outback offers an available 11.6-inch portrait-oriented Subaru STARLINK infotainment screen. Also available is a twelve-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. Safety is a Subaru hallmark and all 2020 Outbacks come standard with Subaru’s Eyesight active safety suite.
The big powertrain news is that turbocharging is back in an Outback for the first time since 2009. This time it’s an available 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer unit that cranks out 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque and delivers a 3,500-lb towing capacity, the most of any Subaru Outback ever. The standard engine is a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated boxer engine making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains come attached to Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT with eight simulated manual mode ratios and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Also standard is Subaru’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control which maximizes traction on loose and slippery surfaces. Front suspension is a McPherson strut design with aluminum lower arms and a hollow 23mm anti-roll bar while rear suspension is a double wishbone design with a 19mm hollow anti-roll bar.
Expect pricing to be announced closer to the 2020 Subaru Outback’s on-sale date this fall. With the crossover boom holding strong and the Outback looking better than ever, this latest iteration is expected to be quite the hit for Subaru.
