OUTBACK REVIEWS

There has to be a reason why once you’ve bought a Subaru – you will almost always buy another. My Outback isn’t the most powerful car in its class, it isn’t necessarily the most comfortable, it isn’t the most economical car to run (on paper!) and it isn’t the cheapest out there – so why am I now on my 4th Outback and probably my 10th Subaru from over the past 30 years? Well it isn’t ‘the best’ in any single aspect – but I remain convinced it is the best car out there and I’d like to try and explain here why we Subaru owners have such strong ties to our cars, be they Outbacks, Foresters (as my wife drives) or XVs (as driven by my mother in law). I could comment on the fact that many marques claim to be more economical to run, but when real world motoring in a ‘like for like’ product is compared, I believe the Subaru is actually more economical overall than other premium marques. In probably approaching 1 million miles in Subarus, I’ve only ever had one car which was of ‘average’ reliability – and that was the original XT Turbo which quite simply was way too far ahead of its time for an early eighties car. Other than the XT and besides routine servicing and wearing items like tyres or brake components I have never had to spend money on repairs. Couple this to the fact that I haven’t had to make do without a car for any more than a day at a time is a considerable saving compared to other marques where customers are routinely left without cars for several days a year. Over the past 30 years since I bought my first 1800 GLF, I have strayed into other marques believing the marketing machines that a premium German brand was more reliable or economical or durable – and I have always been disappointed and then traded back in for a Subaru. There is something quite special about returning to a Subaru after driving another marque which is hard to quantify – and the best way I can express it is that Subaru is Family! Where the Subaru beats the competition isn’t that it’s best in any one area it’s that it’s way above average in all aspects. There is however one area where the Subaru surpasses every brand that I’ve experienced and that’s dependability. Dependability is something a little more than reliability, although this of course is exceptional in the Subaru. Over the years I’ve depended on my Subaru to get me down an Alpine road when an unseasonal snow storm hit – and that was on summer tyres with no chains. I’ve depended on my Subaru when my wife had complications in labour to get me through torrential rain and gale force winds on the 25 mile drive to our nearest hospital. I’ve depended on the primary safety of the Subaru’s brakes and adhesion whilst swerving to avoid a ‘smidsy’ with my five year old son in the back. I know I can depend on my Subaru when a crisis looms – and it never lets me down on those occasions. The Subaru becomes a faithful, trustworthy part of the family. There are genuinely tears in our house when it’s time to trade an old Subaru in for a new one – after all our Subaru’s are family!

Great - we like it. Comfortable and reliable

Our Subaru Outback is a vehicle that is quite exceptional in meeting our needs. Most important is that, despite being a "large" vehicle by UK standards, my wife - an IAM member - feels totally confident in quite variable four seasons conditions met here in the Scottish Highlands. A lusty 2.5 litre petrol engine returning some 40mpg - we have always used fuel tank catalysts in our vehicles - a huge capacity required for grandchildren and dogs and the low slung boxer engine plus AWD gives excellent road holding. It is, for us, the perfect vehicle, supremely easy to drive and comes up sparkling after ten minutes with a sponge and soapy water and a hose down. Well designed, excellently engineered and well supported by an excellent local dealer, the car is a pleasure to own.

Everyone who has been in my Subaru Outback says how comfortable and roomy the car is. It just gives you a complete feeling of safety and easiness of driving.

This is number 12 Subaru. The 2.5 Special Edition Outback 2017 model. It is a dream to drive being quiet, smooth and being very comfortable. Loaded with lots of features. My grandchildren absolutely love it as well.

I am delighted with my Outback. My first automatic. It is a comfortable car, well equipped and I feel so safe in it. The performance is excellent.

Easy to drive, reliable, comfortable, understated looks not flashy but solid. When cleaned up after off road use, smart enough to drive in city

My current/recently bought Outback is the third I have owned over the past ten years or so. The Outback is designed for work and for long distance travel which each have done admirably.

Happy after 1 week

In my 58 years of driving experience and car ownership the Subaru Outback is probably the most enjoyable, reliable and practical car I have owned.