In the crossover sport utility vehicle market segment, the new best SUV 2010 Subaru Outback comes with better fuel economy, comfortable space, bigger cargo carrying ability and great on- and off-road capability. The 2010 Subaru Outback has significantly more power coming from its 170HP 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer engine and now scores better on EPA fuel economy than the much smaller Suzuki SX-4 AWD. Sharing most of its equipment and safety features with the brand new Liberty, the 2010 Outback sits 70mm higher and comes with the additional body cladding and restyled bumper designs Outback owners have come to expect.
As the Legacy and Outback share much sheet-metal in common, the styling of either one has always been a delicate compromise. In this case, the Outback has gotten the better end of the deal; here, the thick eye-browed wheel arches, wide-eyed headlamps, and general musculature, make a lot more sense. Adding to this wagon-ized Legacy’s bodywork are such bush-whacking filigree as a toothy lower front valance, side rocker cladding, and a standard roof rack featuring pivoting cross bars which either link the side rails or fold back to reduce wind resistance and aero-noise. Underneath, ground clearance has risen to a lofty 8.7-inches.
Inside, there’s a traditional but handsome four-gauge instrument panel that includes a multi-display dash-center screen (that’s optionally upgradable to a navigation system with back-up camera). What you won’t see, though, is a center handbrake. That function is now electrically-engaged by a push-on, pull-off switch located below-left of the new three-spoke steering wheel (consequently, you can now hill-hold indefinitely). Less noticeable is the seats’ reshaping (presumably accept more rotund American back- and bottom-sides). Three trim packages (base, Premium, and Limited) will be offered for both the 2.5i and 3.6R-engined Outbacks.
Subaru offers a number of engine and drivetrain options for the Outback. For the eco-savvy out there, the 2.5-liter, flat four-cylinder engine produces 170 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. That engine can be had with either a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The new regular-grade gas-swilling 3.6-liter flat six cylinder engine with 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, though that engine is only available with a five-speed automatic transmission.
Source: MotorAuthority
