2009 Subaru Outback Montrose CO

November 21, 2008   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2009 Subaru Outback
DriverSide Overview
After a complete redesign for 2008, which edged the rugged wagon toward more luxurious terrain, 2009 looks fairly calm for the Subaru Outback. The only changes to the model’s lineup come in the form of slight feature modifications and trim rearrangements. The Premium is now the Special Edition, and the L.L. Bean model has now been replaced by the Limited. Fans of the Boat and Tote shed a silent tear. Everything else, however, remains just so. The SUV-like wagon sports a killer all-wheel drive system that is standard on all models, and power output ranges from the modest 170 horsepower 2.5i to the overwhelming 245 horsepower 3.0R Limited. All have impressive acceleration and overall performance, so you can hardly go wrong in your choice of trim. Interior design, carried over from the 2008 model, is as refined as the exterior styling has now become. In an era of shunned SUVs, the Outback slides into the void between car and full-size people carriers brilliantly.








What's to Like
Standard all-wheel drive gives the Outback an edge over the front-wheel drive competition and saves you money in options. The luxury-laden Limited trims provide even more standard features for the discerning driver. Every available engine has enough get-up-and-go to fill a driver’s daily needs.

What's Not to Like
Instrument panel styling didn’t quite make it to the 21st Century. Also, an odd coating over it makes some of the buttons difficult to see in direct sunlight. Because of the way the rear windows are cut, the door opening to the rear seats is on the small side.

The Drive:

DriverSide Driving Impressions
The Outback has carved itself a comfortable space between off-road ruggedness and alert city performance. The 3.0R’s V-6 tugs the car along without much effort; its horses barely grunt under the strain of its 3,600 pounds. However, it takes revving the car to 3,500-4,000 rpm to really wind it up enough to elicit passing power. It pains us that they’re still putting a four-speed automatic in the base model; competitors have all moved to at least five-speeds, some six. Alas, the powerful 3.0R suffers with a five-speed that, to us, on occasion, shifts too quickly, squandering power when you need it most. The direct steering is weighted well and handling is expectedly solid. Wind noise isn’t terrible, but you can tell that tightening all the window seams to Teutonic levels wasn’t a top priority for Subaru. With the sunroof cover open while the actual glass sunroof remains closed, sound becomes a big issue. While we admire its dedication to versatility, the Outback’s stiff suspension smacks of SUV, leaving your teeth chattering over rough city roads and making a moot point of the loud wind noise.

Engine and Drivetrain

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