Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SatNav 2010 Review

Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SatNav

Road Test

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $55,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): SatNav $2990
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 90-95 RON
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 10.3
CO2 emissions (g/km): 242
Also consider: Volvo XC70 3.2, Volvo XC60 3.2, Skoda Superb V6 wagon

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Subaru is in pretty exalted company with its Outback 3.6R. V6s and inline six-cylinder engines are awfully common, but only Subaru – and Porsche – offer a horizontally-opposed 'boxer' six.

Undoubtedly the Japanese company has contemplated the future of boxer-configured engines more than once but, thankfully, has always stuck to its guns with the mainstream model range (not to say Subaru has only offered boxers – it sold the conventionally engined three-cylinder Justy micro car here in the 1980s but its appearance was brief).

The first six-cylinder Subaru boxer appeared in 1992, in the then-futuristic, Giugiaro-designed all-wheel drive SVX coupe that was a very expensive ($72,000-plus) attempt at competing with big-name Euro coupes. From 3.3 litres the SVX's DOHC engine produced a decent 169kW/309Nm and the performance for its time was quite decent too – but not enough to ensure the car's Australian existence beyond 1997.

It took Subaru until late 2000 to bring a boxer six back to this country, this time in the H6 version of the Outback crossover. Its 3.0-litre capacity was a little less than the SVX, and so were power and torque (154kW and 282Nm).

The six-cylinder H6 slotted into the range as a version of the Outback that brought a little more muscle than the four-cylinder models. Not cheap at comfortably above $50,000 before on-road costs, it competed more in Euro than Japanese territory.

Following an up-powered 180kW/297Nm 3.0R version in late 2003, Subaru launched the new-generation Liberty and Outback models in 2009 with a bumped-capacity boxer six that went to 3.6 litres, lifting power to 191kW and raising torque to a strong 350Nm.

The capacity increase was achieved by widening the bore slightly and lengthening the stroke significantly – a process that involved many changes to the engine. Now virtually a square configuration, this helped the dual VVT engine's torque delivery across the rpm band, even if the maximum came in at slightly higher rpm.

Typically in these times of ever-improving efficiency, the power and torque increases were accompanied by fuel economy and CO2 emissions improvements; In the Outback, the 3.0-litre returned a claimed average of 11.1L/100km and 266g/km, while the new-generation 3.6-litre version quotes 10.3L/100km and 242g/km. Importantly, the 3.6-litre does this on regular, 90 RON unleaded fuel (we averaged around 13.0L/100km on test, but expect this would improve over a longer period of mixed driving).

Translate this onto the road, and the 3.6R Outback becomes a meatier, more responsive crossover that takes little toll either at the tailpipe, or on fuel costs.

The Sportshift auto transmission might lag behind the field with only five ratios, but the engine's strong torque adequately takes care of the wider gaps between gears and is strong enough to avoid frequent ratio changes as the car rides up and down hills.

The 3.6R also allows the driver to select from three different engine response characteristics via Subaru's Intelligent Drive (SI-DRIVE) system that will deliver maximum economy, or maximum performance - or something in between – depending on the driver's whim. F1-style paddle shifters are part of the deal here too, although some drivers prefer to do their manual gear selection via the console lever.

The six-cylinder boxer note might not be Porsche-like (the 3.6-litre is to be felt, rather than heard) but there is a nice distant thrum to remind you of what you are driving. Very few people would be able to detect any aural differences between the boxer six and a regular V6 though.

How you feel about the slightly heavier steering that comes from the extra weight hanging out over the front wheels depends on your tactile preferences. To some, the 3.6R might lose some of the agility of four-cylinder Outback versions but this is probably compensated by the (slight) impression of more dead-ahead stability on straight roads.

It is comforting to know the rear suspension is self-levelling to keep the car on an even keel even when fully loaded. The Premium 3.6R also gets one-inch larger 18-inch alloy wheels too, which can only help.

As with most crossovers, the constant, three-differential all-wheel drive system is more road than dirt track focussed. In slight recognition of possible minor off-road adventures is the higher-set suspension -- which also changes the on-road characteristics to give a bit more lean on corners than a regular Liberty wagon.

The bottom line is the Outback 3.6R comes across as a refined, quiet and comfortable cruiser that loves a freeway lope and doesn't mind a bit of give and take on winding roads. As one of the few crossovers with a proper full-time all-wheel drive system it also adds an extra touch of security in slippery conditions.

In Premium SatNav form as tested here, there's not much left out in terms of equipment and the leather interior feels appropriately luxe for a car that approaches $60,000 before on-road costs (SatNav included).

Eight-way power adjustment for both front seats (with two-position memory settings and power lumbar adjustment on the driver's side) Xenon low beam lights, reversing camera, power sunroof, Bluetooth, rain-sensing wipers, electronic park brake, push-button start and a punchy 10-speaker McIntosh sound system with DVD player are the sort of things most would expect at this price point.

And of course there's all the extra lounging space available in the latest generation Outback. 490 litres behind the rear seat before you begin to look at the various loading permutations is pretty impressive too. 1690 litres all-up (seats all-down) takes care of most reasonable needs, although there is the deficit of a space-saver spare tyre.

On top of this there's the seven-airbag (including driver-side kneebag) system, VDC stability control, and anti-lock brakes with EBD and Brake Assist, that contribute to the Outback's five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Sixty grand might sound a lot of money for a mid-size Japanese crossover – it's in the same ballpark as Volvo's 3.2-litre XC70 and XC60 SUVs – but when all is added up, the Subaru Outback 3.6R's credentials are impressive. And that's before you factor in only Subaru and Porsche can offer an all-wheel drive boxer six.

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