Subaru Outback offers CVT with turbo-diesel

Subaru’s long-awaited automatic turbo-diesel Outback variants have arrived Down Under this week.

The pair of models offers buyers the convenience of the brand’s Lineartronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) in conjunction with a 2.0-litre turbocharged flat boxer diesel engine for the first time.

Priced from $42,490 the Outback 2.0D CVT and $45,490 for the ‘Premium’ variant -- a $2500 premium over their respective manual variants -- both models are offered as standard with Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system, adaptive transmission control with seven-speed manual mode and satellite-navigation.

Up-spec Premium models gain an electric sunroof, leather trim, eight-way power driver’s seat with memory and electroluminescent gauges with colour information display.

The automatic diesels are otherwise familiar to their derivative models and include MY13 changes such as the revised corporate grille/bumper, front foglight surrounds and newly styled wheel patterns.

Both Outback 2.0D CVT variants offer an output of 110kW at 3600rpm and 350Nm between 1800 and 2400rpm. The combined cycle fuel consumption figure is listed at 6.5L/100km with CO2 emissions of 172g/km.

Speaking at the local launch of the Outback 2.0D CVT this week, Subaru Australia Managing Director, Nick Senior, said the addition of an automatic transmission will bolster sales of turbo-diesel variants, which already comprise up to one in five Outback sales.

“The Outback diesel CVT plugs a gap in our model line-up,” he said. “A significant proportion of large SUV sales are automatic diesels and we have not played in this space.

“In some months, the manual diesel has accounted for up to 20 per cent of Outback sales, so pent-up demand for the auto is likely to see our diesel success story soar even higher.”

Subaru’s 2013 Outback 2.0D CVT is on sale from this week.