Up Close and Personal with the New Subaru Outback 2.0D Premium

The Subaru Outback 2015 diesel premium version is now with us and it seems like the perfect time to find out what has changed. The outgoing model was perfectly functional, but many have commented that is was an ugly looking car. Personally I didn’t find the styling particularly offensive and some of the comments were in my opinion quite hyperbolic. However, that isn’t to say that there wasn’t room for improvement. There is more to the story than looks alone so let's see how much has changed.

The Basics

For those unfamiliar with the Subaru Outback concept here is a quick primer. What you get is a practical family vehicle with off-road capability in a well designed package. This latest 2015 version is the 5th generation Outback and it has benefited from years of gradual improvements.

Styling and Substance

As I previously mentioned many drivers dislike the styling of the 4th generation models. This has been drastically improved with clean new lines, slightly flared wheel arches and curved led headlamps. However, the changes are not all external and there is plenty to look at inside as well. The first thing to note is the amount of headroom and how easy it was to gain entry due to the high tip point. The seats are generously sized, comfortable and offer an excellent lumbar supportive driving position. At first glance it appears that the controls are too complex, but in actuality there are elegantly positioned and easy to get used to. There is no visual obstruction of the instrumentation from the steering wheel and its spokes. The starter button is easily located on the dash on the right of the steering column.

What is Under the Bonnet?

There is a Boxer engine paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) these two elements work very well together. The engine is very lively for a diesel model offering a surprising amount of refinement. As one would expect there is an inevitable amount of turbo lag when accelerating away from a standing start. However, once in motion the CVT helps the engine to operate well within the optimal range of revs. Shifting is carried out manually using steps that are programmed into the CVT. The result is 110kW/hr and 350Nm of torque with a fuel consumption in my case of 8.2L/100km, however 9.0L/100km should be easily possible.

Ride Comfort

The Subaru Outback 2015 is very comfortable to drive with little to no tyre noise audible from the cabin. This is due to the NVH suspension which removes much of the low rev rumble that is common is so many other diesel vehicles of this kind. At higher speeds, the engine noise is very quiet indeed and the turbocharger "whistle" was only faintly heard between 50km/hr and 60km/hr. Of course the Subaru Outback is also an AWD vehicle and the suspension provides a good driving experience both on and off road.

For more information about Subaru Outback 2.0D Premium or any of our other new or demo models please contact us at (08) 9416 0888 or visit and we will be happy to answer any questions or queries that you may have.

City Subaru is Perth’s newest and premier Subaru dealership at which professional, no fuss customer service comes as a standard feature.