We bought a new Outback after owning and loving our last one for 14 years. Six months on, has our brand loyalty served us well?
- Cabin practicality cannot be overstated
- Safety features are comprehensive, even on the base-spec model
- It’s a big car that handles like a smaller car
- Scheduled servicing costs are pricier than some competitors
- Fuel consumption errs on the higher side
- Keyless entry can be temperamental
Six months in…
The word has been thrown around a lot recently, but I can honestly say we purchased our 2021 Subaru Outback AWD at an ‘unprecedented’ time.
We started browsing for a new car in late 2020, after our old Outback was written off by a reckless driver.
When we began our search, we were 99 per cent certain we wanted to buy another Outback, but were aware that our budget placed us firmly in the ‘used’ category (perhaps ‘demo’ at a pinch).
We were also in a bit of a time crunch: with the birth of our first child swiftly approaching, we needed a car that felt safe, sturdy and familiar. Stat.
Unfortunately, we were in the midst of on-again, off-again lockdowns and the worst stock shortages the local industry has ever seen – with used-car prices often equalling, even beating, new-car prices.
| Key details | 2021 Subaru Outback AWD |
| Price (MSRP) | From $39,990 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Dark Blue – Pearl |
| Options | Crystal Black, Autumn Green, Ice Silver, Magnetite Grey, Crystal White |
| Price as tested | $44,657 |
| Rivals | Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, LDV D90, Toyota Kluger |
Despondent but determined, I started by creating a shortlist of cars I’d either driven and loved, cars I’d heard good things about, and cars that were a little aspirational but potentially doable if we bought them used.
Our preliminary shopping included the Outback (which starts at $39,990 before on-road costs), the Kia Sportage (from $30,490 before on-road costs for a petrol model), the Skoda Karoq (from $34,590 before on-road costs) and the Volkswagen Tiguan (from $43,690 before on-road costs for a petrol model).
In short: the Tiguan was out of our price range whether new or used, my husband decreed the back seat of the Karoq too small, and the Sportage was a no-go after we wandered into a dealer who told us we could be waiting up to six months.
We also had a cursory glance inside the Subaru Forester (from $35,990 before on-road costs), but found it lacked emotional appeal and familiarity for us – factors I think are extremely personal and hard to quantify but important nonetheless.
All signs pointed back to the Outback, so we started trying to obtain a used model, which was no easy feat. Even with the help of Drive’s excellent dealer team, we could only locate two in Victoria, both 2018 top-spec models.
We test-drove one that was in great condition, but it had a new-car price tag without that new-car feeling.
Just to see what we’d be missing, we decided to give a base-spec 2021 Outback a go considering there was only a few thousand dollars’ difference in price.
It was love at first drive. Despite the 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine (138kW, 245Nm) being smaller than the one in our last Outback (a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder), the difference in power wasn’t particularly noticeable.
We also hoped it would mean our new purchase would be less thirsty than its predecessor (more on that later).
While I feared I’d find the continuously variable transmission to be a bore, I was surprised with how well-executed the Outback’s eight-step version was, and how peppy and immediate the response felt, even under pressure.
| 2021 Subaru Outback AWD | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 522L/1267L |
| Length | 4870mm |
| Width | 1875mm |
| Height | 1675mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745mm |
And although it was in base-spec guise, the car felt like it had a distinctly premium interior. I particularly loved the Volvo or Tesla-esque large central touchscreen and the amount of head and leg room in the front and back.
Because we’re both tall, we appreciated the extra ride height and ground clearance compared with older models, loved the chunky new exterior design (that still retained its wagon-like leanings), and found the infotainment and driver assistance interface instantly user-friendly, despite never having used Subaru’s modern tech before.
Most importantly, Subaru didn’t skimp on safety for its entry-level offering; something we appreciated as nervous parents-to-be (it scores a five-star ANCAP rating from 2021).
While it was a stretch price-wise (the AWD starts at $39,990 before on-road costs), we decided it was worth splurging on our first family car and agreed to take the plunge for $44,657 on the road.
The only problem? All the new Outbacks in Australia were seemingly spoken for. So began a three-week-long goose chase to find a car we could buy.
Thankfully, Subaru Interactive at Docklands managed to eventually locate an available car. While I’d had my heart set on Wilderness Green, I took what I could get: white.
There was no haggling, no discounts, no car-journalist perks – all markers of a bygone era.
And then, a final hurdle: two days before I was scheduled to collect it, not one but two recalls on the 2021 Outback pushed our collection date out by two weeks. I kept myself busy by reporting on both recalls for Drive.com.au.
Finally, on an unassuming Wednesday, I left work on my lunch break to pick up our new chariot. Subaru even popped the big blue ribbon on the bonnet and gave me the full Wheel of Fortune treatment.
Just in time too – I finished up at work the next week, and my baby boy was born three days later – a full three weeks before his due date. We were so unprepared, we had to get the car seat fitted while I was in labour.
| 2021 Subaru Outback AWD | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Six months on, and I can honestly say I’m thrilled with the outcome. He’s a bit patchy with the sleep thing, and he likes to scream at restaurants, but he’s very cute. Oh, sorry, back to the car… We love it.
A few of the things I’d thought I’d miss – seat heaters, a head-up display, a power tailgate, leather seats, to name a few – have turned out to be no big deal, while some of the things I wasn’t all that enthused about have become necessities.
For example, the rear cross-traffic alert system is very savvy and detects cars quite a distance away, meaning I can safely reverse out of driveways without worrying.
Even with a baby mirror blocking half of the rear windshield, the Outback’s all-round visibility is fantastic and, in tandem with the comprehensive safety systems, makes it hard to miss a potential hazard.
Surprisingly, I love the fabric seats that are cool in summer and warm in winter, and thanks to a two-tone finish with textural details, they actually hide dirt well.
I know my colleague Rob found Subaru’s EyeSight driver monitoring system (which prompts you to keep your eyes on the road) a bit trigger-happy, but as a tired new mum I found it helped keep me alert.
And a precise rear-vision camera with rear sensors and reverse automatic braking, plus an attentive lane-departure alert, are the icing on a very comprehensive safety cake.
The car’s active cruise control with lane-departure warning is also handy, but the Subaru’s system lacks the polish of more premium brands and can occasionally feel a bit jerky when tasked with slowing down or speeding up.
Otherwise, the car is very capable in all terrains and weather conditions, and the power distribution is even-handed and effective under pressure, even if it lacks the punchiness and excitement of something sportier (the Skoda Karoq 140TSI Sportline springs to mind here).
Despite its fairly notable size, the ride height, visibility and light steering feel mean the Outback presents like a smaller car when maneuvering – perfect for my inner-city lifestyle.
| At a glance | 2021 Subaru Outback AWD |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 12,500km |
| Servicing costs | $1290.90 (three years) / $2449.88 (five years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.3L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 10.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | Petrol – unleaded ULP |
| Fuel tank size | 63L |
The Outback’s suspension tune is also perfectly suited to my softer sensibilities – it’s sensational at intercepting the effects of potholes, tram tracks and dirt roads, and coddles its driver and passengers, which is particularly handy for snoozing infants.
And now for one of my highlights – the immensely practical cabin. I have acquired so many bits and pieces since becoming a mum – change mats, dummies, wipes, blankets, a first aid kit – and all of them have found a home in the Outback’s interior.
Unfortunately, something in the glovebox area has developed a little rattle and we’re yet to locate the specific source. Otherwise, the finishes in the cabin feel durable and comfortable.
For parents in the know, we originally had a MaxiCosi Mico Plus capsule, and although it fit well in the back seat, it rendered the front passenger seat virtually unusable.
Once we transitioned to the more compact Britax Graphene car seat, it allowed the front passenger seat to move further back and also opened up plenty of space in the back. In fact, there’s so much room in the back seat that I often use it as a portable changing room.
The 522L boot is sensational and can fit a large pram, a portacot, and luggage (when packed to the roof). With the rear seats folding 60/40, we’ve been able to store plenty of larger items without having to remove the child seat too.
Parents might want to pay a bit more for the hands-free power tailgate offered on the mid-spec Outback – plus a cargo tray is something we soon decided was necessary due to all the wear and tear from loading the pram into the boot. (Hot tip: rather than dropping close to $200 on the Subaru-branded mats, my husband just picked up a hunk of rubber at Bunnings for $60 and cut it to fit.)
I was initially excited the car had keyless entry because I’ve nearly always got my hands full and struggle to get my keys out of my bag. Sadly, I’ve found it temperamental and have resorted to just using my keys, instead of trying to press my handbag up against the car in desperation.
Although we hoped our new Outback would use less fuel than our previous car thanks to the smaller engine and idle-stop system, it’s still a bit on the thirsty side.
Subaru quotes 7.3L/100km on a combined cycle, or 9.3L/100km on an urban cycle, but we’ve been getting around 11.2L/100km for mostly urban driving peppered with longer freeway stints.
| Key details | 2021 Subaru Outback AWD |
| Engine | 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol |
| Power | 138kW at 5800rpm |
| Torque | 245Nm at 3400–4600rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | CVT automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 84.7kW/t |
| Weight | 1629kg (Tare), 2200kg (Gross) |
| Tow rating | 2000kg braked / 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.0m |
Obviously, we’re yet to have a scheduled service after only six months and less than 4000km (I missed the free one-month health check because – newborn baby), but Subaru offers five years of capped-price servicing on the Outback for $2449.88, which feels pricey compared to rivals.
For example, Toyota charges less than half of that for the same plan on its popular RAV4.
While I don’t recommend buying a car in a pandemic, mere weeks out from the birth of your first child, we have no regrets about our purchase. While we initially um’d and ah’d over the higher price point, I’m ridiculously glad we splurged on our first family car.
Safety, comfort, practicality and familiarity during a particularly vulnerable time in your life? Priceless.
The post 2021 Subaru Outback AWD review: ownership appeared first on Drive.
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