  2015 Subaru Outback & 2013 Subaru Outback. Click image to enlarge |
On the ride front, the MacPherson front strut suspension and double-wishbone rear have been tweaked for both greater agility and a more forgiving ride, though the Outback already managed this balance better than almost any crossover on the market.
Also arguably better than any crossover on the market is Subaru’s full-time Symmetrical AWD system featuring “Active Torque Split”, and it now adds torque vectoring via the stability control programming (so brake-based, not mechanical) as well as X Mode hill descent control on CVT-equipped models. Manual models continue with a viscous-coupling limited-slip AWD system, also employing torque vectoring courtesy of the VDC stability control system.
    2015 Subaru Outback. Click image to enlarge |
Overall size is increased slightly, length 4,817 mm (+17), width 1,840 mm (+20), wheelbase 2,745 (+5), interior space only marginally improved (notably some added hip and shoulder room, but giving up rear headroom – now 988 mm, down from 999), but cargo space gaining almost 150 L, cracking the 1,000 L just barely. The rear seats split 60/40 and fold down to offer 2,076 L adding more than 50 L to the current model’s cargo hold.
Without gaining too much size, it puts itself ahead of competitors like the Honda Crosstour and Toyota Venza on the cargo front while staying competitive for interior passenger accommodations, except for that rear headroom. Sitting in the back, I did notice a shortage of space for my hair (thankfully the show was pretty much wrapping up by then), but legroom was generous and the outboard seats seemed reasonably comfortable as a respite from the rush of an auto-show media day.
But the best improvements are indeed up front. The driver’s seat was comfortable, and with the exception of the fake wood trim (stickers, no less), the interior materials were downright respectable. From the creamy leather seats to the soft-touch dash and the smooth action of the knobs, the car felt upscale. Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves; this interior won’t put Audi or BMW on notice, but it’s a fine ensemble for Subaru, the silver and patterned plastics adding a touch of class if not luxury.
  2015 Subaru Outback. Click image to enlarge |
The luxury you might hear bandied about would be a features list to make Kia proud. However, the shiny new additions for 2015 are a standard back-up camera, available power tailgate with height memory, xenon headlamps, heated rear seats, blind-spot detection and rear cross traffic alert (added to all models except the base 2.5i), proximity access and start, and perforated leather upholstery with two-position memory for the 10-way power driver’s seat in Limited trims. Subaru’s camera-based Eyesight system with adaptive cruise control, frontal collisions warning and prevention and lane keeping assistance is available on 2.5i and 3.6 Limited models.
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Most promising of all was a new infotainment system that actually appeared to have been designed along with the rest of the interior and not scooped out of an aftermarket parts pin. Base 2.5i cars offer a 6.2-inch touchscreen with capacitive touch display and Aha radio app and smartphone integration. Upgrade models with the nav system feature a 7-inch touchscreen display that answers to swipe, pinch, and scroll gesture controls as well as a voice command system that can also operate the temperature controls, not to mention the available satellite radio and a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon premium audio system with a 576-watt amplifier. A couple little things that I would appreciate are one-touch lane-changer signals (one tap, three blinks) and auto up/down for both front windows (with pinch protection).
On paper, Subaru is adding value and qualities that match the demographic they cater to and others they’re pursuing. It’s been nothing but success over the past few years with the new Impreza and XV Crosstrek, new Forester and the previous generation Outback, and we expect that this 2015 Outback will continue that trend by improving a lot of small things while maintaining the mastery of the big things like convenience, practicality and durability.
Pricing is not yet announced, but we expect Subaru to continue the trend of reducing Canadian prices to more closely match the US MSRPs despite the recent decline of the Canadian dollar.
