Test Drive: 2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition

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Photo Gallery: 2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition

In the mid 90s, the SUV craze was in full swing, but Subaru didn’t have an SUV – so they took their Legacy wagon, added body cladding and fog lights, jacked up the suspension, added a roof rack, and included standard all-wheel drive, and created an instant ‘sport utility wagon’. With the help of clever TV ads starring Crocodile Dundee actor, Paul Hogan, the Outback was an immediate success.

Twelve years later – and even though Subaru now has two SUVs in its line-up – the Outback is still going strong in its third generation.

In its first model year, the Outback came with a choice of a 2.2-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine or a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine (the 2.2-litre engine was dropped in 1997). In 2001, the second generation Outback became available with a new 212-hp six-cylinder (H6) boxer engine (which was upgraded to 250 hp in 2005), and in 2005, a new turbocharged 250-hp 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine was made available in the Outback.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

Standard features on the 3.0R ($38,995) include the 245-hp 3.0-litre horizontally-opposed six cylinder engine, five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, symmetrical all-wheel drive, 17-inch tires and alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, side and curtain airbags, eight-way power driver’s seat, premium six-CD stereo with six speakers, cargo cover, cargo mat, and 12-volt outlet in cargo area, power heated mirrors, fog lights, roof rails, variable intermittent wipers, intermittent rear wiper/washer, 60/40 folding rear seatbacks.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

The optional 3.0R Premier Package ($45,995) (formerly the 3.0R VDC Limited) adds leather seats and shift knob, leather-wrapped MOMO steering wheel with integrated audio controls, premium stereo, dual glass power sunroof, DVD-based navigation system with colour screen, four-way power passenger seat, traction control and Vehicle Dynamics Control.

The $7,000 price premium for the Premier Edition seems excessive, but many of the upgrades are big ticket options: navigation, leather, dual sunroof, and stability control.

and though this design could theoretically allow window rattles or water leaks, I’ve never found this to be the case with the Legacys and Outbacks I’ve tested – all of which were brand new of course. One advantage of frameless windows is that the door weighs less, and is easier to open and close.

The Outback 3.0R’s Premier Edition’s interior is very nicely finished with an attractive blend of cream leather seats, dark leather and wood steering wheel with metallic accents, wood and aluminum look trim on doors and centre console, and metallic rings around the gauges. I didn’t like the cream-coloured carpets or the cream-coloured carpet in the cargo area for obvious reasons. However, the standard rubber cargo mat in my test car proved to be a great idea for carrying wet or dirty items.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

The Outback’s gauge cluster includes four overlapping round dials with large, easy-to-see white numerals on a dark background and a transmission gear indicator in the tachometer. All are nicely backlit at night.

I found the power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment very comfortable, and both front seats have seat heaters with a variable dial temperature adjustment found in the centre console. Premier Edition models have a power front passenger seat as well as a power driver’s seat. The two cupholders between the front seats have a sliding cover, and behind them is a centre storage bin with a 12-volt powerpoint inside. The centre storage bin is not very big though.

A huge two piece glass sunroof extends over the back seat and lets in lots of light which I found great on dark winter days. A sliding sunshade protects against the bright sun on hot, sunny days. When open, the front glass section rises up to act as a wind deflector, while the rear section moves back into the roof. At speed, there is minimal wind buffeting when it is open.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

Due to the long flat roof, rear passengers have generous headroom, and rear legroom is adequate as well – but there could be more footroom under the front seats. In the middle of the rear seatback is a folding centre armrest that includes two pop-out cupholders.

The 3.0R Premier Edition includes a DVD-based GPS navigation system with a touch-screen display that shows a real-time locator map in different scales, a screen for entering your destination, and an information screen with various driver information features such as time, date, average fuel consumption, outside temperature, driving range, trip computer, calculator, and maintenance info. I’m still not sure whether navigation systems are worth the money in the town where you live – but on a trip, they are invaluable.

Outback 3.0R models include a six-disc CD/MP3/WMA player with four speakers and two tweeters. This is a premium system with premium sound that fills the cabin like a concert hall, something you might expect in a car approaching $50,000.

Automatic climate control with separate driver and passenger temperature adjustments is standard, and though Autos contributor Haney Louka expressed some reservations about his climate control’s performance in an earlier model, I didn’t have any concerns during the time I had it during late winter in Vancouver.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

The split folding rear seatbacks can be folded down individually creating a long loading floor measuring 1854 mm, or about six feet – that’s my five foot aluminum ladder in the trunk in the accompanying photo. With the rear seats up, the cargo floor is 1077 mm long, and 1071 mm between the wheelhousings.

Cargo volume behind the rear seatbacks is 847 litres (29.9 cu.ft.), and with both seatbacks folded down, it doubles to 1851 litres (65.3 cu.ft.). The cargo area includes a sturdy sliding privacy cover, and an under-floor storage area for smaller items that aren’t needed on a daily basis, such as tool kits, tire inflators, tire gauges, emergency road signs, blankets and so forth.

Overall, the Outback’s interior is more like a luxury car than a utility vehicle – you wouldn’t want to throw your muddy soccer gear in the back seat. The light coloured carpets and scratchable plastic and wood detract from its overall utility, but the rubber cargo mat is a great idea.

In the driver’s seat, outward visibility for the driver is good in all directions – even the centre rear head restraint doesn’t seem to get in the way when reversing. The standard rear wiper and washer on the rear window keeps the rear window clear when it’s foggy, raining or snowing.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with horizontally-opposed cylinders is lower and more compact than comparable V6 engines, and thus has a lower centre of gravity which helps ride and handling. It’s also mounted longitudinally rather than transversely, so the engine, transmission and all-wheel drive system are all in a straight line, which helps to reduce vibration and provide better weight balance.

The H6 engine has dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, electronic throttle control, and Subaru’s Active Valve Control System and Active Valve Lift System, a variable valve timing system added a couple of years ago. This engine develops 245 hp at 6600 rpm and 215 lb-ft torque at 4200 rpm. (The drop in horsepower from 250 to 243 in 2007 is the result of changes in the way horsepower is measured by the SAE – the actual horsepower is the same as last year.)

Power progression from the six-cylinder motor is smooth and linear, probably its biggest advantage over the turbocharged 2.5-litre four cylinder motor which exhibits a bit of turbo lag and uneven power progression, not to mention more vibration. The other advantage of the six cylinder engine is that it is quieter – more befitting a $50,000 luxury vehicle. Though the turbo engine has more torque, I would choose the six simply because it’s smoother and quieter. On the freeway, the engine revs at just 2,100 r.p.m at 100 km/h and 2,500 r.p.m. at 120 km/h. Fuel consumption isn’t as good as a typical front-wheel drive mid-sized wagon but it’s better than mid-sized SUVs: 12.2 L/100 km (23 mpg Imp.) city; and 8.5 L/100 km (33 mpg Imp.) Hwy. However, it uses Premium 91 octane gasoline.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

The standard five-speed automatic transmission is a quick, smooth shifter that responds well to throttle input, and includes a manual sequential shift mode that provides surprisingly quick manual shifts.

Unlike the sportier, turbocharged Outback 2.5XT however, the Outback 3.0R is not available with SI-Drive, Subaru’s electronically controlled throttle adjustment that provides three different levels of performance with the flick of a switch.

Subaru’s ‘symmetrical’ AWD system uses an electronically controlled, continuously variable hydraulic transfer clutch: power goes to all four wheels all the time, but more is sent to the front when rear traction is lost and vice versa. When cruising, more power goes to the front wheels to save gas, but when accelerating on dry pavement, more power is sent to the rear wheels. A limited slip rear differential also helps send power to either rear wheel when one loses traction. The Outback 3.0R also includes traction control. Most of the time, the driver doesn’t even notice this is happening. In slippery conditions, the AWD takes over automatically, enhancing traction and stability – and safety.

2007 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premier Edition. Click image to enlarge

One of the big advantages of the Legacy/Outback when compared to SUVs is its car-like ride and decent handling. The Outback has a four-wheel independent suspension and beefy P225/55R17 Bridgestone Potenza M+S all-season radials. Even for a car, the Outback is well balanced when cornering, in part due to its ‘symmetrical’ driveline. Considering that the Outback has a taller ride height than the regular Legacy wagon it’s surprising how well it does ride and handle. And for a car with all-wheel drive, the Outback has a surprisingly tight turning circle of 10.8 metres (35.4 ft.) which makes parking and manoeuvring easier than most 4WD vehicles.

The Outback features standard four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and electronic brake force distribution for sure stopping. The Outback 3.0R weighs about 1600 kg (3500 lb), considerably less than most mid-size SUVs, which aids in its braking performance. Standard towing capacity is 453 kg (998 lbs) and 1360 kg (2998 lbs) with trailer brakes.

During the week I had it, I found the Outback 3.0R a very comfortable, luxurious wagon to drive around town, on the freeway, or even on a rutted gravel road on the way to ‘cottage country’. It’s not a mountain climber like a Jeep Wrangler, but for occasional off-pavement use, its combination of all-wheel drive and a high ground clearance, and independent suspension, make it surprisingly capable.