A multi-year Best Family Car award winner, the 2017 Subaru Outback is among the most practical, sensible and versatile vehicles money can buy. Many ingredients go into this Subaru's secret sauce, from its standard all-wheel drive to its fuel efficiency, advanced safety features and stellar resale value. Each is impressive on its own. Combined, they make the Outback a standout.
Wagon or SUV? The best of both
Long seen more as a high-riding station wagon than an SUV, the reverse can now be said about the latest-generation Outback. Whatever you call this 2-row, 5-passenger crossover, it's capable. Like an SUV, this Subaru has an ample 8.7 inches of ground clearance and above-average ride height that affords a good view out. Combined with its all-wheel drive (AWD) and X-Mode off-road system, the 2017 Outback enables and even encourages adventure-minded families to find new paths to fun.
This Subaru's wagon-like cargo
area, meanwhile, makes it an excellent hauler. Whether you're packing
climbing gear, the kid's stroller or a month's worth of groceries, the
Outback boasts a surprising amount of room behind the rear seat. Even
more space can be had by folding the 60/40 rear seats, which creates
over 73 cubic feet of room.
Ready for child seats or growing teens
Whether
your family stage has you cradling infants or herding teens, the Subaru
Outback is ready to accommodate. Regarding the former, we found this
Subaru crossover among the best vehicles available for securing child
seats. The lower anchor is very easy to access, while the seatback’s
ability to recline helps in fitting boosters. Upper tethers were also
easy to attach, and we didn't need to remove the headrests to do so.
Families
with older children benefit from generous legroom. Two adults can
easily find comfort in the rear, and a third person can fit in a pinch.
Safe, efficient and convenient
Subarus
and safety have long gone hand in hand, and the Outback only builds on
that reputation. A host of active safety features are offered,
highlighted by Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology that keeps an
unblinking electronic eye on what's ahead, behind and to the sides of
the vehicle. In addition to frontal pre-collision braking, for 2017 the
Outback offers reverse automatic braking, which can stop the vehicle if
it detects an obstacle while backing up.
While
the hope is that those safety systems will only be needed rarely if
ever, the Outback offers plenty of other features that can be
appreciated every day. We like the power-operated rear liftgate,
576-watt Harman/Kardon audio system and heated leather seats. The new,
top-line Outback Touring model could pass for a luxury vehicle with its
perforated leather seating and ivory stitching, wood and metal interior
accents, and heated steering wheel.
Whether you opt for an Outback with the standard 4-cylinder engine that achieves up to 32 mpg or a 3.6R model with the stout, 256-horsepower 6-cylinder, you'll have a highly functional and capable crossover that is ready to loyally serve your family with years to come.
