2016 Subaru Outback

The 2016 Subaru Outback is available in four different trim configurations: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. The starting price for the above-mentioned trims are $24,995, $27,395, $30,395 and $33,395 respectively. However, most of the desirable features are offered from 2.5i Premium trim onwards, going up to the loaded 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited trims. The base 2.5i trims might feel slightly underpowered with an output of 175 hp, while the 3.6-liter engine with 256 hp is available with the Limited trim as standard.

Subaru has offered a decent set of features like 17-inch steel wheels, 6.2-inch multimedia screen, welcome lighting, AWD drivetrain, 12-volt in-dash and cargo outlets, and manually-adjustable front seats, with the 2.5i trim. With the 2.5i Premium trim, features like 10-way power-adjustable seats, 7.0-inch multimedia screen, All-Weather Package, fog lights, dual-zone climate control system and leather wrapped steering wheels are standard. The Limited trims offer 18-inch alloy wheels, premium audio system, power rear gate, and leather upholstery as standard.  

Subaru offers multiple optional features for the 2.5i Premium trim like power rear gate with memory, power moonroof package, EyeSight driver-assist technology, multimedia with navigation system, blind-spot detection with rear cross traffic alert, while some features like keyless access with push button start and EyeSight driver-assist technology are available for the Limited trims.

The 2016 Subaru Outback with its 2.5-liter engine offers good fuel economy but it's not the best. With an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 25/32/28 mpg in city/highway/combined conditions, the 2.5i trims are quite economic. The 3.6R Limited trim with a 3.6-liter engine delivers 20/27/22 mpg in city/highway/combined conditions. With a 18.5 gallon tank on all models, the Outback 2.5i and 3.6R trims offer a combined range of 518 miles and 407 miles respectively. 

With a small and prudent motor under its hood, the Volkswagen wagon bags the first place for the highest combined fuel economy of 29 mpg. It is followed by the Outback in terms of combined gas mileage and it offers the maximum range in the comparison, courtesy of largest fuel tank. The BMW 328i xDrive wagon and Audi Allroad are less efficient and deliver less range, owing to smaller fuel tanks. 

The interior of the 2016 Subaru Outback can be best described as functional rather than modern. The cabin is well-built and the ergonomics are decent too. The exterior view is good and the driving height is sufficient for a good view of the road ahead. Subaru has utilized soft touch plastics over the dashboard and door panels. The base trim lacks some creature comforts but higher trims offer heated steering, powered driver’s seat and premium leather upholstery as standard.

Subaru offers the interior cloth and leather upholstery in different colors like Slate Black and Warm Ivory for the 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. The front and rear seats are supportive and the rear seats accommodate three passengers with decent comfort, and even the rear legroom is adequate for comfort on long journeys. With the power moonroof, the passenger volume is limited to 104.5 cu-ft and 108.1 cu-ft with no moonroof. 

 With all seats in place, the cargo capacity is limited to 35.5 cu-ft. However, the rear 60/40 seat back can be folded down completely, extending the cargo space to 73.3 cu-ft. In-cabin storage solutions are also plenty, with seatback pockets, door pockets, and other cubbies for small-item storage. Other convenience features include heated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, etc.

The Subaru Outback offers the maximum interior space in terms of headroom and legroom in the front as well as the rear row of seats. Like its impressive interior space, the Outback offers an impressive amount of cargo space. With 35.5 cu-ft of cargo space, the Outback takes the crown. It is followed by Golf Sportswagen, Audi Allroad 2.0T and BMW 328i xDrive wagon. 

Subaru offers a 6.2-inch multimedia touchscreen display with the base 2.5i trim. The rest of the trims are equipped with a larger 7.0-inch screen. However, both the touch screens offer dated graphics and Subaru’s StarLink interface does not help either with slow touch response from these screens. The Premium and Limited trims get access to navigation as an optional feature. Some features like Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio, 4-speaker audio system, and USB port/iPod control are standard. The Limited trims get access to a 576-watt, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Some of the key interior features are:  

• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated seats
• 60/40 split-folding rearseats
• SiriusXM satellite radio 
• USB interface

The 2016 Subaru Outback does not look modern or aesthetically pleasing from any angle. However, the wagon body profile is quite practical in daily lives and the front end is very much inspired from the Legacy sedan. The beak-shaped headlamps and small hexagonal chrome grille with Subaru logo look subtle. However, the front bumper is different from the Legacy sedan and we believe it's designed for a more rugged experience. The side profile is unexciting to be honest and devoid of any sharp angles or curves. 

The chrome window trim and roof rails accentuate the overall appearance. The 2016 Outback offers two different wheel sizes: 17-inch and 18-inch. The 17-inch and 18-inch steel and aluminum alloy wheels are wrapped around 225/65 R17 and 225/60 R18 tires respectively. The rear profile is bland but 3.6R Limited trim offers dual exhaust outlets. The different exterior colors like Black Silica, Red Pearl, Brown Pearl, Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Blue Pearl, Tungsten Metallic, Carbide Gray, Laps Blue, White Pearl and Wilderness Green Metallic are offered.

In terms of exterior, the Subaru Outback is the longest in the comparison. It also has the most height and overshadows the VW Polo, which is quite tiny and compact when compared to the remaining cars. It’s surprisingly longer than the BMW 328i xDrive wagon. The Audi Allroad is not only the heaviest but also has the longest wheelbase at 110.4 inches. The Subaru Outback also has the highest ground clearance, making it more off-road compatible than its rivals.

Some of the key exterior features include:

• Automatic headlights
• HID low-beam headlamps
• Roof rails
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Power moonroof 
• Power rear liftgate 

The 2016 Subaru Outback is a well-built and rugged wagon. The IIHS awarded the Subaru Outback with a 2016 Top Safety Pick+, giving it the highest score of ‘Good’ in all five individual crash test categories. The NHTSA gave the 2016 Outback a perfect five-star overall rating. It earned five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. Thus, the safety quotient of this practical wagon cannot be doubted. 

According to Subaru, EyeSight reduces rear-end crashes with injuries by 85%, which is a huge claim in itself. It does have other advanced features as well like blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. Subau’s StarLink Safety Plus and Security Plus features are optional with all the trims except the base trim. However, the good thing is that a high-resolution rear view camera is standard on all the trims. 

Some of the key safety features are: 

• Starlink Connected services
• Rearview camera
• Blind-spot warning system
• Rear cross-traffic alert system
• Lane departure warning and intervention system
• Forward collision and mitigation system

2016 Subaru Outback vs 2016 Audi Allroad 

The 2016 Audi Allroad is more luxurious and modern as compared to the Outback. The Allroad wagon offers better performance as compared to the Outback. However, it is also very expensive as compared to even the top most trim of the Subaru Outback. 

The Subaru Outback is more spacious and offers better gas mileage than the Audi Allroad. With higher ground clearance, the Outback is more off-road compatible as compared to the Audi's wagon. Looking at the overall value and practicality, the Outback makes more sense at its price point. 

2016 Subaru Outback vs 2016 BMW 328i xDrive Wagon 

The BMW 328i xDrive wagon offers very good performance and offers much better handling than the Outback. The interior is also more luxurious and modern as compared to the Outback. However, the BMW 328i xDrive wagon is more expensive than the Outback 

The Subaru Outback scores big in terms of fuel efficieny and cargo space. It also offers higher ground clerance than the BMW, allowing for enhanced off-roading. The BMW 328i xDrive wagon offers lesser rear seat legroom than the Outback, making it less comfortable over longer journeys. 

2016 Subaru Outback vs 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen 

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf Superwagen is more compact than the Outback and offers inadequate interior space. The Golf Sportswagen is lighter in weight and offers slighly better gas mileage than the Outback. However, with larger fuel tank, the Outback offers better range. 

Being lighter and compact, the Golf Sportwagen offers better performance than the Outback. However, the Outback offers better cargo space and off-roading potential with higher ground clearance and AWD drivetrain as standard. 

A perfect family wagon that stands as an amalgamation of practicality and utility, the 2016 Subaru Outback makes its entry as a showstopper. With many manufacturers offering similar kinds of vehicles, Subaru not only offers a spacious car but also offers decent gas mileage and versatility, while offering very good value at its price point. The rugged wagon has earned safety awards and proved its safety quotient. However, if high performance and dynamic handling are not your requirements, then the 2016 Subaru Outback is recommended for you.