Even though there are many vehicles competing with the 2017 Subaru Outback but few come close to the position held by this one. Although the Subaru Outback is classified as a midsized wagon, it does offer more ground clearance than most SUVs we’ve reviewed, and it’s a lot more rugged. It’s an alternative choice for anyone seeking a reasonably priced yet rugged crossover.
Subaru has introduced their ritzier Touring model for 2017 which adds a little more style for reasonably reduced utility. But the company has bumped the safety credentials this year by adding reverse automatic braking to what was already an award-winning EyeSight package.
The Outback 2017 has around the same amount interior space as the Ford Edge or even the Kia Sorento. The lower roof makes loading gear easier on top. The rugged nature means that the Outback 2017 makes it a vehicle for the outback or the occasional campsite a few miles off the interstate.
2017 Subaru Outback Exterior Design
8.7 inches of ground clearance, and enough room to fit five passengers the Outback 2017 is available in six trims i.e. 2.5i Limited, 2.5i, 2.5i Touring, 2.5i Premium, 3.6R Limited, and the 3.6R touring. The figures preceding each type of trim indicates the engine capacity.
Standard equipment with the 2017 2.5i Outback includes AWD, 17-inch alloys, a hill holder, hill descent control, rearview camera, automatic headlights, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, roof rails, a height adjustable seat for the driver. In terms of overall aesthetics, we tend to think that it falls right in line with just about every SUV / Crossover we’ve reviewed for 2017. Subaru is not known to take design risks, and so they stick with what works which in this case it’s just slightly changing the design of the 2016 Subaru Outback. Interestingly very little or probably next to nothing has changed between the 2016 and 2017 models except for a few extras.
Subaru Outback Interior Design
Air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity. A large 6.2-inch touchscreen, four speaker system, CD player and the option to integrate any smartphone are all standard features of the 2.5i Outback Standard. Though the touchscreen requires having a bit of dexterity especially long pressing the radio preset button if you want to program it. But we found the system generally easier to use.
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Since the Outback is billed as an alternative to crossovers and SUVs, you’ll find the 73.3 cubic feet of cargo area a pleasant surprise. We like the fact that it’s easier to load items because it’s slightly lower. Another thing we like is the rubber cargo tray which otherwise is an expensive dealer add-on.
Passenger seating space of the 2017 Outback is similar to a midsized sedan. So, it’s comfy, especially the back seat. The overall noise level and interior quality is slightly better than the 2016 Outback and the Subaru Forester. We like the soft touch materials used which are missing in the Forester. Read more here.
2017 Subaru Engine Specifications
The 2.5i trim is accompanied by a 2.5 liter horizontally placed, four-cylinder engine. It has a good 175 horsepower and outputs 174 pound-feet of torque across all four wheels via the CVT transmission. Our testing showed that the Outback 2017 could easily go from 0-60 in under 10 seconds or more like 9.6 seconds. Yes! It’s comparatively slow because other compact SUVs tend to be faster. However, the engine does ensure 28 mpg for city and 32 mpg on the highway. If you desire more power, we recommend that you pick up the 3.6 liter 3.6R trim with a six cylinder engine outputting 254 HP with 247 lb-ft of torque. Though the EPA fuel economy figures show 20 mpg for city and 27 for highway driving. So, it’s either fuel economy or speed when choosing the Outback.
Specs
- Wheelbase: 9 ft. 0.1 in
- Length: 15 ft. 9.6 in
- Width: 6 ft. 0.4 in
- Max Speed: N/A
- 0-60 mph: 9.6 seconds
- Passenger volume: N/A
- Storage volume: 73.3 cubic feet
- Curb weight: N/A
- MPG: 28 mpg for city and 32 mpg on the highway
- Available exterior colors: Crystal Black Silica, Carbide Gray Metallic, Ice Silver Metallic, Lapis Blue Pearl, Twilight Blue Metallic, Tungsten Metallic, Venetian Red Pearl, Wilderness Green Metallic, Crystal White Pearl
- Towing capacity: 2700 lbs
Price
The suggested retail price is $26,520. The premium edition should set you back $28,570.
2017 Outback Release Date
The 2017 Subaru Outback is out right now and can be purchased or leased.
