{"id":24071,"date":"2019-08-09T17:14:50","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T21:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=24071"},"modified":"2019-08-09T17:14:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-09T21:14:50","slug":"payne-review-subarus-outback-spiffs-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/payne-review-subarus-outback-spiffs-up","title":{"rendered":"Payne review: Subaru&#8217;s Outback spiffs up"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/471ce7a4-9135-40f1-be49-847510c3d941-outback_onyx-black.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx is a new, $35k trim that comes in a variety of colors - the all-black look is particularly appealing.\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><p>The 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx is a new, $35k trim that comes in a variety of colors &#8211; the all-black look is particularly appealing.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Subaru, Subaru)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">What iconic\u00a0mid-size SUV is made in the Midwest, appeals to luxury\u00a0and mainstream buyers alike, and can climb trees?<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">If you answered the Jeep Grand Cherokee, you\u2019d be right. If you said Subaru Outback, you\u2019d also be right.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Assembled in Lafayette, Indiana, with the American market in mind, the roomy &#8216;Ru is comfortable in driveways from middle-class Ferndale to upscale Grosse Pointe. For 2020, the Outback blurs the luxury-mainstream line even further with a finely crafted interior and 11.6-inch Tesla-like console screen that will knock your boots off.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SAJd1Oze37M\" class=\"story-asset gallery-asset\">\n<div class=\"card-film inactive\">Warning to traditional Subaru mud-kickers who have left their Outbacks dirty because, well, they weren&#8217;t\u00a0much to look at to begin with:\u00a0Invest in rubber mats front to back so you don\u2019t soil the handsome interior. Get the Outback\u2019s snazzy new Onyx exterior trim and you\u2019ll want to start washing the exterior regularly, too. It\u2019s that nice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Unlike Jeep, which traces its legacy to 1941, the Outback\u2019s meteoric rise to icon started more recently with &#8230; well, the Legacy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">If Jeep saved America in World War II, the Outback saved Subaru\u00a0in the &#8217;90s. The Japanese brand\u2019s Legacy was struggling\u00a0in the sedan market against mega-sellers like Camry, Accord and Taurus when a group of Subaru engineers threw some rugged cladding on a Legacy\u2019s rocker panels, lifted the chassis\u00a0and called it an Outback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Aussie Paul \u201cCrocodile Dundee\u201d Hogan swaggered in with his endorsement, and Subaru was reborn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Soon the made-for-America\u00a0Japanese ute with the Australian badge was selling like granola. The unibody ute pioneered a crossover boom that would eventually sweep the nation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Subaru is now synonymous with Outback&#8217;s ethic:\u00a0an all-wheel drive brand for people who love the outdoors. The demographic cuts across class lines. Up North skiers head\u00a0to the slopes in Outbacks. Ann Arbor college kids pack Impreza hatches for the holidays. Motorheads like me buy\u00a0Subaru WRX STIs to terrorize the twisties.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SAJd1OzwbOc\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/e6a8b361-aac5-4fca-9bcf-1525dbdaa059-outback_AWD.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Subaru Outback comes standard with all-wheel-drive and a capable, off-road X-mode.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/e6a8b361-aac5-4fca-9bcf-1525dbdaa059-outback_AWD.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/e6a8b361-aac5-4fca-9bcf-1525dbdaa059-outback_AWD.JPG?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/>The 2020 Subaru Outback comes standard with all-wheel-drive and a capable, off-road X-mode.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Subaru, Subaru)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\">For the Outback, this translates into a broad income demographic pushing into the six-figures. Want badge bandwidth? My Outback-owning friends range from young, bark-chewing writers who value the SUV\u2019s height off-road \u2014 to a retired ex-BMW banker who values its height for ease-of-access.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In 2010 the Outback grew up, becoming more irresistible as a mid-size ute priced at $35,000 in the sweet spot of the U.S.\u00a0market. Sales climbed to 182,000 last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">But the sixth-generation 2020 Outback may be the most significant upgrade yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Adopting Subaru\u2019s new Global Platform, stylish Onyx trim\u00a0and gob-smacking interior, Outback moves beyond its one-dimensional, off-road utility reputation to an attractive cruiser that looks as good in the city as in the country.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SAJd1Ozljv4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/f34f8c88-bb74-4510-b68a-66cfbdc84451-outback_onyx-side.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx brings style to once-humble brand with sculpted surfaces and blacked-out trim. At some $20k less than premium brands, the Outback is more refined than ever.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/f34f8c88-bb74-4510-b68a-66cfbdc84451-outback_onyx-side.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/f34f8c88-bb74-4510-b68a-66cfbdc84451-outback_onyx-side.JPG?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/>The 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx brings style to once-humble brand with sculpted surfaces and blacked-out trim. At some $20k less than premium brands, the Outback is more refined than ever.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Subaru, Subaru)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\">I am already familiar with the Global Platform from regular use of my wife\u2019s Impreza hatch,\u00a0the first\u00a0GP-equipped Subaru,\u00a0circa 2017. With more chassis rigidity and structural reinforcement, Impreza\u2019s stiffness is noticeable, making it competitive with class-leading athletes like the VW Golf and Mazda 3.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Its benefits are magnified on the bigger, taller Outback which sits 8.7 inches off the ground to navigate the rocks and gulleys of the great outdoors (and Michigan potholes).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">On northern California\u2019s twisted Route 1 with more switchbacks than Joe Biden\u2019s political campaign, the Outback grew in confidence under my lead foot after I got used to its too-light steering. Tree-huggers will be anxious to get to the outback, and the sturdy SUV encourages quick commutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Some will be disappointed that the Subie has buried its torquey 256-horse boxer-6 for the zippier 260-horse, 2.4-liter turbo-boxer 4 shared with the three-row Ascent SUV. The turbo mill has more lag but delivers 20 percent better fuel economy. A 182-horse, 2.5-liter flat 4-banger is plenty competent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The good news is Subaru has also buried its droning\u00a0CVT transmission for a state-of-the-art CVT that is remarkably quiet with smooth, electronically stepped shifts to mimic a cog-swapper. Subie throws in paddle shifters to up the sporty vibe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">But personality will only get you so far if you\u2019ve got the body of a roll-top desk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The Outback has always looked ungainly to me \u2014 a thickly clad station wagon teetering nearly a foot off the ground with a front overhang the size of a Frank Lloyd Wright house. So I was surprised to find my eyes lingering on Outback\u2019s new Onyx package. Subaru vets will know it as the Sport package on other vehicles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">With lots of mascara and 18-inch black boots, my silver Onyx tester was a looker. The more-sculpted body stampings complement the bulky, lower cladding giving the Outback the appearance of a running shoe on wheels. Onyx may sound exotic, but it\u2019s a middle trim starting at $35,905, meaning you don\u2019t have to pay a premium for the best-looking Outback.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Slip inside and the Outback wows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Gone is the conservative, blocky decorating. Dash lines curve, door lines slash and the huge vertical tablet anchors the center console. Unlike big screens from other automakers (looking at you, Volvo), the screen is complemented by knobs and the graphics are big as a children\u2019s book for easy viewing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The Global Platform\u2019s EyeSight system is armed with a ridiculous suite of standard features including 4G WiFi, smartphone connectivity apps, adaptive cruise-control\u00a0and Level Two autonomous driving that was more advanced than the $165,000\u00a0Mercedes G-wagen I recently drove.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-SAJd1OzjjN4\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/88b999c2-1c49-4ac9-8d95-858945441e35-outback_int.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Subaru Outback gets a premium upgrade with a standard-on-all-but-base-trim-models, 11.6-inch, Tesla-like screen that is easy to use for just $29,905.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/88b999c2-1c49-4ac9-8d95-858945441e35-outback_int.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2019\/08\/07\/PDTN\/88b999c2-1c49-4ac9-8d95-858945441e35-outback_int.JPG?width=500&amp;height=333\" \/>The 2020 Subaru Outback gets a premium upgrade with a standard-on-all-but-base-trim-models, 11.6-inch, Tesla-like screen that is easy to use for just $29,905.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Subaru, Subaru)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\">The Onyx trim gets a leather-like urethane that shames the mono-black interiors common in luxury cars\u00a0these days. The seats are a subtle mix of gray and black highlighted by green stitching. Yum.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Still think you want to spend $15,000 more on a comparable premium ute?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The rear seats swallowed my 6-foot-5 knees. A panoramic roof is missing, perhaps to make room for the biggest roof racks you\u2019ve ever seen with tie-down points and concealed cross arms that can hold down an Everest base camp. Rear cargo area matches that of a Grand Cherokee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">With so much ground clearance, I explored the far reaches of north California\u2019s ATV trails, the signature Subie all-wheel drive system digging through dirt like a giant groundhog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Despite its crossover appeal to luxury buyers, Outback has resisted the premium-price temptation. The fashionable Onyx comes in a whopping $10,000\u00a0cheaper than a comparably sized\/equipped Chevy Blazer, and $20,000\u00a0under its outdoorsy Scandinavian peer, the Volvo XC60.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">All that and it boasts the best\u00a0five-year, cost-to-own numbers recorded by Kelley Blue Book. The icon just got more iconic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\"><strong>2020 Subaru Outback<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Vehicle type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, five-passenger\u00a0SUV<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Price: Base price $27,655\u00a0including $1,010\u00a0destination charge ($34,455 Limited and $36,905 Onyx as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Powerplant: 2.5-liter direct-injection\u00a0boxer\u00a04-cylinder; 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Power: 182 horsepower, 176\u00a0pound-feet of torque (2.5-liter);\u00a0260 horsepower, 277 pound-feet torque (2.4-liter turbo-4)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Transmission: CVT with 8-speed manual-shift mode<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 7.5 sec. (est.); maximum towing, 3,500 pounds<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Weight: 3,634 pounds base\u00a0(3,884 Onyx as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Fuel economy: EPA: 26 city\/33 highway\/29 combined (2.5-liter); 23 city\/30 highway\/26 combined (2.4-liter turbo-4)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Highs: Premium interior; stylish Onyx trim value<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Lows: A lotta\u00a0black plastic cladding; miss the flat-6 grunt<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Overall: 4\u00a0stars<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx is a new, $35k trim that comes in a variety of colors &#8211; the all-black look is particularly appealing.\u00a0(Photo: Subaru, Subaru) What iconic\u00a0mid-size SUV is made in the Midwest, appeals to luxury\u00a0and mainstream buyers alike, and can climb trees? If you answered the Jeep Grand Cherokee, you\u2019d be right. If [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24071"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24071\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}