Vehicle safety data is provided by IIHS, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries on the nation's highways.
The freshly redesigned 2010 Subaru Outback is more powerful, roomy and fuel efficient than ever. A brand new chassis and the introduction of a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) make a fresh new statement for this popular Subaru crossover.
Starting off the Outback lineup is the 2.5i model, featuring a revised 170-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, which is mated to either the new CVT or a new six-speed manual transmission. On deck is the 3.6R, which sports a 256-horsepower, 3.6-liter six-cylinder under its hood. All models get Subaru’s all-wheel drive equipment standard. The Outback delivers up to 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, which is better than most crossovers and wagons, including the Audi A4 Avant and BMW 3 Series.
Interior volume has been increased by approximately seven percent; that means an extra eight cubic feet of passenger room and six extra cubic feet of cargo room, bringing total cargo room up to 71.3 cubic feet. The Outback is also longer for 2010, and rear passengers can now enjoy a gargantuan four-inch increase in rear legroom; there’s more room for comfort here than in a Nissan Rogue or Volvo XC60, or many other competitors.
Even with all that interior expansion going on, Subaru did not forget to load the Outback full of goodies. The base model features a new electronic parking brake with a hill holder feature that keeps the car from rolling back while stopped. The Premium model adds a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the options of a 440-watt Harmon/Kardon® stereo and heated front seats, among others. The flagship Limited line proffers premium perforated leather seats, dual zone climate control, and an optional GPS system with an eight-inch LCD display screen.
Subaru is becoming a synonym for safety, and the Outback supports this relationship by featuring standard antilock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, traction control, and stability control. With a stronger new chassis than last year’s Five-Star crash-rated Outback, and airbags all around, the Outback is sure to deliver Five-Star ratings when tested.
The redesigned 2010 Subaru Outback blends comfort, utility, fuel economy, safety and fun making it the premium crossover with the affordable crossover price.