Description
The sixth generation of the Outback broke cover in 2019 at the New York Auto Show, boasting the same impressive go-anywhere attitude as its predecessors.
What started as a jacked-up station wagon in 1994 ended up as a full-legit different model in Subaru’s stable. But the automaker didn’t go over the edge to create a designated platform for this crossover. It used the same one from the Legacy, as it did on the previous five generations of the Outback. It was also loaded with safety features that made the vehicle highly attractive. Yet, in terms of styling, it wasn’t a big step up over its predecessor, and it still looked like a station wagon on stilts, not a proper crossover vehicle. On the other hand, Subaru wasn’t reckoned for its fantastic design studio but for its all-wheel drive systems, and all versions of the Outback featured it.
Subaru introduced the sixth generation of the Outback just five years after launching the fifth generation of this moniker. Its front fascia featured swept-back headlights with integrated C-shaped daytime running lights. Depending on the trim level and options, it sported a chromed or black grille with horizontal slats as part of the upper bumper area. The lower side of the bumper was left black to create a rugged look for the car. Last but not least, the automaker installed LED fog lamps that flanked the lower air intake.
From its profile, the wagon-like look of the Outback was enhanced by the black wheel well-claddings and side skirts of the same color. The car had an almost identical wheelbase to its predecessor, so it offered similarly-sized doors. Thanks to its jacked-up suspension, the crossover boasted an 8.7-inch (22 cm) ground clearance and could handle more than just small potholes on the road. The chromed trim that surrounded the window area made the car look more upscale, while the raked forward tailgate adorned by a roof spoiler made it look sporty. Finally, all versions came fitted with roof rails for additional storage area.
Inside, the sixth generation of the Outback greeted its customers with high-bolstered front seats and an up to 11.6-inch center touchscreen for the infotainment system. Fronting the driver was an instrument cluster that featured two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, flanking a TFT display for additional information from the car’s onboard computer. In the back, the 60/40 split-folding bench seat could accommodate three adults, and the adjustable tilt for the backrest was also an appreciated feature. The 32.5 cu-ft (920 liters) trunk space could expand to 75.7 cu-ft (2,144 liters) with the rear seats completely folded. For customers’ peace of mind, Subaru installed the EyeSight Driver Assist technology that included lane-keeping assist with automatic steering adjustments, emergency braking, and automatic cruise control.
Under the hood of the Outback’s sixth generation, Subaru installed a 2.5-liter flat-four engine with or without turbocharging. Both versions were paired with a CVT transmission, known as the Lineartronic, that ensured smooth driving.
Press Release
Subaru of America introduced the all-new 2020 Outback offering the most advanced features, design and capability in its history. The sixth-generation SUV comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Subaru's award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. With an available tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK™ Multimedia system with integrated center information display, DriverFocus™ Distraction Mitigation System and new XT models with 260 horsepower, the 2020 Subaru Outback delivers greater technology, safety and performance than ever before.
Built on the Subaru Global Platform, which provides increased safety, dynamics and quietness as well as reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), the Outback will be available in Base, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT and Touring XT models.
PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITY
The 2020 Outback delivers the optimal blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, Vehicle Dynamics Control and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance for all Subaru Outback models is greater than that in many SUVs, yet the Outback maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.
For the first time since 2009, the Outback lineup offers a turbocharged engine. Standard on XT models, the 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine delivers robust all-around performance with 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Meanwhile, the standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter BOXER, with direct injection and nearly 90 percent of its parts new, delivers 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
All 2020 Outback models are paired with a Lineartronic CVT featuring an 8-speed manual mode function with steering wheel paddle shifters. The 2.4-liter turbo delivers a 3,500-lb. towing capacity, the most of any Subaru Outback in history, while the 2.5-liter provides more than a 600-mile range on a single tank. Manufacturer's estimated fuel economy is 26/33 mpg city/highway for the 2.5-liter and 23/30 mpg city/highway for the turbo.
Complementing the more refined powertrains is an all-new suspension that is lighter and more responsive. The front suspension utilizes MacPherson struts with new internal rebound spring, aluminum lower L-arms and new 23mm hollow stabilizer bar. The rear suspension renders a double-wishbone layout with subframe, coil springs and new 19mm hollow stabilizer bar.
STRUCTURE AND SAFETY
Introduced for 2017, the Subaru Global Platform has been optimized for the Outback, boasting a structure that is 70-percent stiffer in both torsional and front-suspension rigidity and 100-percent stiffer in both front lateral flexural and rear subframe rigidity compared to the previous Outback's platform. Crash protection is improved, as the new body absorbs over 40-percent more energy in front/side crashes than the current model. When a crash is unavoidable, the Outback protects with eight standard airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Subaru expects the Outback to achieve top safety scores when it is tested later this year, including a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Standard on all trims is Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that now includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, which provides steering assist when the vehicle veers outside its lane, helping the driver maintain a direct path. Segment-exclusive DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System uses a dedicated infrared camera and facial recognition technology to identify signs of driver fatigue or distraction and provides audio and visual warnings to alert the driver and passengers. Additional available driver-assist technologies include LED Steering Responsive Headlamps; Reverse Automatic Braking; Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert; and EyeSight Assist Monitor with head-up display.
In another Subaru Outback first, the 2020 model offers a Front View Monitor, which captures images within the driver's blind spots in front of the vehicle and displays a 180-degree view on the 11.6-inch display, providing safety and assistance when checking road conditions ahead or parking.
ONYX EDITION
The new 2020 Onyx Edition XT features black-finish exterior elements, 18-inch alloy wheels and badging, and an exclusive gray two-tone interior. Further, the seats are wrapped in a new water-repellant durable StarTex™ material. The Onyx Edition XT builds on the Premium trim and adds the 2.4-liter turbo BOXER, Hands-Free Power Gate, Front View Monitor and, for increased capability in a wider range of environmental conditions, exclusive Dual-Mode X-MODE and full-size spare tire.
COMFORT AND VERSATILITY
The 2020 Outback offers a peaceful cabin that is almost 3 dB quieter at highway speeds. Subaru engineers worked extensively to find ways to reduce unwanted noise coming into the cabin, fitting the Outback with new door weather strips that feature a baffle in the mid-section and dual lips on the roof side for improved quietness. Sound-insulated glass, which uses a sound-insulating inner film for the windshield and front-door glass, has been adopted, while glass thickness all around has been increased for quietness.
Limited and Touring models feature 10-way power front seats with lumbar support, adjustable cushion length (driver only) and heated front/rear seats. For 2020, seat heaters come with three levels of temperature adjustment as well as extended coverage up to the shoulders for improved comfort. Touring models add ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel to their roster of standard features. Comfort and convenience in the Outback have been optimized for passengers with increases in rear head, shoulder and leg room. For powering and pairing personal devices, up to four USB ports and two 12-volt DC power sockets are available.
With a cargo floor length of 78 inches with the rear seatbacks folded, the 2020 Subaru Outback offers up to 75.7 cu ft of cargo space. And with a wider rear gate opening, the Outback can comfortably accommodate long items such as camping gear, golf clubs or strollers. For added convenience while loading the vehicle, a new Hands-Free Power Gate allows the owner to open the rear gate by simply waving in front of the Subaru emblem (positioned in the center of the rear gate) as well as a new single-touch lifting cargo cover. Both features are a first for Subaru and are standard on most 2020 Outback models. For additional cargo versatility, the Outback offers standard roof rails with integrated and retractable cross bars and tie-downs.
BOLD DESIGN
Following a "Dynamic x Solid" philosophy, the all-new Subaru Outback is anchored to an "Active x Tough" concept. The result is a rugged and functional design that inspires wanderlust and enables active lifestyles. The 2020 Outback projects a large presence from thicker profile panel surfaces and raised rear gate as well as a sense of speed from its dynamic silhouette. Wider fenders, large hexagonal grille, front cladding and LED fog lights on the corners (standard on all trims except Base) emphasize the SUV's capability. Cladding on the side of the Outback is meant to resemble a hiking boot that further enhances this concept.
The interior design uses a widened windshield and long lines from the center of the instrument panel to the door panels to create an open environment. The Outback Touring leverages luxurious appointments inside and out, including Nappa leather, high-gloss black molding for the pillars, chrome plating decorated door handles and satin tone plated side mirrors.
SUBARU IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
SUBARU STARLINK In-Vehicle Technology offers an integrated cockpit experience by allowing the driver to control entertainment and vehicle settings through a large touchscreen display. All STARLINK multimedia systems for the 2020 Subaru Outback feature a high-resolution touchscreen; new on-screen controls for audio, HVAC, X-MODE and vehicle features; combination meter integration; smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™, Android™ Auto and new STARLINK SmartDeviceLink™ apps; Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio streaming connectivity; AM/FM stereo; Rear Vision Camera; SiriusXM® All Access Radio (4-month free subscription) and SiriusXM Travel Link® (3-year free subscription); HD Radio® and over-the-air updates.
Front and center, and highlighting Outback's upscale interior, is an all-new tablet-style 11.6-inch Full HD multimedia display, the largest, most advanced infotainment screen ever in a Subaru. Standard on all but the Base trim, the 11.6-inch Multimedia display offers direct touch controls for multimedia, HVAC, X-MODE and vehicle settings, and includes Near Field Communication to its list of features. Like with a smartphone, app icons can be moved and configured based on personal preference. The 2020 Outback will be the first vehicle to offer the new Chimani app, which provides a comprehensive guide to more than 400 national parks in the U.S. and includes park history and highlights written by local traveler experts. The top-of-the-line 11.6-inch Multimedia with Navigation adds navigation powered by TomTom® and voice activated navigation.
For the first time in Subaru Outback, available in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot provides smooth internet access via high-speed LTE™ communications. Framing the large multimedia screen is a new multilayer instrument panel featuring a soft-touch wrapped surface with available real double-stitching for a high-quality appearance. The wrapped surface material and stitching employ the same color combination as the seats and door trim for a uniform look and feel. An available 12-speaker Harman Kardon® audio system, with Clari-Fi™ compressed audio restoration technology and GreenEdge™ high-efficiency speakers and amplifier, delivers premium sound.
