Subaru Outback fuel economy figures released, hits 29 MPG
2010 Subaru Outback – Click above for high-res image gallery
Subaru's new-for-2010 Outback ought to silence a few critics who contend that all-wheel drive sucks up too much fuel to be a worthwhile purchase for most consumers. According to the Japanese automaker, the tip-toe all-weather wagon has studied up for the EPA test, netting 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway. That's smaller front-driver territory from many automakers, albeit with a big dash of Subaru load-lugging capacity.
The good table manners are delivered by the combination of the new Lineartronic CVT and 170 horsepower 2.5 liter boxer four. Subaru's EPA numbers for the 2010 Outback are tops for such a roomy wagon, besting the typical SUV competitors, as well as the higher-end AWD wagons offered by Audi and Volvo. The $23,000 price of entry is attractive, too, although given our recent experience with the 2010 Legacy upon which it is based, we don't imagine it being a terribly spirited drive when so-configured. Even still, for all those bloviators who keep calling for a good-sized wagon that returns reasonable fuel economy for a sensible price, here's your
Gallery: 2010 Subaru Outback
[Source: Subaru]
PRESS RELEASE:
Subaru of America, Inc. Announces EPA Figures for 2010 Outback
CHERRY HILL, N.J.
- Subaru Outback Wagon Achieves 29 mpg Hwy -
- Offers Better Fuel Economy Than Many Front-Wheel Drive Competitors -
CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the EPA fuel economy results for the all-new 2010MY Outback. The 2010 All-Wheel Drive Subaru Outback achieves up to 24 mpg combined and 29 mpg highway, even while interior volume is up over 7-percent.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080325/SUBARULOGO )
Specifically the Outback 2.5i CVT now exhibits better fuel economy (EPA combined) than such competitors as the Toyota Venza, Volvo XC70, VW Passat, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer. The 2010 Subaru Outback now scores better on EPA fuel economy than the much smaller Suzuki SX-4 AWD and has significantly more power coming from its 170HP 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer engine.
"The all-new 2010 Subaru Outback combines great on- and off-road capability, comfortable space, incredible cargo carrying ability and fuel economy all for a great price," said Tim Mahoney, senior vice president and CMO of Subaru of America, Inc. "We think this new Outback will really raise the bar in the crossover segment."
With its unique Boxer engine, segment-leading 8.7 inches of ground clearance, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and fold-away roof rack crossbars, the all-new Subaru Outback has an entry-level price of $22,995 (excluding destination and delivery). The Outback provides an alternative for customers looking for more room than a midsize sedan and features the off-road capabilities of an SUV, with the fuel economy of a small car.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of nearly 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy standards. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero- landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit http://www.subaru.com/.
2010MY EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Outback 2.5i 6MT 19 mpg city / 22 mpg combined / 27 mpg hwy
Outback 2.5i CVT 22 mpg city / 24 mpg combined / 29 mpg hwy
Outback 3.6R 5AT 18 mpg city / 20 mpg combined / 25 mpg hwy
SOURCE: Subaru of America, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
yankee 9:35AM (7/01/2009)
I hope they build them better then 2002 I turned on back in because it rapped for 30 miles when it started upand was told it was the way it was supposed to. be.I won,t buy SUBARU again
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BigMcLargeHuge 10:46AM (7/01/2009)
what?
Kumar 11:37AM (7/01/2009)
I think it's a reference to the sound of the boxer engine?
Fragmit 12:48PM (7/01/2009)
"I turned on back in because it rapped for 30 miles"
Could be worse, my 2004 Forester yelled "Flava Flaaaave!" every other mile.
Jared Neff 10:15PM (7/01/2009)
That tap-tap-tapping is programmed into the timing of the engine, so that when it's warmed up it runs as it should. It weirds a lot of people out but it's normal. What is not normal though is when it still does it after 30 miles
AutoCritical 10:35AM (7/01/2009)
I'm still struggling to come to terms with its styling... is anyone else?
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gforce 10:36AM (7/01/2009)
It's not just you. That model used to be Subaru's best looking vehicle. That front aspect is a bit of a fright.
Jared 10:38AM (7/01/2009)
Dunno what there is to come to terms with. It's bland and basically inoffensive.
Greg 10:47AM (7/01/2009)
The side, back and dash are generally likable, but what is with the huge wraparound Sebring/Es 350 headlights. Just too damn big!
James 10:56AM (7/01/2009)
I saw a nice looking 4rth generation Legacy sedan parked next to me....makes me wanna buy one of the last remaining ones.
Shiftright 12:21PM (7/01/2009)
It's ugly, period. Unfortunate since the last Legacy was pretty nice, even if a tad bland. Why can't Subaru hire some good designers?
Mike P. 2:02PM (7/01/2009)
While I could get used to the blandness of the Toyobaru Camacy sedan, this Outback looks awful. It looks like they smushed a Sebring together with a Tribeca, then flattened it a bit and gave it long overhangs to top it off.
Tomac 3:02PM (7/01/2009)
+1.
I could care less if it hit 35mpg-- I can't get past the SUV-wannabe shape and hideous front fascia. Serious low point for Subaru, IMHO.
evilspoons 5:11PM (7/01/2009)
Holy crap, this thing is hideous.
What happened to this beautiful car?
http://drive-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2008_subaru_legacy_sti_jdm_1.jpg
Beeb 10:48AM (7/01/2009)
Yeah, this is a real disappointment. After the debacle of the original Tribeca, Subaru seemed to have learned their lesson: the quick fixes to that model made it look decent and the '09 Forester was quite nice--and highly successful. The previous Legacy broke no new ground styling-wise but was nonetheless very sharp. This design appears to be a step backward in every way. Very disjointed and heavy-handed. The grille is a theme-free visual jumble of chrome bits that is hard to focus upon. Baffling that they could make this kind of a mistake. Sales can't possibly be helped by this re-do.
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zamafir 10:56AM (7/01/2009)
29mpg? with awd? and a 2.5l with 170hp? Awesome. Makes the jetta sportwagen seem even fatter. Good jub subie. Keep up the good work and we'll keep seeing those great sales figures. I can excuse the akward styling with that combo of awd, performance, and fuel economy at 23k
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nardvark 10:58AM (7/01/2009)
OK, so it's fairly impressive for an AWD vehicle, but my experience with their previous powertrains is that they are significantly slower than their paper specs, and that they make absolutely awful transmission control software. My 2002 Impreza takes several seconds to downshift for a passing maneuver. It's totally unacceptable. The problem is that it downshifts into 3rd, then realizes it can't actually pass in 3rd, so it downshifts into 2nd, and then we're finally on our way. By this time the window in traffic has closed, and I'm wishing I bought a car from a company who test drives their vehicles before selling them.
So anyways, I don't have a lot of confidence that their first attempt at a CVT is going to feel natural or satisfying to the driver.
Reply
DKB_SATX 11:42AM (7/01/2009)
It's not their first attempt with a CVT, though the previous attempt may not really count because it was on the tiny weak-kneed Justy.
I've had normally-aspirated loaners (Outbacks and one Forester) when my Legacy GT is in for longer maintenance services, and while they're not nearly as entertaining as the 2.5T, they're torquey and tolerable. If I just wanted an all-weather transportation unit and didn't care about fun, I could live with one. I think I'd still go for the manual transmission, which might not make sense if we're talking about a transportation pod, but I just can't give up that degree of control and feel good about it.
Bryan 12:03PM (7/01/2009)
I just bought an '08 5-door Impreza and it actually seems to downshift faster in automatic than in sport shift, so it may be improved from your '02. I love the car, my only gripe is that it needs a 5th gear.
nardvark 1:14PM (7/01/2009)
Yea, the lack of a 5th gear is another gripe. Or just use taller gearing, because the existing short gearing isn't doing anything for acceleration anyways.