Autoblog

2013 Subaru Legacy and Outback recalled over potential steering loss

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Recalls, Safety, Subaru

Subaru today announced a recall that affects 5,379 Legacy sedan and Outback wagon models in the United States. All of the affected 2013 model-year vehicles were built between February 15 and June 15 of 2012.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "the inner and outer shafts of the steering column assembly may become disengaged from one another" in these vehicles. If that happens, the driver can lose the ability to steer the vehicle, which could obviously lead to all sorts of harmful things.

Subaru will notify owners of the problem, and affected models will have their steering columns replaced at dealerships, free of charge. Scroll down for the official NHSTA report.

Continue reading 2013 Subaru Legacy and Outback recalled over potential steering loss

2013 Subaru Legacy and Outback recalled over potential steering loss originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Subaru Outback Limited

Dan Roth — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Subaru, Quick Spins

Subaru has given the 2013 Outback a host of detail changes and updates, though you'd hardly know from looking at it. The mild exterior changes mostly go unnoticed, and if you're comparing on a numbers basis, the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is bang-on what the old engine would do. The biggest news is EyeSight, Subaru's new stereo camera-based system that drives lane-departure warning, active cruise control, automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert functions.

The 2013 Outback spent some time in my driveway, and as far as jacked-up wagons with off-road cladding go, this is one of the most affordable of the lot. That doesn't mean it's cheap; the Outback I tried was a Limited model with moonroof, navigation, EyeSight, leather and CVT added on. That takes the Outback from its roughly $25,000 starting point and adds nearly $10,000, landing solidly in the mid-$30,000 range. Still, against its most natural competitors like the Volvo XC70 and Audi A6 Avant, the Outback is a better value.

DRIVING NOTES

The new 2.5-liter four-cylinder is surprisingly happy in this big wagon. It never felt underpowered, though it also never felt abundantly strong. Adequate.
Even more shocking, the CVT and four-cylinder combo proved smooth and refined most of the time. Hard acceleration, like merging on the highway, was really the only time the slippy-revvy characteristic of the CVT appeared. Most of the time it was as unobtrusive as the smoothest automatic transmission.
This is a very nice car in Limited trim, and the interior materials are better than I remember them being in the last Outback I sampled. The leather seats are very comfortable for long hauls, the interior is acceptably quiet, and the car is a perfect match for climates that see lots of inclement weather. Driving through rain and snow quickly points out what the buzz is all about with these cars. The Outback is comfy and confident in the slop.
When it's dry, you pay a price for the increased ride height and chunky tires. Still, sporty handling is not this car's forte unless you're competing in winter rallies.
The navigation system is fiddly to use, the screen is now on the small side compared to the competition and it generally just isn't that good. It took a lot more active babysitting of the nav to get it to display useful information and get me to a destination when a clogged highway changed my route. The key to a successful arrival turned out to be 70-percent my own wits and 30-percent the navigation system's capabilities.
The EyeSight system is mostly annoying. It's really sensitive and alerts at the slightest provocation. The first thing I did every time I got into the Outback was hold down the two overhead buttons to shut the EyeSight system up.
The fuel economy I saw was better than you'll get out of a CUV or SUV with comparable space, though given the ride height and size, the Outback is practically a crossover anyway, so the solid mid-to-high 20s I was able to squeeze from each gallon of fuel are mostly due to having a small engine and a transmission programmed to reach for the sky as fast as possible.

2013 Subaru Outback Limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #311

Dan Roth — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, BMW, Buick, Ford, Lincoln, Subaru

LA Auto Show, Forza Horizon, Lincoln Motor Company

Episode #311 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and George Kennedy talk about the Los Angeles Auto Show and the big deal Ford is making over its re-launch of Lincoln as Lincoln Motor Company. Also this week, an interview with Turn 10 Studios Creative Director Dan Greenawalt about Forza Horizon. It's a extra-value-length podcast this week. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #311:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3
2013 Buick LaCrosse Touring
2013 Subaru Outback

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, George Kennedy

Runtime: 02:05:19

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #311

Autoblog Podcast #311 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT

Noah Joseph — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:24:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Subaru

The launch of the new XV Crosstrek may be the bigger news for Subaru here at the New York Auto Show, and the BRZ coupe may still be getting the lion's share of the attention, but the Legacy and its high-riding counterpart, the Outback, have also debuted here in Manhattan with a series of updates.

Most noticeable (that term being a relative one) is the pair's revised front fascia, but behind the new look is a fresh boxer four that replaces the old one in the 2.5i model, now producing three more horsepower and four more pound-feet of torque (173 hp/174 lb-ft.) while returning improved fuel economy. An updated CVT is the principal transmission for the 2.5-liter four, with a six-speed manual available, both driving all four wheels in typical Fuji Heavy Industries style. The available 3.6-liter flat six carries over with a five-speed automatic. Subaru says it has also revisited the suspensions on both models for improved ride comfort and performance.

There's also a suite of new electronics packed into the revised Legacy and Outback, including everything from new active safety technology features like lane departure warning and collision mitigation to improved audio system connectivity.

Sadly, Subaru has axed the enthusiast-minded Legacy 2.5GT model for 2013.

Continue reading Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT

Subaru tweaks Legacy and Outback for 2013, kills off 2.5GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subaru releases 2013 Legacy, Outback details ahead of New York debuts

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Subaru

Subaru has a lot riding on the 2012 New York Auto Show. In addition to the XV Crosstrek, the Japanese automaker will show off its new 2013 Legacy and Outback models, and these aren't exactly minor updates.

Under the hood of 2.5i models will be a brand-new 2.5-liter DOHC boxer four that puts out 173 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque - improvements of three and four, respectively. Furthermore, the 2013 Legacy's new engine and the latest version of Subaru's CVT automatic gearbox achieve estimated fuel economy ratings of 24 miles per gallon city, 32 highway and 27 combined. That's one mile per gallon better across the board, and a six-speed manual will also be available.

The Outback, which boasts 8.7 inches of ground clearance, will manage an estimated 24/30/26 mpg with the same drivetrain. Both models will be available with an optional 3.6-liter flat-six engine mated to a five-speed automatic that offers up 256 horsepower. All-wheel drive is, of course, standard.

Subaru's new EyeSight driver-assist system, which integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning, will debut on the 2013 Legacy and Outback, and you can read plenty more about this technology here. Bluetooth connectivity is also new, along with iPod controls and a USB port. A seven-inch navigation screen will be optional on top-end models.

Styling is tweaked a bit, with a new front fascia standing out as the most obvious change, and Subaru claims that the ride and handling have been improved thanks to a stiffer structure and revised suspension geometry. We'll be sure to bring you live photos from New York, but in the meantime, check out the few shots released so far and the official press blasts for both models after the break.

Continue reading Subaru releases 2013 Legacy, Outback details ahead of New York debuts

Subaru releases 2013 Legacy, Outback details ahead of New York debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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