There are six trim levels available on the Subaru Outback for the 2011 model year. These are called 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6 R, 3.6 R Premium, and 3.6 R Limited. Prices start at $23,195 for the 2.5i model without options. Standard features on this trim level include 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, adjustable roof rails, full power accessories, cruise control and so on which itself is plenty.

Which trim should you buy?

We find the 2.5i Limited trim level to be the pick of the lot as it strikes a good balance between value for money as well as the equipment level offered. Unless one wants a more powerful engine, this is the one to go for. It has better features, like a rear-camera display, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, heated side-view mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and it also comes with all the features that are optional on the lower trim levels.

There are two engines available on the Subaru and these are a 2.5 L boxer four-cylinder engine that produces 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6 R and above trims come with a 3.6 L boxer six-cylinder engine that is good for 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5 L engines are then mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT transmission is optional. The 3.6 L engine is mated to a five-speed automatic with shift paddles. 

The engines are both extremely capable with acceleration figures being just under 9.6 seconds of 0 to 60 mph time for the 2.5 L engine. The other engine also is much quicker with a 7.8 second 0 to 60 mph time as well as 15.7 seconds in the quarter-mile timing. Regardless of engine, all cars are all-wheel-drive as standard.

Despite being the cheapest car in this category, the Kia has not skimped on performance to make up for the price tag. However, the Subaru is on the heavier side when it comes to pricing. But when you look at the competitors, you can see that the Honda and the Mazda do not perform as well as the Subaru or the Kia despite having good figures on paper. 

Even though boxer engines have not been exactly known for class-leading fuel efficiency, the case is different this time. The Outback manages to return excellent fuel efficiency that is also class-leading. It manages 22 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and 24 MPG combined. As a result of this, and has a fuel tank of 18.5 gallons, it has the highest range among all its peers.

In the case of Sportage, the biggest weakness of the car would be the fuel efficiency. It returns only 21 MPG in the city, 28 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. The Subaru has the largest fuel tank in the class and since its fuel efficiency numbers are better than its rivals, it manages to outperform every single one of them. The Mazda CX-7 has the worst numbers in terms of fuel efficiency. 

The interiors of the Subaru Outback definitely have a lot of space. However, its design fails to show the same kind of panache that its exteriors have. But one thing it has got going for it is the excellent cargo capacity with 34.3 ft.³ of storage. There are some hard plastics but they, fortunately, do not look very bad. However, compared to previous generations one has to say that the plastic quality has dropped.

There is enough room for adults of all sizes and seats five passengers with ease. The cabin is also very well-designed and there are enough storage spaces inside for most stuff and the cargo capacity can be adjusted by folding the seats and making room for more. Overall it is definitely on par with the class standards.

We find that most cars in this category offer a decent amount of interior space but the Subaru Outback is the most spacious in the front row. All cars offer seating only for five passengers but do so with adequate cargo space. The Honda CR-V has slightly better cargo space while the Kia has the least amount of cargo space in the segment. Some standard features include: 

• Dual-zone automatic climate control system
• 6-speed fan, airflow direction, dual-zone lockout, and CFC-free air conditioning
• 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power adjustable lumbar support
• 4-way power-adjustable front-passenger’s seat.
• Heated front seats
• Reclining rear seats
• 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatback
• Cloth upholstery
• Leather-trimmed upholstery
• Silver metallic trim on doors and console
• Wood Grain-patterned accent trim on doors and console

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment features on the Subaru Outback are not excellent unless you go for the optional features. There is an optional navigation system but it is not exactly on par with many of its competitors. The base sound system is not at all interesting and the optional Bose system is highly recommended. Technology-wise, it has a long way to come in this regard. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• Bose audio system with 4.3" color display
• 6 standard speakers/optional 9 speakers
• 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback
• XM Satellite Radio
• MP3/WMA CD playback capability
• DVD playback capability
• Streaming audio via Bluetooth wireless technology
• Radio Data System (RDS)
• Speed-sensitive volume control
• Auxiliary audio/video input jacks
• USB connection port for iPod interface and other compatible devices
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls

The Subaru Outback definitely looks the part and carries over design cues from both a wagon as well as an SUV. It not only gives the impression that it is a much larger car, but it also provides a very modern and sophisticated take on the crossover SUV trend. It is not exactly the most dashing design around but the lines are clean and great to look at. 

We find that the cars in this category are pretty much around the same weight and the Subaru was on the lighter side despite having a standard all-wheel-drive system. It also offers class-leading ground clearance which definitely helps with its offering credentials. The Kia happens to be the heaviest but is not offset by a large amount. Some standout features include: 

• Projector-beam low-beam (with Auto-on) and multi-reflector high-beam headlights
• Fog lights
• Daytime Running Lights
• Front underguard
• Black folding side mirrors
• Body-color folding side mirrors
• Windshield wiper de-icer and heated side mirrors
• Roof rails with integrated and retractable crossbars

Subaru has always been a brand that has prioritized safety and that is evident in this car as well. The Subaru Outback has scored a four-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests and this is definitely a reassurance. It also performs very well in the IIHS crash test although it has not been named as a Top Safety Pick. It also has a large number of safety features. Some of the standout safety features include:

• 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Brake Assist
• Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Dual-stage deployment driver and front-passenger front airbags
• Subaru advanced frontal airbag system
• Side-curtain airbags protecting the front and rear outboard occupants
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags

The Subaru Outback is an extremely capable vehicle but it has not exactly appealed to a large crowd. However, users of this car have very positive reviews about it and understand how good it is. It promises a very capable car that has an excellent powertrain, great fuel efficiency as well as great interior space and features. It makes for an excellent buy for a family looking for a crossover SUV.