The outback is unnecessarily large.

"TDIGuy" (owenrosier)
07/27/2017 at 14:05 • Filed to: None

So I was on the way home from the beach on Sunday and I stopped to pick up some kettle corn before I left. Parked next to a Subaru Outback, previous generation. For having the same basic cargo room. It looks so much larger from the golf wagon.

DISCUSSION (31)

random001 > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:11

Looks almost exactly the same size, just taller...

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:13

I guess the Outback is more of a Passat Variant competitor. That’s if VW would offer the proper Euro Passat in the US.

TDIGuy > random001
07/27/2017 at 14:16

It person it was substantially wider as well

TDIGuy > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
07/27/2017 at 14:16

Yeah you might be right. I do wish they would bring the euro passat wagon here

HammerheadFistpunch > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:18

the outback is enourmous. We were looking at replacements for the sportwagen and having looked at the size of the outback...passed.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:21

That’s because one is a wagon and the other is an SUV. Well at least according to these companies marketing their vehicles...

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:24

The regular Golf is on par with the Impreza. The Outback is based off of the Legacy which is a Passat Competitor, so really the Outback is a size class up from the Golf.

random001 > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:25

71.7" wide vs 70.8" wide for the golf.

188.2" long vs 179.6" for the golf, but 65.7" vs 58.3" high for the golf.

Methinks the perspective is messin with ya!

TDIGuy > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
07/27/2017 at 14:26

Maybe thats my issue with it. I also think thats why people buy the hell out of them. Most people just think its an SUV when it is still really a wagon

TDIGuy > HammerheadFistpunch
07/27/2017 at 14:27

Yeah it felt huge. I looked at them as well for my TDI buyback, but I couldn’t get behind it

functionoverfashion > random001
07/27/2017 at 14:33

For size comparison, a 2007 BMW X3 is 66" tall vs 65.7" for the Subaru. The X3 is also only an inch wider and 8" shorter.

Probenja > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
07/27/2017 at 14:34

This, an Outback v/s Passat wagon is a better comparison:

Kinja'd!!!

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:39

I really can’t get behind VW’s strategy for NA. They wonder about slow sales figures but yet only offer watered down mediocre crap except for a few cars. But tbh the Euro Passat is probably too expensive and complex for the North American market.

Nibbles > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:41

You know what else is unnnecessarily large?

Huh?

Three guesses

Give up yet?

The US Deficit!

cmill189 - sans Volvo > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 14:50

The truly sad thing is when the 2010 redesign came around, they lost rear cargo space and hatch opening size compared to the previous two generations. By a couple inches all around. That actually affected me first hand. I needed to pick up a replacement engine for my ‘00 from a shipping depot. The engine and pallet physically wouldn’t fit height-wise into the 2010 I borrowed. I ended up using a ‘04.

This is my ‘00 on it’s way to return the original engine. Back seats are still up, too.

Kinja'd!!!

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:00

This was the reason I got a GSW instead of an Outback, even though I’m a Subaru lover. The OBW was just unnecessarily “large” looking for no reason.

Ash78, voting early and often > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:08

For what it’s worth, I found the Golf wagon’s specs “on paper” to make it seem larger than it is in reality. Not saying VW is cheating on something like cubic footage (I’m sure they could find a way...), just that I found it a little misleading. The Outback does feel very large inside, but I agree this particular generation seems especially bloated.

BahamaTodd > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:10

That’s why they have the smaller Forester and Crosstrek.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:14

The outback does have a usable back seat and huge cargo area, otherwise it is still smaller than a Ford F350 4 dr long bed.

TDIGuy > random001
07/27/2017 at 15:17

Maybe, well it is tall for sure

Textured Soy Protein > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:18

The Legacy/Outback body shell is much larger than the Golf, and then the jacked up suspension and intentionally chunky roof rack make the Outback seem bigger.

TDIGuy > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
07/27/2017 at 15:18

Yeah if they offered it, I don’t think anyone would buy one. The US Passat is pretty meh though

TDIGuy > cmill189 - sans Volvo
07/27/2017 at 15:19

Yeah all the extra padding they put in the newer ones sure do eat up some space

TDIGuy > Ash78, voting early and often
07/27/2017 at 15:21

Yeah I mostly feel this generation feels very bloated. I’m sure they could cheat something like that but I do feel like I have a ton of space in my golf, especially with the folded seats

TDIGuy > BahamaTodd
07/27/2017 at 15:22

The forester is massive now too compared to the old ones

TDIGuy > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
07/27/2017 at 15:22

Well I think really they make it look big outside so they can market it as an SUV

CobraJoe > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 15:22

We currently own a 2005 Legacy and a 2012 Outback. The Outback definitely is bigger, but it is still smaller than most “midsized” crossovers.

Honestly though, my 2005 LGT feels a bit small when I have to haul people or things inside. It was pretty small for a midsized car back then.

Still, the newer Outback is definitely enough room for our family of 4 so far.

TahoeSTi > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 17:32

I have both cars, Sportswagon and Outback, each has it’s place....although my outback is the generation before this one so it’s a bit smaller but has the same ground clearance.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TDIGuy
07/27/2017 at 20:16

Owner of one of that generation Outback here. Test drive a GSW in 2015. The Outback might have the same basic amount of cargo room, but it has a much nicer and more comfortable back seat.

TDIGuy > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/28/2017 at 16:29

I will agree the backseat is better. I don’t care much about the back seat

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TDIGuy
07/28/2017 at 17:03

Fair enough - I will say that the Golf - both the hatch and wagon - are very well packaged for their size. I also test drove a GTI and a FoST back to back and it was amazing how much more space there is inside the VW. The Outback is a bit over-puffed, but I have two kids and do a 1,000 trip at least once a year, so back seat is high on my priority list for at least one of my cars.