8 Things You Didn't Know About the 2015-16 Subaru Outback

"No, I don't thank you for the fish at all" (notindetroit)
03/08/2016 at 10:49 • Filed to: Subaru, Outback

Image credit IIHS

1. The fuel door release latch is placed in such a manner so that it will almost always be hidden by the floor mat.

Image from Atlantic Subaru dealerships

(unless you get the custom-fit floormat from the dealer).

This is why it took me a whole half hour to find the stupid thing and is no doubt meant to force you to buy the floor mats from the dealer.

Very sneaky, Subaru!

2. It’s probably the only non-Jeep vehicle where consumers actually bother to buy the dealer tack-on fender flares with alarming regularity

Official Subaru image

Seriously, the vast majority of the Outbacks I see anymore have the blacked-out fender flares. I thought it was a subtle trim update from the ‘15 to the ‘16 but nope, it’s strictly a dealer add-on.

3. The ‘15 Outback’s CVT transmission is enough to raise the Outback’s fuel economy from “practically dismal” to “class-leading”

The 2010-14 Outback may have lost a lot of what made previous Outbacks great - being surprisngly sporty and trim with Euro-inspired looks (or however your subjective eye would judge it) but the fuel economy was largely inherited. That is to say, it wasn’t that great for a car in this class even in 2.5 trim being addled by a four-speed automatic.

Four-speed automatic. In 2010? C’mon, Subaru!

The ‘15 introduced a CVT which, while further killing the car’s street cred, was enough to raise the MPG ratings to the mid 20s for city driving and mid 30s for highway driving, making it one of the most fuel-efficient AWD non-hybrid wagons available in the U.S.

CORRECTION: I’ve been told the 2010-2014 Outback had a CVT for the 2.5 (though the fuel numbers for that car remain unimpressive, for whatever reason) but the same generation 3.6R had a 4 or 5 speed.

4. The ‘15 Outback actually has at least one thing in common with supercars

Once upon a time McLaren “cheated” in Formula 1 racing by introducing a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that would allow the driver to selectively apply the brakes in order to corner better. An automated version of this same system is now standard on all brand-new road-legal McLarens.

Well guess !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! what !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on all brand-new Subaru Outbacks.

Yes, the pedestrian Subaru Outback , a friggin’ CUV, has a similar selective braking system for corner assist as McLaren supercars.

5. The ‘15 Outback is less prone to windshield cracks and road noise than a similar vintage/generation Forrester

It’s all down to the Outback having a thicker windshield than the Forrester. Reportedly, complaints about windshield cracks and road noise are more frequent among Forrester owners than Outback owners.

6. The Current-Gen Outback is slightly wider than the previous model

Despite looking like a refresh and the apparent edge going to the previous gen’s exaggerated fender flares, the new Outback offically rates as wider.

7. The only way to manually select gears is through the shift paddles

Official Subaru Image

You put the shifter into manual select mode and - uh-oh, the shifter can’t move! There’s no means of manual gear select through the shifter itself - you’re forced to use the shift paddles on the steering wheel. Not that there’s much point in doing so on a CVT-equipped car to begin with.

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Oh, I know what you’re thinking, there are tons of CUVs out there. But while there are many bastardized sedans and compacts riding on stilts, there’s only one that’s exactly identical to its wagon sibling save for some plastic trim and a suspension swap. Hey wait now , you’re saying, because the Audi Allroad and Volco CrossCountry are also identical to their “normalized” wagon siblings save for plastic bits and suspension. That’s true, but those are also luxury midsize lifted wagons - the Outback’s the only “mainstreamer” in its class available right now. And yes, Volkswagen is set to launch an “Outback-icised” Jetta in the near future, but when I went down to the locak VW dealership to ask about they didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. That currently leaves the closest thing in the Outback’s class either requiring a good premium mark-up to upgrade to those interlocking silver rings on the grill, or Subaru’s own compact Crosstek XV.

DISCUSSION (11)

AkursedX > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
03/08/2016 at 10:56

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It’s in the same location on the STI. FWIW, Husky floor-liners have a specific spot that you can cut out so you don’t have to worry about lifting up the mat every time. And they keep your carpets nice and pretty.

vicali > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
03/08/2016 at 11:31

Kinja'd!!!

The Dummy Gummy > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
03/08/2016 at 11:32

I really wish you could get an Outback with a manual. Bums me out you can’t.

(Also, Forester only has 1 ‘R’; nice write up)

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > No, I don't thank you for the fish at all
03/08/2016 at 11:41

Gonna have to correct you on a few things. The Outback has been CVT since 2010, and the windshield is very prone to cracks, especially in models with eyesight. The issue is so widespread that Subaru added windshield cracks to the warranty repair list so long as they meet certain guidelines. Finally, Subaru’s CVT is considered to be best in class, so I highly doubt it kills the street cred any more than the old conventional 4 speed automatics on the 2005-2007 or the 5 speed on the 2008-2009.