Meet the new 2015 Outback, a car that confirms Subaru’s ability to create excellent looking concepts and then use a fire hose and water them down until they all but blend with the tarmac. However, uninspiring looks aside, there really is a lot to like here, though it’s mostly explained through boring technical stuff with lots of numbers.

Firstly, the Outback promises to be highly economical for what it is, when equipped with the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter (flat-four) engine, returning an estimated 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg out on the highway (28 mpg combined).

The unit has 175 hp, but that won’t be enough if you want it to be enjoyable to drive – for that you’ll have to opt for the larger 3.6-liter six-cylinder that puts out 256 hp and suffer the penalty of only 22 mpg combined (2 mpg up from the previous version).

That fun factor will undoubtedly be dented further by the sole availability of a of the brand’s proprietary Lineartronic CVT gearbox. Reviews say it’s not bad as far as variable transmissions go, but it’s probably just as whiney as all the rest of them, only really suited for cruising.

Look past the bland face of the new Outback, and you may be able to spot that it looks different. The proportions seem to have been changed and this feels like a different vehicle. Subaru says it pulled the windshield pillar forward by 2 inches (~5 cm), while also making it more raked and giving it a separate (visibility enhancing) partition.

It’s bigger too, with a marginal increase in wheelbase and track, the Outback has grown in length by 0.6 inches (~1.5 cm) and width-wise by 0.7 inches (1.8 cm). This translates into more interior space, which equals more shoulder room for passengers and more cargo capacity.

Keep in mind, though, that Subaru is serious about making its cars its way, and that’s why it only offers (most of) them only with all-wheel drive, and in the case of the Outback, a lot of ground clearance – it rises 8.7 inches above the ground; that’s 22 cm and a lot more than some so-called SUVs offer.

Safety is also said to be excellent, benefiting from the very latest in passive and active means to prevent or reduce the extent of accidents – it’s so safe that on top trim cars you can lock it via PIN code…

The interiors of Subarus have never been their strong point. The Outback does not disappoint here, featuring a simple, classy interior that you can neither love nor hate; it’s okay to look at but more refined and upmarket-feeling according to the manufacturer.

Expect to see it hit dealerships this summer.

By Andrei Nedelea

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