Nissan Rogue Vs. Honda CR-V: Compare Cars
For small families, the vehicle of choice is no longer the minivan or the SUV; it's the compact... Read More
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Around The Web
in profile this is one handsome station wagon, with tough-looking wheel arches and a roofline that sweeps naturally back
not huge fans of the blocky wheel arches
Given free reign to craft an Outback-specific body, Subaru designers evolved the shape away from a pure station wagon and more towards a crossover/SUV
shiny faux-wood trim is among the worst of its kind
With a new SUV-size scale, the Outback now dwarfs its former competitors
STYLING | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
in profile this is one handsome station wagon, with tough-looking wheel arches and a roofline that sweeps naturally back
Popular Mechanics
not huge fans of the blocky wheel arches
Car and Driver
Given free reign to craft an Outback-specific body, Subaru designers evolved the shape away from a pure station wagon and more towards a crossover/SUV
Automobile Magazine
shiny faux-wood trim is among the worst of its kind
Cars.com
With a new SUV-size scale, the Outback now dwarfs its former competitors
Edmunds' Inside Line
The front styling may be the Outback's least successful aspect, with very large headlights swept well back into the fenders. Inside, the Outback is modern without being outlandish, with a slightly curved sweep to the center console. The rest of the design, with the exaggerated height and, yes, those SUV details, can come across as a little too cluttered and deliberate—a Legacy wagon on steroids, which is essentially what it is.
Inside, the 2011 Outback has styling that's pleasant and uncontroversial but doesn't take any chances. Overall, the swooping instrument-panel design is a step in the right direction for Subaru, and it's hard to find fault with any single element of the layout.
Conclusion
Subaru seems to have taken a chunkier direction with the Outback after the rugged-chic SUV look has fallen out of fashion. Overall, the styling and design isn't as cohesive as it could be.
