2011 Subaru Outback

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.

The CVT is one of the better ones to live with—both relatively quick to wind up to access the engine's powerband and somehow, not as obtrusive at full-tilt acceleration as most other four-cylinder/CVT combinations. On a full-throttle launch, the engine kicks up to about 5500 rpm and stays there until you reach the desired speed. Level highway cruising is generally placid at engine speeds below 2000 rpm, while the Lineartronic CVT includes paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel that simulate six fixed ratios, holding the engine in the chosen 'gear.'

The optional engine is a 3.6-liter flat six that makes 256 horsepower. It's mated to a conventional five-speed automatic transmission. The six—in addition to feeling considerably faster and more responsive—is smooth, quiet, and offers rather torquey, un-Subaru-like hustle off the line. It won't win you any drag races, but while the four is adequate, the six is actually fun.

Subaru's horizontally opposed, or 'boxer', engines keep the Outback's center of gravity low, despite its tall profile and high ground clearance. It handles better than virtually any competitor, always driving like a car rather than a truck. On-road steering feel isn't spectacular, however.

If you really want to experience the Outback Subaru in its element, take it off road—rather to a gravel road or dirt trail—and this wagon's generous ground clearance makes more sense. It has a very stiff structure, and electronic control systems work so well with the all-wheel drive system (and again the lighter weight) that that the Outback is able to take on some slippery slopes that might give traditional trucks trouble.

There's enough passenger space for five adults in the 2011 Outback. The back comfortably seats six-foot-tall passengers even with the front seats pushed all the way back, and the 60/40-split rear seatback not only folds flat but also reclines. The tailgate opens down to a 33.9-inch liftover, and the high roof and upright sides give a wide opening that even fits two dog kennels side by side. When the rear seats are folded, cargo volume is 71.3 cubic feet; with seatbacks up, it's 34.3 cubic feet.

Carrying people and stuff, in all sorts of combinations, is what Outbacks are all about, in fact. The new roof rail system was designed to ensure that existing third-party roof accessories—from bike racks to storage boxes, kayak mounts to ski holders—would fit on the redesigned rails. And inside, plenty of cubbies provide space for all the little stuff.

Although the 2011 Subaru Outback can't be considered a luxury, or even premium, vehicle, it does offer materials and build quality that are entirely appropriate for the price point. The interior feels a bit basic, even on our dressed-up limited, with some hard, scuffable plastic in places that are going to show it—like the center console and lower door panels—but it's right in line with what you'd expect in a built-to-be-used family vehicle.

While engine noise could be kept better under wraps, the Outback doesn't allow a lot of wind or road noise on board. The unique roof-rack design in the Outback can very easily be folded back into roof rails, so that when they're in use they cause turbulence.

It can also be argued that Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, which comes standard on all Outback models, can give an extra measure of safety in certain types of emergency maneuvers.

The 2011 Subaru Outback carries top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, including top 'good' scores for frontal, side, and rear impact, along with the new roof crush (rollover) test. Additionally, the 2011 Subaru Outback is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The news isn't quite as good from the federal government. In the fed's overhauled crash tests, which include a new side pole test, the 2011 Subaru Outback earned four out of five stars overall, with four-star ratings in frontal, side, and rollover protection.

The jump from base to Premium trim levels brings with it standard fog lamps and a power driver's seat, and the Outback Subaru Limited gets a standard Harman Kardon stereo and dual-zone climate control, among other standard features. Perhaps the best feature on the 2011 Subaru Outback is the low MSRP; base models begin at about $23k, and a tricked-out Limited model still comes in under $35,000, significantly undercutting the competition from Volvo and Jeep.

Subaru doesn't wow with high-tech options, but there are a few noteworthy extras: Subaru's traditional all-weather package adds heated seats and mirrors and a deicer for the windshield wipers; a 10-way power driver's seat; dual-zone automatic climate control; a power mooonroof; and a 440-watt, nine-speaker harman/kardon premium sound system (which now also includes XM Satellite Radio and a trial subscription). Limited models offer a voice-activated navigation system with a reversing camera that shows in the eight-inch dash-mounted display. To our surprise, ordering the navigation system requires the moonroof to be specified as well. And unfortunately, Subaru doesn't even offer memory functions for seat and mirror settings for different drivers.

The Car Connection has seen great real-world fuel economy in the Outback as well. In a four-cylinder, CVT-equipped Outback, we saw an impressive 27 mpg overall in highway driving that included several mountain passes. Drivers in the plains will likely nudge 30 mpg.