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Subaru Outback Luggage Test | How much cargo space?

I'm reporting to you from my home in Portland, Ore., which is pretty much ground zero for Subaru Outback ownership. They're absolutely everywhere, challenged only by its little Crosstrek brother for new-car ubiquity. A big reason for that is owners (of which I know many) actually take them on outdoorsy weekend adventures. Ground clearance, all-wheel drive, copious space for gear and actually useful roof racks make an actual difference — it's not just for show, as is often the case with crossover ownership.   Well, the ground clearance (8.7 inches) and all-wheel drive (standard) are a given, but just how much space are we talking about in the Outback? The specs say there's 32.5 cubic feet behind the raised back seat, which is comparable to most compact crossovers. The rare ones that run bigger include the Honda CR-V (39.2 cu-ft) and Subaru's own Forester (35.4 without the panoramic sunroof), but remember that much of their volume is up high in the greenhouse since they are taller vehicles. By contrast, the Outback is deeper, which can not only be seen with the back seat raised, but when lowered, it's a few inches longer. If this test involved a trip to Ikea, I'm pretty confident the Outback would do better than those compact SUVs as a result. But, this is about luggage, not boxes of Bjorgorfen parts, so let's pack up the Outback for a hypothetical Pacific Northwest outdoorsy weekend adventure. So here is what you're working with. Note that rubber trunk tray and cargo cover are actually standard on all but the base Outback trim level.  As for that cargo cover ... Upper left: Here it is in place. Duh. Upper right: Like many other vehicles, especially wagons, there's a channel that runs up the D pillar that lets you quickly raise the cover without fully retracting it.  Bottom left: Here's a better look at that channel. Bottom right: Because the back seat reclines, you could end up with a gap between seatback and cover. This little filler piece is attached to a tension rod that easily adjusts by hand.  OK, onto the bags. As usual, I'll start by keeping the cargo cover in place. And as always, I use two midsize roller suitcases that would need to be checked in at the airport (26 inches long, 16 wide, 11 deep), two roll-aboard suitcases that just barely fit in the overhead (24L x 15W x 10D), and one smaller roll-aboard that fits easily (23L x 15W x 10D). I also include my wife's fancy overnight bag just to spruce things up a bit (21L x 12W x 12D).

This Subaru BRZ has a snowmobile engine and gets 104 mpg

A hybrid powertrain didn't win the Honda CR-Z numerous fans, but it might be the magic ingredient in making the Subaru BRZ more potent. This is the "Car of the Future" as envisioned by Mississippi State University's Center of Advanced Vehicular Systems – the result of a two-year project, which married a front-mounted 850 cc snowmobile engine with two electric motors powering the rear wheels. The battery pack accounts for 12.7 kWh, which enables the car to go 50 miles on just electric juice. The two-liter boxer engine is no more, but what the car loses in cubic inches it gains in MPG. According to MSU engineers, the re-engineered car gets 104 mpg equivalent, and it only weighs 2,904 lbs: about 60 lbs more than an unmodified Sportshift BRZ. It clocks a 0-60 mph run at around 5.7 seconds, too, which beats a stock automatic BRZ by a second. The electric brain of the car improves the range by calculating optimizing algorithms, based on earlier driving. The guys from MSU's Bagley College of Engineering call this Predictive Engine Control. The most likable thing about this project might be that it's still clothed in a sports car body. Future-proof car designs are often focused on mobility instead of the driver, and choosing a BRZ as the basis shows how there's still room for petrolheads in the future.

2020 Subaru Crosstrek gains more equipment and a slightly higher price tag

Subaru gave us a brand-new Crosstrek for the 2018 model year, and we liked it. Last year was the year of the plug-in hybrid Crosstrek, and in general, we liked that one too. Those players in the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek lineup remain the same as last year, but Subaru released some notable changes today. The base price goes up collectively by $285 due to a $250 increase in MSRP and $35 increase in the destination charge. That leaves the base Crosstrek with the six-speed manual at $23,155 this year. If you want the automatic it’ll cost you $1,350 more, running the total to $24,505. However, the price increase comes with more equipment added as standard. Automatic transmission models gain the most. If you opt for the CVT, Subaru tacks on its EyeSight driver assistance tech, automatic climate control, auto stop/start, the SI-Drive powertrain management system and door locks that automatically engage when put into drive. If you get the manual, though, everything but the automatic door locks go away. Lame. If you want a more luxurious experience with the three-pedal car, you have to opt for the slightly more expensive Premium trim starting at $24,205. We think itÂ’s worth the extra coin, though. Pricing for the Crosstrek Hybrid only goes up by $185, leaving that carÂ’s base price at $36,155 for 2020. Nothing new is coming to that model for the new year. However, there is one new feature coming to every trim of Crosstrek we havenÂ’t mentioned yet. A rear seat reminder will be standard on all 2020 models, a safety feature Subaru has been adding to some of its other models for the new year. Availability for the 2020 Crosstrek is somewhat vague, as Subaru says theyÂ’ll arrive in dealers “later this year.” WeÂ’ll suggest you watch out for them come late November or December if youÂ’re in the market for a new Crosstrek.