2008 Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited on 2040-cars

Auto blog

New-gen 2020 Subaru Outback carries on its rugged legacy

The Outback is Subaru's best-selling vehicle, and for good reason. It's capable, it's versatile, it wears inoffensive looks, and it offers plenty of modern tech in a relatively affordable package. So when it came time to rework the model and introduce a new generation, Subaru took the less-is-more approach to the aesthetic redesign, which only has subtle tweaks. The major changes come inside the cabin and beneath the sheetmetal by introducing a more premium interior, and an all-new XT trim with a torquey new 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine. Similar to the approach used to update the 2020 Legacy, Subaru refined the Outback at every level. That started with the car's bones and the Subaru Global Platform. Subaru says the 2020 Outback is 70 percent stiffer in torsional and front-suspension rigidity and 100 percent stiffer in front lateral flex and rear subframe rigidity. The improved structure is also said to be 40 percent more absorbent in front and side crashes. More exciting is the introduction of multiple XT trims, which come standard with a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine. Like the Legacy, the Outback is getting rid of the 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine in favor of the model's first turbocharged offering since 2009. It makes 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm, four more horsepower and 30 more lb-ft than the six-cylinder. Subaru notes the 2.4-liter engine offers a 3,500-pound towing capacity, which is an 800-pound improvement and the Outback's highest tow rating ever. It is estimated to get 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, compared to the 3.6's 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. All Outbacks come standard with permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive and a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that offer an "eight-speed" manual mode and paddle shifters. Base-model Outbacks continue to use a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated boxer engine, which Subaru says has 90 percent new parts. Its specs increase to 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm from 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft in the previous model. With the slight increases in power comes a lighter and more agile suspension. Up front the Outback will have MacPherson struts with an internal rebound spring and a new 0.9-inch hollow stabilizer bar. In the back, a double wishbone setup with coil springs and a 0.75-inch hollow stabilizer bar. Overall, the Outback maintains its impressive 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

2019 Subaru Forester priced at $25,270

The Subaru Forester is all new for 2019, but it's not toting along a big price increase. A base 2019 Forester starts at $25,270 including destination, which is a reasonable $500 premium over the 2018 version. For that price, buyers get 17-inch steel wheels, but a $600 upcharge brings aluminum wheels and roof rails. Standard equipment includes Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology and Starlink infotainment package, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power windows, door locks, and side mirrors, remote keyless entry, and tire pressure monitoring. A step up to the Premium trim for $27,670 adds the automaker's off-road X-MODE with hill descent control, a panoramic power moonroof, a 10-way power driver's seat, and rear seat HVAC outlets. A WI-FI hotspot and the latest Starlink safety services are optional, as are blind spot detection with lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert, keyless access with push-button start, and a power rear gate. Sport trim is new for 2019, and it stickers at $29,770. On top of Premium, Sport adds SI-DRIVE with Intelligent and Sport Sharp modes and an upgraded Dual X-Mode system. A CVT transmission is standard across the range, but the Sport gets a 7-speed manual mode with steering wheel paddle-shifters. Limited ups the wheels to 18 inches, and gains an upgraded interior with leather seats and dual-zone automatic climate control for $31,770. Limited also includes all of the active safety technology that's optional on lower trims. At the top of the 2019 Forester range is the Touring trim. For $35,270 buyers get unique 18-inch wheels, Subaru's DriverFocus safety system that remembers the preferences of up to five drivers, perforated leather seats (powered for the driver and passenger) in Saddle Brown or Black, heated rear seats, and an eight-inch touchscreen. Expect the 2019 Subaru Forester to hit dealers sometime this fall. Related Video:

Subaru CEO expects record U.S. sales in 2020 despite market slowdown

TOKYO  - Subaru expects its U.S. vehicle sales to rise to a record high in 2020, as demand for its crossover models helps it buck the trend of slowing car sales in the Japanese automaker's biggest market. The company has been growing rapidly in the United States, the world's No. 2 auto market, roughly doubling the number of vehicles sold over the past six years, thanks in part to a ramp-up in local production capacity and a marketing strategy focused mainly on affluent and liberal-minded consumers. Japan's smallest automaker said that ongoing U.S. demand for its Forester and Outback models would likely boost overall sales in the country to 720,000 to 730,000 units next year, up by as much as 4.3% from the around 700,000 vehicles it expects to sell by the end of this year. "We expect the U.S. market to slow only slightly next year, so we're planning to see more growth in our sales. We think we can achieve this," CEO Tomomi Nakamura told reporters in Tokyo. He added that he saw room for the automaker to expand its share of the SUV market, which stands at around 7% at the moment, given that Subaru's SUV models outsell its Legacy and Impreza sedan models. "If competition in the U.S. SUV market continues, that segment will keep growing even as the overall market slows," he said. U.S. sales account for around 65% of Subaru's total global sales of around 1 million units. By the end of November, sales of the Forester this year had climbed 6.4% from a year ago, while sales of the Outback, its best-selling model in the country, were up 0.9%. However, the rapid growth in the country has coincided with a jump in global quality-related issues which has sapped profitability in the past year or so. (Reporting by Maki Shiraki; writing by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Earnings/Financials Subaru Crossover SUV