subaru outback

[IHateMyJob2004]

I just thought about this car as a possible next car. Some questions:
1) How comfortable are the seats for long rides?
2) How is the road noise vs similar cars (Toyota Venza, Rav4, CRV, etc)

That's it really. If it matters I am looking at trim levels 2 and 3 where there is a base model and a sport model that I don't care much about.

Heck:
3) Is the bigger engine worth it?

EDIT 1:
The 2014 apparently had major road noise issues:
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums...3-2014-subaru-outback-road-noise-problem.html

 

[drnickriviera]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2467012

Most of your questions are here if you are looking at the newest generation

 

[BurnItDwn]

My 08 forester sounds like a wind tunnel. I replaced the tires at around 90K and the better tires reduced some of the road noise ... the 08 forester is a bit uncomfortable for long drive because there isnt much room to stretch one's legs and the seat is not as soft as it could be.

The outback is wider, and should be more comfortable, and, newer model years should be more comfortable vs one that's 8 years old ... Outbacks are known for being quieter than a forester.

You should test drive one.

My forester has the 2.5 without the turbo, it ok. It sucks when we are going uphill on the interstate in the mountains, mostly because the car has to struggle in 3rd at like 4000 rpms to maintain 70-80 on the steep incline (has 4 speed auto) .. not sure how CVT will handle it, but subaru's CVT supposed to be a LOT better than their auto.
H6 would be a hell of an upgrade, but then you lose a lot of your fuel economy, at that point, you would best also consider testing something like a Durango and an Explorer and get more comfort for similar price.

I've been shopping for the woman for a car for a while now, have been delayed due to wanting to pay cash rather than finance, and have not been rushed since woman is currently jobless ... So, likely will take a couple more months before we make our decision. Outback is on the shortlist for us, but I think we are lookin at 2013-2014 Explorer as our best bet for long road trips...

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Thanks!

 

[Jumpem]

The seats are pretty comfortable. It is quieter inside than the smaller and cheaper crossovers that I have driven. I think the 3.6R is worth it. Get EyeSight.

 

[Harrod]

I've got a 2013 2.5, I think the seats are pretty comfortable, I've done a trip and back from Little Rock AR, to Deluth MN. I'd hate to have been in my wifes Maxima, for some reason no matter how I set the seat up, I end up feeling like someone punched me in the back after a road trip in that car.

If I had to do it all again, I'd probably have gotten the 3.6r. Road noise isn't a big issue and the tires it comes with are pretty quiet compared to the winter tires I run on mine.

 

[Kaido]

Heck:
3) Is the bigger engine worth it?

Yes. My wife's Forester has the 2.5 & it's super zippy with the CVT, but the Outback is a bit more of a slug. I would go with the 3.6R.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Yes. My wife's Forester has the 2.5 & it's super zippy with the CVT, but the Outback is a bit more of a slug. I would go with the 3.6R.

I completely agree.

I've gone on several extended test drives in the outback and the 2.5 has to rev way too much to get around which takes away from the comfortable, quiet ride. The 3.6 of course does not suffer from that issue. Also the throttle tip in of the 2.5 is super sensitive. As for seat comfort, the cloth seats felt like they I was sitting on a concrete bench. The leather seats on the other hand were adequate, but I would remove the lumbar support completely because even in its "off" position it started to hurt my back after about 20-30 minutes.

I've also driven my parent's 2014 Forester with the 2.5, and the 2.5 definitely feels very adequate. It does "suffer" from the super sensitive throttle tip in though, but I admit that's probably something you get used to.

The main issues I've read on for the outback are:
- Many owners are reporting windshield cracks with small or even no impacts. Maybe the owners' memories are fuzzy, but here is a 67 page thread for your reading pleasure.
- Some sort of manufacturing (possibly design) defect that lets in a rushing wind sound by the mirrors above 40mph or so. Apparently some cars are affected by this and others are not so test drive the car you want to buy. Some who have had the "fix" still suffer from the rushing wind noise. Here is the 101 page thread for your reading pleasure.
- Potential oil consumption with the 2.5l engine? I'm not sure if this is still a problem.

If quiet and comfortable are your main objectives I would also consider looking at the Edge. The small SUV competition, Rav4, CRV, etc., are not any better than the outback in the road noise category and from my experience are generally a good bit worse.

 

[Jumpem]

If quiet and comfortable are your main objectives I would also consider looking at the Edge. The small SUV competition, Rav4, CRV, etc., are not any better than the outback in the road noise category and from my experience are generally a good bit worse.

If safety is a concern, I would stay far away from the Edge. It is not TSP+ rated. There is no Ford vehicle that is a TSP+. And only the F150 is a base TSP.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List

 

[Herr Kutz]

If safety is a concern, I would stay far away from the Edge. It is not TSP+ rated. There is no Ford vehicle that is a TSP+. And only the F150 is a base TSP.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List

Meh, from what I understand auto-braking to avoid collisioins is required for TSP+ and is not available on the Edge. A vehicle with that feature is not a requirement for me and I'd venture to guess isn't a required feature for most of the driving public. It's not like the Edge is a death trap.

 

[Jumpem]

Meh, from what I understand auto-braking to avoid collisioins is required for TSP+ and is not available on the Edge. A vehicle with that feature is not a requirement for me and I'd venture to guess isn't a required feature for most of the driving public. It's not like the Edge is a death trap.

Personal preference as you noted. For me, after having a vehicle with EyeSight, I would find it very difficult to buy another vehicle without a very similar system.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/eyesight.html

 

[Herr Kutz]

Personal preference as you noted. For me, after having a vehicle with EyeSight, I would find it very difficult to buy another vehicle without a very similar system.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/eyesight.html

For sure, but vehicles without an eyesight like system do not magically become "unsafe".

 

[Kaido]

Personal preference as you noted. For me, after having a vehicle with EyeSight, I would find it very difficult to buy another vehicle without a very similar system.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/eyesight.html

I agree. I really miss EyeSight in my Jeep Renegade. I drive a few hundred highway miles per week & it's soooo much nicer to do it in my wife's Forester.

 

[Kaido]

For sure, but vehicles without an eyesight like system do not magically become "unsafe".

I don't think the question is so much unsafe as it is convenience. It's like going from a keyless entry car back to using keys to open the car door...you get used to the convenience & ease and never want to go back

 

[NutBucket]

So basically you can use eyesight as a crutch and not pay as much attention to driving....that's my issue with all the automated systems.

 

[Jumpem]

So basically you can use eyesight as a crutch and not pay as much attention to driving....that's my issue with all the automated systems.

It has all sorts of features. I like that it will watch the road ahead of you as you are checking over your shoulder to change lanes.

 

[NutBucket]

I know what it can do. I've test driven a car with it. I'm just not convinced we should enable people to pay even less attention while driving.

 

[Jumpem]

I know what it can do. I've test driven a car with it. I'm just not convinced we should enable people to pay even less attention while driving.

I was just listing one of the useful features it has even for drivers that are paying attention. You can't watch the road ahead while checking over your shoulder.

 

[iamwiz82]

They have an awesome feature where the car will steer itself: http://www.carscoops.com/2016/05/stop-sale-recall-on-2016-2017-subaru.html

 

[Kaido]

So basically you can use eyesight as a crutch and not pay as much attention to driving....that's my issue with all the automated systems.

That's a little too judgemental...EyeSight is fantastic on the highway for a lot of reasons, but primarily:

1. Radar cruise is amazing; it keeps a safe buffer between the variable speeds of the car ahead of you. Sure, you can call that a crutch, but it's more of a convenience feature than something that is removing you from doing something you SHOULD be doing. My commute home typically takes over an hour on the highway & modulating my foot on the accelerating the whole way blows chunks. Radar cruise is sooooo much nicer. The same argument can be made for stick-shift vs. automatic...sure I love stick shift, but with the ~2 hours I sit in traffic every day (10 hours a week sometimes), I sure don't enjoy shifting all that much. Does that make automatic transmissions a crutch? Depends on how you look at it, I guess.

2. The reaction speed of the computer is far faster than human reflexes are. I've had EyeSight save me from hitting someone more than once on the highway when people swerve into my lane & then hit the brakes unexpectedly. That doesn't mean I'm not paying attention to driving, it's just an enhancement for safety. Some people even complain about having ABS brakes, but the fact is that most people need them in order to stop safely in an emergency situation because their default reaction is to slam on the brakes rather than pump them.

Honestly, as much as I love driving, I can't wait for automated cars to become the norm. I wish I had a dashcam because I see like five examples a day of people who should absolutely NOT be driving, haha. iirc, the majority of car accidents are caused by driver error, and a quarter of all accidents are caused by distracted driving due to cell phone calls or texting. And even for stuff like animals crossing the road, car manufacturers are putting in systems to help avoid or less the impact of those, too. Safety regulations can stink, but when you need them, they sure are nice to have!

 

[deathBOB]

I was just listing one of the useful features it has even for drivers that are paying attention. You can't watch the road ahead while checking over your shoulder.

It appears that your example has collided with NutBucket's preconceived notions. Or he has eyes on the back of his head.