- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
180kW, 297Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 10.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2003)
2006 Subaru Outback 3.0R Premium review
The new Outback offers automation usually limited to more expensive cars, reports CAMERON MCGAVIN.
Turning point
Can a button make all the difference? It's a strange question, but one raised by the arrival of Subaru's updated Outback range.
Visually, there's little to tell. New bumpers, head and tail-lights, grille and wheels add a touch of bite to the familiar shape, but the Outback is still recognisably its old self.
The cabin has also received a mild visual once-over, while telescopic steering adjustment (previous Outback drivers got only tilt), steering-wheel-mounted cruise buttons, six-stack CD sound system and, on some models, rear air vents and eight-way power driver's seat elevate its functionality.
However, the updated Outback's biggest talking point isn't any of the above - it's the button, an innocuous dial on the centre console with the words "SI-Drive" etched above it. SI-Drive, which stands for Subaru Intelligent Drive and is fitted to range-topping 3.0-litre six-cylinder versions like the 3.0R Premium model tested here and GT models, is significant because it allows the driver to alter the engine's tune to suit driving conditions. Previously, this sort of electronic trickery was restricted to big-dollar machinery.
SI-Drive allows the driver to choose between three different modes. "Intelligent" delivers optimum fuel consumption in stop-start traffic and highway cruising. "Sport" is the default mode of sorts for regular driving, while "Sport Sharp", as the name implies, gives sharper response for enthusiastic outings. But while SI-Drive seems a worthwhile enough advance on paper, its on-road benefits are debatable.
"Intelligent" is the most frustrating. Response from the 3.0-litre boxer six - which, smooth and free-revving as it is, has never had much go at low revs - is dulled to the point where seriously over-the-top throttle inputs are needed to keep pace with the traffic flow. In cases where a squirt of unforeseen acceleration is required, it's hopeless.
"Sport Sharp", meanwhile, is a jump too far the other way. Throttle response is hyperactive and the auto grabs any chance to kick down a gear. While it gives the impression it's busy making decisions to increase the fun quotient, it doesn't seem particularly proficient at making the right ones.
After a few days experimenting with SI-Drive, it was left in "Sport" mode. This is the least intrusive and well-rounded tune, but it can't mask the dearth of pulling power below 4000 rpm and the auto's mediocre shifts and tendency to hunt under pressure.
We used a combination of "Intelligent" and "Sport" on our road test loop for an average of 13.3 L/100 km, a fair way off the official claim of 11.1 L.
Get past the engine/transmission side of the equation and the top Outback starts winning back points. The handling is perceptibly soggier than its Liberty sibling but it's hard to fault, displaying excellent agility, good balance and confidence-inspiring predictability. On dirt it's brilliant, though like most of the competition it starts to falter if taken too far from the beaten track.
The Subaru's everyday credentials are also strong. Some of it's to do with the pampering ride and low noise levels, but the cabin plays its part with tasteful style and generous equipment.
The Outback still comfortably qualifies as an above-average package for mid-range soft-roader buyers. But the complication of SI-Drive and its poor matching with the characteristics of the boxer six make the 3.0R Premium a less attractive proposition than its cheaper four-pot siblings.
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