NEW SUBARU OUTBACK

The Outback is Subaru’s most successful model in New Zealand, and has been for years, making up over 40 per cent of brand sales. Sitting in between a regular family wagon and an SUV, it has elements of each, and countless Kiwi owners swear by them as the best of both worlds.

Handy in the rough stuff and with heaps of space inside, the Outback has always been a fine drive on short trips or over distance, and the new 2.4-litre turbocharged four – developing 183kW and 350Nm of torque – only adds to the appeal with increased torque and refinement and increased braked towing capacity (up 20 per cent to 2400kg).

The power jump cuts the Outback’s 0-100km sprint time to 7.5 seconds. It almost goes without saying that it features a Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system for great all-weather traction while X-Mode offers deep snow and deep mud settings. Automatic transmissions come with revised gear/differential ratios to suit the increased power delivery and towing performance.

Given the enduring success of the formula, you can understand Subaru adopting a light-touch approach to Outback updates. The premium XT Touring variant driven here is certainly the most advanced and luxurious version to date. Priced at $67,990, it features Nappa leather seat trim, an electric sunroof, heated steering wheel and heated seats, Harman Kardon audio, and a rear powered tail gate with hands-free badge sensor. An 11.6-inch tablet-like touch screen with built-in navigation dominates the fascia and is crystal-clear in its display quality and a cinch to use.

Safety highlights include eight airbags and Subaru’s Driver Monitoring System (DMS) with facial recognition to detect driver drowsiness or distraction. The DMS can recognise up to five drivers to personalise the driver’s seat, wing mirror and air conditioning preferences.

Atrocious weather may have curtailed our travel plans but we still got to experience the Outback’s ability when the urban jungle turned into a swamp. With many roads impassable without all-wheel drive and extra ride height, the Outback came into its own. This is a fine car to drive in any conditions as it faithfully delivers the quality and durability you’d expect with a surprising amount of sophistication and comfort. The new level of performance and terrific practicality simply seal the deal.