Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. (MIPI), the official distributor of Subaru products in the Philippines, has finally brought in the all-new sixth-generation Outback. And besides its new sharp looks, it also gets a new platform, as well as loads of upgrades for its onboard safety technology.
The all-new 2022 Subaru Outback
On top of the vast improvements for the Outback, customers who will be reserving their unit by September 30, 2021 can avail of a Php 50,000 of the crossover’s standard Php 2,380,000 price tag. The first batch of new Outback owners will also be given a Bynd Artisan limited-edition leather pouch.
So, what does the all-new 2022 Subaru Outback offer prospective buyers?
Exterior
To start off, the new Outback is larger than the fifth-gen version. Specifically, it is 50mm longer, and 50mm wider. That means some gains in terms of interior space, which we’ll talk about later. Moreover, it also gets 213mm of ground clearance, which is more than a match for the local rough roads.
The new Outback's rear end
Moreover, the front and rear fog lamps for the Outback are now LEDs. The sliding glass sunroof also gets tilt-adjustability. Like the previous model though, the new version still has headlamp washers, LED headlamps with auto-leveling, rain-sensing wipers, LED daytime running lamps, roof rails, a roof-mounted spoiler, and power-folding door mirrors with LED turn signal repeaters.
The Outback 2.5i-T EyeSight, which is the sole variant of the said model for the local market, also rides on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. Those are then wrapped with a set of 225/60R18 tires.
Interior
As mentioned, the interior of the Outback gets more space despite retaining the same 2,745mm long wheelbase. The luggage compartment now has a larger 537-liter capacity, which is 10 liters more than the previous version.
Camping and out-of-town trips are a breeze with that trunk
With the larger width and longer length, we can also expect the new crossover to provide more elbow- and leg-room. Speaking of passengers, the new model also gets seats that are wrapped in Nappa leather with extra cushioning, a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and armrests for the rear seats which are also 60:40 split-folding.
The driver is likewise given loads of useful features like the tilt and telescopic steering wheel, aluminum pedals, among others.
Tech and Safety
Moving on to onboard tech, the new Outback’s dashboard is graced by an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. It is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it is linked to a 576-watt Harman/Kardon 11-piece speaker system. The said sound system also comes with an eight-channel amplifier.
But besides those entertainment features, the new model also comes with a whole slew of safety technologies. Chief among these is the new EyeSight 4.0 Driver Assist Technology suite, which now has autonomous emergency steering. As it says on the tin, this allows the vehicle to steer itself away from obstacles to avoid a frontal crash.
Long distance driving is made easy with the Outback's collection of driver-assist technologies
Next up is the adaptive cruise control, which now has a lane centering function. This ensures that the Outback stays in the middle of the lane, regardless of whether the road is straight or not. Working in conjunction with this is the lane departure prevention system, which can gently ease the car back inside the lane that is if the car is traveling at 60km/h or more.
Then there are the improvements to the Outback’s cameras. It now has a better angle of coverage, and it can now monitor cars on neighboring lanes as well as its own lane.
The driver monitoring system is also a new feature and it uses facial recognition to monitor where the driver is looking. It can then apply the appropriate alerts in order to avoid distracted driving. Furthermore, the system remembers one’s settings for the car’s climate control, door mirrors, seat adjustment, and adjusts these accordingly when one enters the car. This is convenient, but more importantly, it might help in keeping the driver away from distractions.
A closer look at the Outback's headunit. Also, it uses an electronic parking brake
Apart from those advanced safety technologies, the new Outback also has eight airbags, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, steering responsive headlamps, rear-cross traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking.
Engine
As for its mechanical bits, the sixth-gen Outback uses the new Subaru Global Platform. It uses high-strength steel, a full inner frame structure, and it’s also stiffer for better steering responsiveness.
As with most Subaru models, the new Outback of course comes with the brand’s signature symmetrical all-wheel-drive, which is coupled with the dual-function X-MODE and the SI-Drive systems.
The latter is an engine management system that can switch between sports mode and eco mode. The former meanwhile is a terrain management system that can ensure optimal traction in a variety of driving situations like on slippery surfaces, climbing hills, and descending hills.
Who says crossovers can't go romping out in the wilderness?
Under the hood, the Outback uses a 2.5-liter boxer-four engine that can make up to 185 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque. It still uses a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), and it also features the Stablex-ride damper system.
Braking is handled by discs for all four wheels, while the suspension is handled by MacPherson struts for the front, double wishbones for the rear.
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