The 2017 Subaru Outback is an iconoclastic crossover: it's been around since the mid-1990s and more closely resembles a station wagon than a rugged SUV. But the Outback's now legendary standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, it's innovative boxer engine and 8.7 inches of ground clearance come together to give the Outback a serious leg up on the competition, including popular crossovers like the Chevy Equinox and the Toyota RAV4, among others.
Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive is built into their vehicles from the start, rather than being attached as an add-on option in other SUVs that are built normally as front-wheel drive vehicles. In a Subaru, components are set in a straight line, from the boxer engine to the transmission to the drive train, and both sides are perfectly symmetrical. This creates greater efficiency and provides power to all four wheels all the time for maximum traction, balance and control.
The boxer engine is also designed with horizontally-opposed pistons, which allows the engine to have a much lower center of gravity. This contributes to better handling and traction for the car overall.
The 2017 Outback is actually available with either of two engines. There's the standard 2.5-liter boxer-4 that makes 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, good for EPA-rated fuel economy of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The available 3.6-liter flat-6 makes a more robust 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. It rates 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. In both cases, the Outback's gas mileage - despite having all-wheel drive - is comparable or even better than that of its peers.
We have a full inventory of Subaru Outback models in stock here at Jenkins Subaru, and our experienced sales professionals are ready to answer all your questions about the Outback and help you compare it with other makes and models. Stop by our Bridgeport, WV showroom today, or give us a call at (888) 755-7471 to schedule a test drive at your convenience.
