The Subaru family wagon gets an upgrade

The 2020 Subaru Outback is all new this year marking the sixth generation of this popular family wagon. A lot has changed over the years with updated styling and new technologies, but some things are still the same. It’s still a workhouse of a wagon with room for the family, ample cargo space to carry their stuff, and more capability than the average wagon.

There’s room for five passengers in a comfortable and durable interior. Even in top trims of the Outback that have richer materials and extra amenities, it never feels delicate. You won’t worry if the kids manage to get their snowy winter boots on the seats or the dog leaps through the car with muddy paws. This is a car that can stand up to real life rather than needing to be coddled.

When it’s time for cargo, the Outback holds 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats or 72.5 cubic feet behind the front seats. It also has a long load floor so it can manage objects up to 75 inches long. If whatever you have is still too big, then take advantage of its ability to tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.

The return of the turbocharged engine

There’s a choice of two engines starting with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. For the first time since 2009, there’s also a turbocharged option. This more powerful engine boasts 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both are paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

While either does the job of getting the Subaru Outback up to highway speeds, the turbocharged engine is the more fun of the two. It’s responsive when you press the accelerator and removes the anxiety of trying to merge with heavy highway traffic. It also gets great fuel economy. The base engine gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined with those numbers dropping by just 3 mpg across the board for the turbocharged engine.

Subarus are capable things, so you’ll find 8.7 inches of ground clearance along with standard all-wheel drive with X-Mode. It makes short work of snowy, rutted roads and just as easily tackles more rugged off-road adventures where the average wagon wouldn’t stand a chance.

Plenty of tech upgrades

The Outback shows off updated tech this year with standard EyeSight driver assist technologies. This gives you pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist with sway warning even on the base trim. A 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2020 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety further enhance the Outback’s safety appeal.

Another nice tech upgrade is the Subaru Outback’s massive 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen for the infotainment system. This is standard on all but the base trim, which has dual 7-inch touchscreens. The larger screen makes it easy to follow navigation and easy to swipe between menus to find what you need quickly. It can also be customized so you can put the things you use most front and center.

The 2020 Subaru Outback is available in a range of seven trims so you’ll be able to find one that works for your needs and your budget. Pricing runs from $26,645 to $39,695.