2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr All-wheel Drive Wagon 2.5i (M6) 6-Speed Manual

Outback was redesigned for the 2010 model year.Changes since then have been modest.2012 Subaru Outback models offer an Alloy Wheel Package with fog lights and cold-weather equipment.Audio systems have been upgraded on 2012 Outback Premium and 2012 Outback Limited models.

The Outback suspension, transmission and all-wheel-drive system are geared for control, comfort and stability on gravel roads and in inclement weather.All Subaru models are all-wheel drive, aiming for sure handling and traction in marginal conditions.They are most popular in the New England, Pacific Northwest, and Rocky Mountain states.The engines feature horizontally opposed pistons, the so-called boxer layout that Porsche also uses.This results in strong torque for accelerating up hills while helping maintain a low center of gravity for improved handling.

We found the Outback to be an exceptionally capable car on unpaved forest roads.Extensive driving on Montana's back roads revealed that its tough, supple suspension could handle rough roads, and its all-wheel drive performed well in all sorts of slippery conditions.Out on the open highway the Outback is smooth and comfortable and feels like a regular car.During a week of nasty Pacific Northwest winter, and it gave us a sense of security like few cars can, confident that with the Outback under us we could breeze through whatever weather we were dealt.

Two engines are available, balancing efficiency and performance.Best government-rated fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 22/29 mpg City/Highway for the 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder with the continuously variable transmission (CVT).For maximum performance, a 256-hp 3.6-liter six-cylinder is available, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.Neither engine uses forced induction or turbocharging to achieve its rated output, and both run on regular unleaded fuel.

Four-wheel independent suspension is standard, with MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones in the rear.The wishbone suspension delivers a smooth ride and enables a larger rear cargo area than would be possible with a strut-type rear suspension.

The Outback emphasizes cargo carrying, with large doors that swing open wide, and good interior dimensions for cargo room.

Outback 2.5i models ($23,295) come with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission or CVT ($24,295).Standard equipment for 2.5i includes cloth upholstery, manual air conditioning with air filter, six-way manually adjustable driver seat, four-way manually adjustable passenger seat, 100-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio with four speakers and auxiliary jack, remote keyless entry, power locks, power windows, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, three power outlets, anti-theft alarm, 16-inch steel wheels, and 215/70R16 tires.A new alloy wheel package ($995) also includes fog lights and an All-Weather Package (two-stage heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors and windshield wiper de-icer).

Outback 3.6R ($28,295) comes with the 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine and 5-speed automatic transmission.Aside from the larger engine and automatic transmission, standard equipment on the 3.6 R is similar.It does come standard with 225/60R17 tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, and a few more interior amenities.No options are offered.

Premium trim for the Outback 2.5i manual ($24,795), 2.5i CVT ($25,795) and 3.6R ($29,495) upgrades each of them to a 10-way power driver seat, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/60R17 tires and other features.New for 2012 is a six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS), Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free phone connectivity, iPod control capability, and a USB port in addition to the auxiliary input jack.Options include the All-Weather Package ($500), also available bundled with a moonroof ($1,945).Also available is the new harman/kardon stereo from the Limited (see below), but it must be combined with the All-Weather Package ($1,795), a moonroof ($1,945), or both ($3,240).

Limited trim for the Outback 2.5i ($28,695) and the 3.6R ($31,695) includes leather upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, power passenger seat, woodgrain interior trim, Bluetooth, heated mirrors, heated seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer.The CVT becomes standard, too, on the 2.5i.For 2012, the existing 440-watt harman/kardon AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio with nine speakers loses its CD changer (it still plays single CDs) but gains HD radio, RBDS, Bluetooth audio streaming, XM Satellite Radio, a 4.3-inch LCD display, and all the connectivity features of the new Premium-trim system.The moonroof becomes available as a stand-alone ($1,445) or packaged with navigation ($2,995).

Safety features include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, quick brake assist, traction control, VDC electronic stability control, all-wheel drive, LATCH child safety locks, rear-door child locks.

The Outback has an alert, bold look, with long, hawk-eye headlamps mounted higher than the upright grille.Functional side cladding and rocker panels are a reminder this Subaru is intended to be at home on gravel roads.(And, indeed, it is.) At the rear, compound tail lamps blend into a broad rear hatch with a large rear window, integrating the design and helping to define the high beltline that keeps the Outback from being visually top-heavy.

A roof rack is standard.The rack's crossbars are stowed in the roof rails for reduced wind noise, and can be swung into position when needed.The rack, which is designed to fit Subaru's line of roof-rack accessories, adds about two inches of height to the Outback.The optional Power Moonroof subtracts about two inches of front headroom.

Outback 3.6R models are visually identified by 17-inch wheels and larger, 225/60R17 tires, although four-cylinder Outbacks can be upgraded with the same wheel/tire combination by selecting Limited or Premium trim.

The Outback models we drove had Premium trim and the better, 10-way driver's seat.The standard seats might not be as adjustable, but they are well designed and the cabin feels roomy, even after a long day of driving.There is a standard cargo tray, under floor storage, and grocery bag hooks behind the rear seats.

The dash and cockpit are built around a sporty, four-dial instrument panel and a contemporary upswept center stack.The instrument panel includes a multi-information display that indicates outside temperature, fuel consumption, time, and warning functions for seatbelts and passenger air bags.The transmission gear readout is digital.The steering wheel, a three-spoke design, has four large buttons to control the audio system and cruise control.When equipped with an automatic transmission, paddle shifters are located behind the wheel.Taken as a whole, the interior is clean and contemporary, without being excessively ornate.

The parking brake is controlled electronically via a button to the left of the steering wheel, and has a Hill Hold feature.

The new Navigation option for Limited, which integrates with the harman/kardon stereo, includes an 8-in.wide-format display screen, voice command, rear vision camera, and Homelink transceiver.Outbacks with the moonroof also come with a rear-vision camera and Homelink.

Most of the time, driving a Subaru Outback feels about the same as driving any other family sedan, but with a slightly taller stance and longer-travel suspension.Because of its low center of gravity and all-wheel-drive system, there is a distinctive rally car quality seldom seen in other crossovers and SUVs.

It's the suspension that allows the Outback to travel unpaved roads comfortably at higher speeds with excellent control.It cushions the Outback on cracked roadway surfaces, highway bumps, and on dirt and gravel roads.

The suspension also does a good job in corners thanks partly to stabilizer bars front and rear.It invites spirited driving and rewards playful cornering with sure-footed grip and a nice, steady set in every corner.The suspension tolerates a certain amount of driver error with grace.Enter a corner too fast, or come up on an unforeseen pothole too quickly and there is minimal impact, shudder or rebound.Should a tire drop into a pothole or eroded washout, the tire on the opposite side stays flat and in full contact with the surface.

The brakes are nicely balanced, with good pedal feel, so a driver falls into rhythm as the Outback squats into corners and rockets outward.

The Outback is quick in the dirt and has relatively high ground clearance.It is not intended as a low-speed off-road crawler, however, and it does not have a low-range transfer case.Still, especially with the six-cylinder engine, there is a surprising amount of torque at low rpm, and good traction.To underscore the Outback's capability, Subaru arranged an off-road hill climb comparison with two other all-wheel-drive vehicles, a Ford Explorer AWD and a Toyota Venza.While neither of the other two could make it more than halfway up the long steep hill with anyone driving, every Outback was able to steadily churn and grind its way to the top, no matter who was driving.

Later we drove an Outback 3.6R Limited in an event called Mudfest, at the DirtFish Rally School's 315-acre facility in Snoqualmie, Washington, where the Outback clearly proved the value of its effortless traction, controllability and even ground clearance, in deep slippery mud.

Back on the highway, the Outback becomes something more like a station wagon than an SUV.It corners more precisely with less body roll, and it rides at least as comfortably as other crossover vehicles we have driven.Compared to utility wagons like the Toyota Venza, the Subaru feels especially solid on the roadway, with perhaps slightly more road noise coming from all-season tires, but remains a restful and relaxing vehicle to drive at legal speeds.The reduced NVH is partly because of the addition of framed glass and better sealing around the doors.Still, to our ear, it is not as quiet as some of the newest light-duty crossover wagons.

Competent on the road and downright sporty on dirt, the Outback 2.5i with the 2.5-liter engine and CVT feels a tad underpowered on the highway.Climbing mountain highway passes took more throttle, and there is a little more noise from the four-cylinder engine.

The more powerful 3.6-liter engine allowed for steady acceleration uphill and gave us ready passing power at highway speeds, but gives up fuel economy in the process.Neither drivetrain showed any appreciable tendency to generate torque steer.

Because of the different types of transmissions, there are three types of all-wheel-drive systems used across the Outback line.Vehicle dynamics and performance would be about the same across the board, but there are subtle differences.

With the 6-speed manual transmission in the 2.5i, there is a locking center differential that can distribute power evenly from front to rear in a 50/50 ratio.This would likely be the best-traction option in the worst of circumstances, such as an icy road covered with blowing snow.

The other two AWD systems actively control power distribution in response to driving conditions; they normally bias power toward the rear wheels to reduce torque steer and enhance agility.These systems are best at compensating for ice patches and wet spots on otherwise dry roads.Both systems are augmented by electronic traction control, which as we saw at the hillclimb, does a nice job of balancing power distribution as needed.

By combining a low-mounted engine with all-wheel-drive, the Outback conveys an unusual sense of security and well-being.It is, in the end, a satisfying machine to operate.We found that the more we drove it, the more we liked it.

John Stewart contributed to this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Outback near Missoula, Montana; Sam Moses reported after driving the Outback in the Pacific Northwest.