2015 Subaru Outback

The fifth generation of the iconic Subaru sport utility wagon is unveiled at the 2014 New York International Auto Show

Subi rolls on

No article about Subaru would be complete without commenting on the fact that the manufacturer continues to add to its unprecedented sales roll. January marked the fifth consecutive year of month over month sales records while March marked the 28th month of consecutive monthly increases as well as the best first quarter in company history.

But while year to date sales of the Outback are up 12 percent, year-over-year sales in March were up just 2.9 percent – still a good showing considering Subaru is about to throw another log on the fire with the new 2015 Outback unveiled last week at the New York Auto Show.

2015 Subaru Outback

Set to arrive at Subaru dealerships this summer, the all-new 2015 Outback is not only longer (0.6 inches) and wider (0.7 inches), it's also roomier (2.7 cubic feet for a total of 108.1) as well as more versatile. There's an additional 1.2 cubic feet of cargo space (for a total of 35.5) behind the rear seats and a flatter load floor yields an additional 2 cubic feet of cargo volume (now 73.3 cu. ft.) with the 60/40 split fold-down rear seatbacks folded. A set of rear seatback release levers in the cargo area also make lowering the rear seats more convenient.

Exterior

The newest Outback is also well ahead of its predecessor in the styling department. The extreme makeover begins up front with a bold trapezoidal-shaped grill set into what Subaru calls a "nosecone" front section that merges the grille and bumper into one smooth piece.

Not a single body panel is shared with the previous generation, which includes the hood - now fabricated out of aluminum for weight savings. The base of the windshield has been moved forward 2 inches for a more pronounced rake resulting in an improvement in body aerodynamics.

New standard features for 2015 include electric power steering, X-Mode (which recalibrates the CVT, traction control and all-wheel- drive settings and turns on the hill-descent control), hill descent control (which uses engine braking to maintain a constant downhill speed) and hill start assist. Ground clearance is unchanged at 8.7 inches, but new step-style doorsills allow users to easily stand on them while securing objects to roof rails that feature integrated retractable crossbars and tie downs. 3.6R Limited models get new standard HID low-beam headlights while a power rear tailgate with memory height is available as an option on all models, hardly surprising considering the company's conservative bent, for the first time.

Under the hood

Under hood changes, on the other hand, are minimal. Both engines – the FB series 2.5-liter boxer-4 and 3.6-liter boxer-6 – are carried over from 2014. 2.5-liter models will now feature grille shutters for improved aerodynamics and horsepower is up from 173 to 175, while torque, though unchanged at 174 lb.-ft., is spread over a broader range for better performance. The numbers for the 3.6 engine (256 horsepower and 247 lb.-ft. of torque) are unchanged.

What has changed is that both the four- and six-pots now come with a CVT, raising the fuel economy numbers to an EPA-estimated 25/33 city/highway for the 2.5 (up from 24/30) and 19/27 city/highway for the 3.6 (up from 17/25).

Interior

Inside, Subaru claims a quieter ride courtesy of a new acoustic windshield, liquid-filled engine mounts, thicker body panels (floor, toeboard, rear wheel apron, inner fenders) as well as the increased use of foam insulation and floor damping material.

Inside there's more room all around with gains in shoulder, front and rear hip and elbow room and rear legroom. The entire interior and instrument panel have been re-designed with Premium and Limited-trim models featuring electro-luminescent gauges with blue ring illumination. There's also a greater use of soft-touch materials as well as thicker cushioning for the armrests and center console.

The infotainment system hasn't been ignored either as even the entry level model features a 6.2-inch touch screen with HD radio, smartphone integration for Aha and Pandora and Bluetooth connectivity for phone and audio streaming. The display also features tablet and smartphone-like swipe and scrolling gesture feature.