2015 Subaru Outback : Pricing drops of up to $10,000

Between $2000 and a whopping $10,000 has been trimmed from the list price of each member of the five-variant range. The entry point 2.0D is now $5500 cheaper at $35,490 plus on-road costs, while the base 2.5i CVT petrol is down $3000 to $35,990. The biggest cut is reserved for the flagship Outback 3.6R, which is down a massive $10,000 to $47,990. Read Subaru's in-depth explanation of the pricing shift here.

The high-riding Subaru wagon sticks to a similar formula in its fifth-generation guise, though a complete redesign means the new model is more aerodynamic and more fuel efficient than the car it replaces, despite maintaining a similar range of engines.

Indeed, the Outback is to be offered with a familiar 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, which sees fuel use dip by 8.8 per cent to 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

That 2.5-litre (seen above in 2.5i guise) sees a minor power bump, producing 129kW at 5800rpm (previous 127kW at 5600rpm) and torque is rated at 235Nm at 4000rpm, coming in a little earlier than the previous model (235Nm at 4100rpm). It’s available solely with an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The 2.0-litre turbo diesel six-speed manual also sees a decent fuel consumption cut of 5.0 per cent (to 5.7L/100km), while the automatic variant’s fuel use dips by 3.6 per cent (to 6.3L/100km).

The diesel engine produces 110kW of power at 3600rpm and torque is rated at 350Nm between 1600-2800rpm.

Subaru has retained the flagship 3.6-litre six-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine (featured in the 3.6R, pictured above), which sees a drop in fuel consumption of 3.9 per cent (now using a claimed 9.9L/100km).

The big six still produces 191kW of power at 6000rpm and 350Nm of torque at 4400rpm, and is teamed exclusively to a CVT auto for the first time (previously it had a five-speed auto).

As is Subaru’s penchant, AWD is standard across all models in the Outback range.

In terms of the company’s positioning for the updated Outback, Subaru is offering two specification levels for the more affordable 2.5i petrol and 2.0D diesel models, with the Premium suffix adding extra kit in each instance. The 3.6R remains a single spec level at the top of the range.

Safety is a big talking point for the new-generation Outback, as the wagon (along with the soon-to-be-released Liberty sedan) both scored the highest crash test score of any Subaru ever tested in ANCAP’s most recent round of evaluations. Both scored 35.99 out of a possible 37 points, and all petrol versions of the Outback (and Liberty) have Subaru’s Eyesight forward collision mitigation technology as standard - but no diesel models have that technology due to engine management challenges. All Outbacks, however, have a reverse-view camera as standard.

Subaru says there are nine colours available for the new Outback, including four new hues.

See below for a full breakdown of the specification levels available in the new-generation Subaru Outback.

2015 Subaru Outback key features model by model

2.5i:
- Seven airbags, including driver’s knee airbag, dual front, dual front-side, and full-length curtain ‘bags
- EyeSight driver assist system
- Reverse-view camera
- X-Mode off-road traction control and hill descent system
- Touchscreen audio system with Bluetooth, voice command and six speakers
- Climate-control air-conditioning – dual zone, with rear vents
- Electric parking brake
- Leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls
- Multi-information driver display
- Paddleshifters
- Rain sensing auto windscreen wipers, auto-off headlights, front fog-lights
- 18-inch alloy wheels – full-sized alloy spare
- Chrome-surround grille
- Colour-coded mirrors and door handles
- Headlights auto on/off
- Privacy glass (rear)
- Rear roof spoiler
- Roof rails with integrated crossbars
- Silver underbody guards

2.5i Premium (adds over 2.5i):
- Electric adjustable driver and front passenger seat – driver’s lumbar support
- Electric sunroof
- Enhanced infotainment system with satellite navigation and Pandora app capability
- Folding mirrors – powered and heated
- Front wiper de-icer
- Heated front seats
- Keyless entry
- Leather trim
- LED low beam headlights with washers
- Piano black trim highlights
- Powered boot door
- Push button start with smart key
- Wheel arch cladding

2.0D:
Substitutes 17-inch alloy wheels and has black cloth trim; all diesels lose EyeSight forward collision warning system, SI-Drive system; manual model misses out on X-Mode

2.0D Premium (adds over 2.0D):
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Electric sunroof
- Folding mirrors – powered and heated
- Front wiper de-icer
- Heated front seats
- Keyless entry
- Leather trim
- LED low beam headlights with washers
- Light sensing headlights – auto on/off
- Piano black trim highlights
- Powered boot door
- Power driver’s and front passenger seat – driver lumbar support
- Push button start with smart key
- Enhanced media with satellite navigation and Pandora
- Wheel arch cladding – front and rear guards
- X-Mode (CVT only)

3.6R (adds over 2.0D Premium):
- Chrome side sill garnish
- Silver roof rails
- harman/kardon 12-speaker sound system with sub-woofer
- Three-mode SI-Drive

2015 Subaru Outback pricing plus on-road costs (price changes in brackets)
Outback 2.5i CVT - $35,990 (-$3000, or 7.7 per cent)
Outback 2.5i Premium CVT - $41,490 (-$2000, or 4.6 per cent)
Outback 2.0D manual - $35,490 (-$5000, or 12.3 per cent)
Outback 2.0D CVT - $37,490 (-$5500, or 12.8 per cent)
Outback 2.0D Premium manual - $41,490 (-$2000, or 4.6 per cent)
Outback 2.0D Premium CVT - $43,490 (-$2500, or 5.4 per cent)
Outback 3.6R - $47,990 (-$10,000, or 17.2 per cent)