2021 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition

The Subaru Outback Onyx Edition is one of the latest versions of a brand that continues to buck nearly every automotive industry trend. Quirky is one way to describe it. Rugged is another. Whatever it is, this Subaru Outback has become the company’s best–selling model. Why is that? Continue with this Napleton.news review to see more.

What is the Subaru Outback?

The 2021 Subaru Outback is a five-passenger station-wagon half-crossover/half-SUV that has gained quite the following. The Outback has an almost cult-like hold over its fans. It has brought its parent company, Subaru Corporation, formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries, a ton of generated profit through the years.

The Outback is motivated by a buyer’s choice of two engines ranging from a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque or, as our tester was equipped, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo-four makes more power than the V6 engine it replaced. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission with eight presets. These help to simulate the feeling of a gearbox shifting through the gears.

The transmission sends the engine’s torque to the Outback’s Symmetrical AWD system, which is standard on all models. The system sends power to all four wheels but can vary the power to a particular wheel, to the tune of up to 90-percent. It’s just the thing for inclement weather and the areas with hills and mountain terrain.

LOOKS COUNT, TOO.

Sure, the quirkiness is still here because, well, it’s a Subaru. Who can forget the 1984 Subaru Turbo 4WD Coupe, which looked like it could be driven in either direction? Or the futuristic Subaru SVX AWD vehicle with a 3.3-liter flat six-cylinder engine producing a rather paltry 230 horsepower. Yup, quirky.

That’s probably why Subaru chose to gently redesign the Outback model in 2020. We think it was a successful effort and glad that it carried forward for the 2021 model year. It features a rough and ready front fascia that appears as though it is also equipped with a rubberized skid plate underneath. Riding along with 8.7 inches of ground clearance can handle most off-roading situations and any other terrain you would like to subject it to. Our Onyx Edition XT is equipped with metallic black paint on the sideview mirrors along with black-painted alloy wheels.

WHAT ABOUT INSIDE?

The interior of the Outback features high-grade materials and actually quite a bit of space. From a technology standpoint, it’s all here. Whether you are looking for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a built-in WiFi hotspot, a ten-way adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, you’ll find it in the Onyx Edition.

There is a large amount of rear-seat comfort and legroom. By the numbers, there are 32.5-cubic feet behind the rear seat. Fold them forward to see that room expand to a total of 75.7-cubic feet of cargo space.

Our tester was equipped with the optional 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen display having a certain iPad vibe. It was a bit disconcerting to constantly see the fan controls at the bottom of the screen, regardless of what else it was doing at that moment. Navigation, telephone, Sirius XM? Say hello to the fan controls. It is also through the big display screen where we found the ability to turn off the rough-riding auto stop/start control. Once we disabled it, we found the Outback to be quite the engaging- and smooth driver. We think a control on the center console would be a more apt solution than hunting through an endless array of menus to get to this one-button function.

BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE SUBARU OUTBACK ONYX EDITION XT

We used to think the quirkiness that is part and parcel of a Subaru included its ride quality. Nothing is further from the truth. Instead, with motivation coming from the 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, the Outback is now quicker than the larger-engined V6 model it replaces. With a faux-eight-speed CVT transmission that made us feel as though we were banging through the gears, even if we weren’t, we found ourselves behind the wheel of a spritely-performing crossover that wishes it were a sportscar.

The suspension was just taut enough to avoid wallowing through the twisties, but it wasn’t too firm to jar loose your dental fillings. The steering was well-weighted and tuned for quick response. It was just the thing for going on- and off-road at a moment’s notice.

Running gravel trails was a surprise as well. We were jazzed by the relative quiet we found on a trail that would have normally allowed road noise to work its way inside. Hitting the pavement afterward had us driving as though we were tooling along in a near-luxury vehicle.

Could this be the start of the quirk-free Subie?

2021 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT

Type	Crossover/Station Wagon
Passengers	Five
Engine	2.4-liter Turbocharged inline-4
Horsepower	260 HP @ 5,500
Torque	277 lb-ft @ 2,000
Transmission	CVT (Synthetic 8-speed)
Drive	Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive
EPA Estimates	23 City / 30 Highway / 26 Combined
Wheelbase	108.1 inches
Length	191.3 inches
Width	73 inches
Height	66.4 inches
Cargo Behind second row	32.5 Cubic Feet
Cargo Behind first row	75.7 Cubic Feet
Turning Diameter	36.1 feet
Towing Capacity	3,500 lbs
Warranty	3 year / 36,000 basic – 5 year / 60,000 drivetrain