‘It’s a Wagon.’
‘SUV’
‘Wagon!’
‘SUV!’
It’s the old devil v angel routine – one on each shoulder and the wickedest thing is, they’re both right.
The Outback is a wagon disguised as an SUV, or maybe that’s the other way around?
It’s an SUV when I visit my friend with the steep driveway, for there is no fear of scraping the front on arrival, or the rear on departure. Not even the tow bar. My mate’s got a wagon, and he can’t do that, so that’s one point for SUV given the ground clearance.
But then, my wife and I can see over the top of the wagon with ease. You know the drill, you arrive at your friend’s place with the steep driveway and before going in you have the chat across the car. ‘What’re their kids names, again? Really? Surely that’s the dogs’ name.’ So, given we can converse across the top of the Outback, that would make it more of a wagon.
Interesting, isn’t it?
There’s the interior space of an SUV without the loaf of bread like drivability up the freeway on a windy day. To be fair, that’s more Kombi than SUV, but you get the idea. Given the Outback is flatter and more streamlined than a typical SUV, it seems to drive more like a sedan: less drag, you know? But it’s definitely not a sedan because I can climb into the boot looking for lost golf balls without feeling as if one of my kids might turn practical joker and shut me in. Not that they would – or could – because the Outback*Applicable for Outback AWD Sport and Outback AWD Touring only. has the automatic boot button, so it’s a nice, smooth open and close. Given my spy like reflexes, I’d be out before getting stuck because just slowing the process of the boot stops the automatic close and the joke would be over. Mooohahahaha.
The cabin space is massive, by the way. I always get tagged for driving to golf – four sets of clubs in the boot (there’s one guy I’d like to put in there, too) and there’s a stack of legroom for four adults as well. I’m not convinced there’s room for all of their stories, but that’s a subject for another day.
We’re past the pram stage, but I’m confident we would have managed easily with our big old pram, and certainly the kids’ bikes. As they got older we went for the bike carrier which is a must if you’re wanting to take everything with you on holidays.
So internally, it has a distinct SUV feel, which is magic, because if I was after a sports car, I’d be surprised to find myself in the Outback. Having said that, it does have the gear changing paddles, soooooo… Sports SUV, maybe? Sports Wagon?
The worst thing to say about the Outback is possibly the best thing. It’s absurdly practical. It’s literally perfect for the whole family, regardless of who is using it – and given all the safety features, it’s perfect for our Learner and P-plate drivers.
But is the Outback a wagon, or an SUV?
It’s practically both.
Actually. It is both. Wagon and SUV. Maybe it depends who you’re bragging about your Outback to.
Andrew Daddo
Subaru Ambassador
04 May 2021
