Let’s chat about the Outback Wilderness. It comes in two versions, Wilderness and Wilderness Apex.

Outback Wilderness has a big bold, chunky design. It certainly looks the part of a capable AWD SUV.

However, due to some Australian Design Rules, it is missing some chunky all terrain tyres to match. Im guessing that will be the first thing prospective buyers add.

The interior matches the exterior appeal.  There is a redesigned horizontal central touch screen. Air conditioning controls have reverted to physical press buttons, which I like. In addition, there is a new large digital instrument cluster and even more controls on the steering wheel with the addition of X-Mode.

Outback Wilderness comes with 240m of ground clearance. Lets put that into perspective the new Prado GX has 210 mm. Wilderness also features dual-mode X-Mode, and a clever redesigned suspension system that works in tandem with X-Mode.

The Outback Wilderness is powered by a  2.4 L turbo petrol boxer engine, delivering 194 kW of power and 382 Nm of torque. Driving all four wheel through the brilliant symmetrical AWD system. It comes with an eight step Lineartronic CVT.  The extra performance over the normal Outback is noticeable and appreciated.

As you would expect from Subaru, the Outback Wilderness is class leading in safety features as well.

Pricing is from $59,690 through to $62,690 plus the usual costs

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

Readers can see the full specifications HERE 

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback – HERE

TO LISTEN TO THE Outback Wilderness – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Subaru Outback – Buyers could also look at:

Buyers of the Outback Wilderness are in unusual territory. It’s a premium AWD SUV, but has five seats and superior adventure capability.  Choices are limited you almost have to look for a 4WD to match it.

They could look at: Land Rover Discovery Sport, KGM Rexton, Toyota Kluger,  GWM Tank 500 Hybrid, Isuzu MU-X 2.2L, 

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Lets chat about the normal Outback. It comes in three versions, Outback, Premium and Touring

The first thing you notice is that the wagon profile has gone. Its more SUV like now, standing taller.

I like the new design but do miss the quirkiness of the capable wagon concept.

Inside there is a new 12.1-inch horizontal infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as standard.

This also heralds a return to touch controls for things like air conditioning. Rather than on the screen.  Surprisingly, for the first time there is no CD drive.

I was a fan of the vertical screen in the last model, but the new design brings a fresh appeal.

Another change is the controls for X-Mode are now on the steering wheel.

Subaru certainly likes to pack a lot of controls on their wheels.

The Outback is powered by the familiar 2.5 L non turbo petrol horizontally opposed boxer engine. This provides 137 kW of power and 254 Nm of torque driving all four wheel through the brilliant symmetrical AWD system. It comes with an eight step Lineartronic CVT.

As you would expect from Subaru, the Outback is class leading in safety features as well.

Pricing is from $48,990 through to $56,990 plus the usual costs

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback – HERE

Readers can see the full specifications HERE 

TO LISTEN TO THE Subaru Outback – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Subaru Outback – Buyers could also look at:

Buyers of the Subaru Outback are in unusual territory. It’s a premium AWD SUV, but has five seats and impressive adventure capability.  Choices are limited.

They could look at: Land Rover Discovery Sport, Peugeot 5008 GT, Mazda CX-60 OR Mazda CX-80, Skoda Kodiaq, KGM Rexton, Toyota Kluger 

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Set to arrive soon, the Wilderness comes with an exclusive 2.4L turbo boxer petrol engine. This produces some 194 kW of power and 382 Nm of torque. This drives all four wheels through the improved Active Torque Split Symmetrical AWD system and an 8 step CVT especially calibrated for the Wilderness, to maximise off-road capability by making the most of the increased low-rev output.

Wilderness also comes with dual mode X-Mode and exclusive suspension tuning allows for even higher ground clearance of 240mm, and electronically controlled dampers linked with X-Mode.

Add to that improved approach, breakover and departure angles and you have the complete adventure based SUV.

Externally the Wilderness gets a rugged style front end and dual tail pipes as well as 18 inch alloys. Internally there are special decals on the water resistant seats etc. Subaru has also changed the central screen from vertical to 12.1 inch  horizontal across its outback models.

Subaru Outback has always been the thinking person’s SUV, and the Wilderness now offers what buyers have wanted for a long time.

Pricing for the Outback Wilderness starts at $59,690 through to $62,690 plus the usual costs. Like always the Subaru Outback represents excellent value.

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Rob Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback Wilderness HERE.

TO LISTEN TO THE Subaru Outback Wilderness – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

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Let’s recap a few highlights.

• Fitting the baby seat is so easy with isofix and top tether points.
• There is plenty of room for me to sit in the back seat when needed.
• The boot is large enough for the pram, bassinet and all the gear new mums need to take with them.
• Rear air conditioning keeps bub happy.
• Access is easy to the back seat and boot area.
• The outback is perhaps the safest SUV in its class.
• This is comforting on wet and slippery roads with the permanent AWD.
• All the additional safety features are working to protect you at all times.

Over the time we had the Outback, we also moved house. Now that’s something I possibly wouldn’t recommend for a new mum as it’s difficult to balance everything. But the Outback doubled as a transport vehicle for boxes and stuff between the houses. Its practicality is impressive.

One thing we haven’t discussed yet is price.

The Outback range starts from $44,200 dollars through to about $57,500 dollars plus the usual costs.

Considering what you get in even the entry level model, those prices are outstanding value for money.

So overall the Subaru Outback is definitely new mum and bub approved.

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Brianna Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback  HERE.

TO LISTEN TO THE Subaru Outback – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Instead of the Subaru Outback – buyers could look at:

This is a popular segment: Buyers could look at: Range Rover Discovery Sport, Peugeot 5008 GT Hybrid, Hyundai Santa FE, Kia Sorento, Genesis GV70, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Mazda CX-80, 

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What I want to chat about today is safety. All new mums want their baby to be safe everywhere. That especially applies while driving.

There are the obvious safety features that give the Outback a five star safety rating. But there is much more.

I love the fact that there are airbags everywhere. The Outback also has a ring shaped safety cell protecting the occupants.

Where the Subaru adds more is in things such

• Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system. All four wheels are driving all the time which is great in wet, slippery or icy conditions
• Driver monitoring system – that alerts you if you are becoming drowsy or distracted
• Eye-Sight: a system exclusive to Subaru that predicts what is happening outside the car
• Vehicle dynamics that includes emergency braking forward and in reverse.
• If you do happen to get in a front on accident the engine is designed to slide down under the body cell away form people.

There are other features that you really don’t think about too much but are important. Like a tyre pressure monitoring system that tells you if your tyres are going flat. Automatic wipers and headlights. And if your hands are full there is voice controls so that you aren’t distracted from driving.

The Outback is designed to be one of the =safest SUVs on the market and that’s very comforting with my baby on board.

This is a Motoring Minute

Im Brianna Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback  HERE.

TO LISTEN TO THE Subaru Outback – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Instead of the Subaru Outback – buyers could look at:

This is a popular segment: Buyers could look at: Range Rover Discovery Sport, Peugeot 5008 GT Hybrid, Hyundai Santa FE, Kia Sorento, Genesis GV70, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Mazda CX-80, 

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In today’s fast paced world, Listeners often want a quick update or a piece of quirky Automotive news. Listening to Motoring Minute provides that as well as the latest Automotive news and reviews.

Motoring Minute is heard around Australia every day on over 120 radio channels. 

Motoring Minute has an average daily audience of over 550,000 listeners. 

Listeners will find Motoring Minute syndicated through various news sites around Australia. Additionally on the Community Radio Network across Australia.

The post Is the Subaru Outback the best new mum car Part two appeared first on Motoring Minute.

Always a popular SUV for families, the Outback is more a wagon style vehicle. Its slightly lower than normal SUVs. But there is plenty of boot space for prams and nappy bags etc.

It also means that, while there is adequate rear seat room, I am bending over slightly more when I’m putting bub in and out of his seat.

This isn’t too much of an issue as the rear doors open wide enough for easy access. Also, as I’m often in the back seat I am comfortable. There is enough room for me to sit and focus on him.

Fitting the baby seat is a breeze. With the isofix and top tether points being easily accessible.

There is also rear air conditioning to keep the temperature at bub comfort levels.

I think a lot of new mums will relate to the slight anxiety you feel when you are taking bub out by yourself. Will it all go ok, is he going to be good in the back.

Still in the newborn phase, bub can get a bit grizzly at times. So, a real test for us is how comfortable he is when driving. In the Outback he quickly falls off to sleep. Its smooth and quiet ride is bub approved.

We have the Subaru Outback for three weeks, so stay tuned for another update next week.

This is a Motoring Minute

I’m Brianna Fraser

Readers can find more details about the Subaru Outback  HERE.

TO LISTEN TO THE Subaru Outback – RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Instead of the Subaru Outback – buyers could look at:

This is a popular segment: Buyers could look at: Range Rover Discovery Sport, Peugeot 5008 GT Hybrid, Hyundai Santa FE, Kia Sorento, Genesis GV70, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, Mazda CX-80, 

Radio Segments Motoring Minute

In today’s fast paced world, Listeners often want a quick update or a piece of quirky Automotive news. Listening to Motoring Minute provides that as well as the latest Automotive news and reviews.

Motoring Minute is heard around Australia every day on over 120 radio channels. 

Motoring Minute has an average daily audience of over 550,000 listeners. 

Listeners will find Motoring Minute syndicated through various news sites around Australia. Additionally on the Community Radio Network across Australia.

The post Is the Subaru Outback the best mum car for newborn baby Part one appeared first on Motoring Minute.

This comes in an exclusive Geyser Blue colour and is based on the Touring model.

The Sport adds visual enhancement such as

• Green accents,
• black rear badges,
• dark metallic finish alloy wheels, and a
• Crystal Black rear spoiler and garnish

Its for buyers that want to spice their Outback up a touch.

Of course, the Touring XT model comes with the more powerful turbo 2.4L – 4-cylinder boxer engine that produces 183kW of power and 350Nm of torque. This drives all four wheels through the brilliant Active Torque Split symmetrical AWD and an 8 step CVT.

If you are into towing the Outback XT has a capacity of 2400kg which is class leading and enough for a decent camper trailer, small boat, or jet skis.

Priced from about $57,500 plus the usual costs it’s also outstanding value.

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Readers can find more details about the Sport Touring XT – HERE

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Listeners will find Motoring Minute syndicated through various news sites around Australia.

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We drove the Sport over 1700km for the two weeks we had it. This included long distance cruising, lots of dirt roads, a bit of icy conditions and pottering around town.

We also took the Sport to the farm and drove around there for a few days.

It was cold out there, around 2 degrees, so the toasty seat warmers were appreciated. The full-time symmetrical AWD and X Mode ensured that the XT Sport handled the dirt roads, icy tar roads and around farm driving with ease.

On a particularly long stretch, I was in the car driving for seven hours and the cabin ergonomics and comfortable seats meant that I was relaxed and not tired when I arrived.

The more powerful engine in the XT responds beautifully to all situations. Economy was around 8.8L/100k for the time we had the vehicle.

The Outback XT Sport may miss out on a few cosmetic features of the Touring Model like sunroof and memory front seats but is well equipped and priced from $52,190 plus the usual costs its outstanding value.

This is a Motoring Minute

I’m Rob Fraser

Listeners can find more Subaru Outback articles HERE 

 TO LISTEN TO THE OUTBACK XT SPORT RADIO REVIEW, CLICK BELOW

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We also took the Sport to the farm and drove around there for a few days.

It was cold out there, around 2 degrees, so the toasty seat warmers were appreciated. The full-time symmetrical AWD and X Mode ensured that the XT Sport handled the dirt roads, icy tar roads and around farm driving with ease.

On a particularly long stretch, I was in the car driving for seven hours and the cabin ergonomics and comfortable seats meant that I was relaxed and not tired when I arrived.

The more powerful engine in the XT responds beautifully to all situations. Economy was around 8.8L/100k for the time we had the vehicle.

The Outback XT Sport may miss out on a few cosmetic features of the Touring Model like sunroof and memory front seats but is well equipped and priced from $52,190 plus the usual costs its outstanding value.

This is a Motoring Minute

I’m Rob Fraser

Readers can find full details about the Subaru Outback XT HERE 

TO LISTEN TO THE SUBARU SPORT XT RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW

Some quick thoughts about the Outback Sport XT 

• Sport XT sits below the Touring model and misses a few cosmetic, bling and convenience features.
• However, they aren’t really missed as it has all the safety and drive features you want.
• More power and torque are always a good thing
• Revised suspension means improved handling without compromising ride.
• It’s needed for greater towing performance.
• 2400kg is about best in class for towing.
• Over 1700km in the two weeks I had the Sport XT, and it was particularly comfortable, and relaxing to drive.
• Long distances were a breeze.
• The Autumn Green Metallic, or Olive as I call it, gathered quite a few comments from people. They seemed to really like it.

Also look at

The Outback crosses a few categories. full on AWD SUV, family wagon or city runabout.

Buyers could look to  Nissan Pathfinder, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8, Skoda Kodiaq RS, Kia Sorento, 

As an alternative there is the Audi A4 All Road, Landrover Discovery Sport, Skoda Superb Scout AWD

Subaru Outback Sport XT Final thoughts’

Since the Outback XT introduction, it’s been a huge success. I’m a little confused how Subaru can offer such stunning value for money in  their models.

I am a fan of the Subaru Outback. The Outback XT is better.

The Outback Sport XT may miss out on a few cosmetic and bling features that the Touring model has. But it doesn’t really miss them.

It, however, is excellent value for money and perhaps the smarter buy.

The more powerful engine overcomes the shortfalls in the original Outback model. Its adequate but the XT is substantially better again.

You can buy a Subaru Outback XT and a decent all terrain camper trailer or hybrid van for about the same as a full 4WD in many instances.

For most people this will completely satisfy their adventurous spirit.

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