2012 Outback

[wallyuwl]

Well... still trying out vehicles. Not sure if we will buy, depends on the deals over the 4th.

Below is a list of vehicles we've driven. Long story short, we are considering a Subaru Outback as the leading contender. Great fit and finish. Dealer selling at invoice (no rebates, but low(er) interest financing, and we'll see if the financing gets better over the 4th since current incentives expire Monday). More interior cargo room (8 cubic feet more) than our Equinox. Handles very well. Pretty quiet. Comes with a hitch and can tow 2700 lbs (double most comparable vehicles). Engine laid out well (easy to work on). Everyone on Edmunds reports better than EPA mileage (rated 22/29, most report 31+ on hwy, 26 or 27 mixed).

Anyone have any experience with the current generation Outback?


So far we've test driven:

Kia Sorento... bad MPG (rated 32 but on Edmunds forum everyone says they get 26-27 hwy, 21-22 mixed). Out.

Mazda CX-5... everything is great except the incentives (none) and the fit. Uncomfortable to fit in, especially as a passenger. Out.

Mazda CX-7... drives like a Mazda. Fit much better than the CX-5. But the infotainment stuff is very poorly designed (screens about three feet away from the driver). Out.


Looked at (not necessarily into) but haven't test driven:

Dodge Journey. Good price. Good features. Inside looks nice. Good size. Bad MPG. But a $4k lower price can pay for a lot of gas.

Ford Edge: too expensive.

Ford Escape (2013): no incentives. Looks ugly in front. Expensive. Not the mpg I was expecting out of the new version.

Hyundai Sonata: not enough cargo space.

Hyundai Santa Fe: don't know much about it.

Mitsubishi Outlander: Don't know much about it.

 

[fdcg27]

You could do a lot worse than a Subaru.
There is no better AWD system out there, if AWD really matters to you.
We are happy with both of our Subies FWIW.

 

[Dakota1820]

i would personally pick the journey i liked it alot when i rode in one. i was pretty impressed with it

 

[JHZR2]

An MT Outback wagon is on our very short list should we desire a new, larger vehicle.

Interesting on your comments regarding the CX-5.

We did like the Journey when we sat in it at the auto show. Three rows was a nice touch.

 

[azjake]

I own an 2008 Outlander bought new and have never had any problems with it. First off Mitsubishi has the 5yr/60,000 mile base warranty and 10yr 100,000 mile powertrain just like Hyundai and Kia.

PROS: The Outlander is rated above average in reliability by Consumer Reports. Excellent handling vehicle, comfortable seats on long drives and cargo space that's near the top of it's class, very good All Wheel Control System

CONS: Cheaper interior materials than competitors, fuel economy a little less than competitors, road/cabin noise at best average for class.

Two engines offered in the Outlander. A V6 230HP 6 speed automatic with a 3500lb towing capacity and a 4 cyl 168HP with a CVT (which I have) with a 1500lb towing capacity.

 

[Indydriver]

You don't mention what your needs are, I'll assume you're looking for a family vehicle. You mentioned Mazda 5 &7 but did you look at the CX-9? I loved that vehicle and the dealer was ready to deal below invoice. Since the car we were looking for was my wife's DD and she's driven nothing but minivans for 25 years, I couldn't get her out of one. We ended up getting a Toyota Sienna XLE and we love it. It drives great, powerful V6, 6sp trans, limo-like room in 2nd row, great on the highway, all the room you could ever need.

 

[JHZR2]

CX9 is awfully lousy MPGs. A sienna V6 would offer greater utility and MPGs Ill bet...

 

[wallyuwl]

I'll just put one post, instead of several and with copying and pasting.

Our needs: we want MPG and interior (cargo) space as our top two priorities. We travel back to WI two times a year from KY. We have two large dogs. No kids. In a year and a half once I'm done with my PhD and we are settled in my new (yet to be determined) job we will be looking to trade in our Vibe and get a different vehicle. Possibly something like the new CX9 if they put the 2.2l diesel in it (and its fit is better than the CX5) or a Traverse. Something big enough to tow a 14 foot or so boat (the Outback would be borderline for this, but it could tow a snowmobile easily).




AWD isn't that important to us, but it is a bonus.

The CX-5 had nice materials, but it was very uncomfortable to sit in, especially as a passenger. The seat is high, with arm rests very low (and height not adjustable). A deal breaker for us. Little rear leg room, too. Engine and handling were impressive.

We may test drive a Journey. In reading the forums it looks like they are problem children. Brakes wearing out after 13k miles front and 35k back. And it isn't isolated. Rattles. Not isolated incidents from the posts. Haven't seen much on real-world MPG.

 

[oggb]

I'd wait a while and let some other folks sort out the issues with the CVTs in the newer Subarus. I definitely wouldn't come close to towing 2700 lbs in a Subaru equipped with the new CVT.

 

[Stewart Fan]

I'm still digging my Outback. Its been in the driveway for almost a year now.

My mileage is on par with what you've found on Edmunds.

If you drive in wintery conditions,a set of winter tires and Subaru's AWD is like cheating.

 

[strongt]

How about a Chevy Equinox can get it with a V6 with AWD and towing up to 3500lbs.

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: strongt
How about a Chevy Equinox can get it with a V6 with AWD and towing up to 3500lbs.


Too expensive to get AWD and a V6 in an Equinox with the trim we'd want. Plus bad mileage with the V6. We have looked into a 2LT Equinox 4 cyl. But if we would do that we might as well keep what we have (1LT with many add ons so it is almost like a 2LT with a few exceptions). We do like our Equinox in most respects, the big down fall being the driving experience (video game like handling, and the engine is very loud even though the cabin is insulated well, and it jolts a bit when downshifting when slowing down). Also only get 24 mixed and 28 hwy even though it is rated 32/22/24 (I guess the mixed is as advertised). The interior space is adequate, but the Outlook has 8 cubic feet more, and maybe a few more feet in storage under the cargo mat by the spare tire. And it needs at least plus grade fuel or it knocks because the spark timing is too aggressive (we got a very early made one, they have since corrected this issue).

 

[crazyoildude]

santa fe is a nice suv although the body style is changing also some of the v6 engines are noisy but fast and reliable

 

[The Critic]

2012 CRV AWD? That would be my choice in this class. It is a simple car with a proven engine and transmission combination.

The Subaru just makes me shiver because of the head gasket issues they have had in the past with the Boxer engines.

 

[azjake]

You mentioned the dogs. For what it's worth the Outlander has a clam shell tailgate that opens up so you can sit on it (supports 400 lbs) and makes it easy for dogs to jump in the back.

 

[97tbird]

Those boxer HG issues were fixed some years ago, weren't they???

A Subaru will have tons of 'Personality' and looks better/exciting than any of the others the OP mentioned. The CRV looks ugly and hopefully comes with a prescription for medication that prevents you from falling asleep at the wheel.

We test drove an Outback while car shopping for a relative and although the relative went with a Forester, the Outback was VERY fun to drive, had good power (6-cyl) and felt very solid overall.

 

[wallyuwl]

We have decided that we like the Outback. However, unless Subaru has 0% for 72 months (about a 1% chance, IMO, if that) starting on the 3rd on the 2012 Outbacks, we are going to wait until this time next year and get a 2013. We like the upgrades (however small) to the features (especially the cruise control sensing the speed of the vehicle in front of you and adjusting accordingly), body (grille and fog lights are different), and engine (DOHC, gets 2 mpg better). Plus we'll be in a more certain place at that time in our lives (I should have an assistant professor job lined up, with my wife having a teaching job in our new place, or hopefully be close to getting one - school districts rarely do hiring until they need to, which is usually a few weeks before school starts). We'll have another $4k paid off by then on our Equinox (owing about $7k then), but we won't lose $4k in depreciation in a year, making it a better financial decision.

My uncle sells used vehicles, so in about 18 months we might see if he can get us a used Tahoe or Highlander cheap at auction (depending on what the new CX-9 is like), since we'll be looking to upgrade our Vibe to a larger vehicle at that point.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
The Subaru just makes me shiver because of the head gasket issues they have had in the past with the Boxer engines.


My indy mechanic fixes Subie head gaskets for $1000. While still a chunk of change not crazy money. He is an experienced Subaru mechanic of 25+ years.

In my family who have had 8 Subaru's 10-15 years 150k-250k there was only one failure of the head gasket at 225k miles.

 

[Hokiefyd]

You've looked at all the small SUVs except for the CR-V. I'd recommend at least checking it out. It's larger inside than it looks from the outside. Honda seems to do great things in the packaging department these days.

Some friends of ours just bought a 2012 Outback. The wife drives it and she likes it a lot. It's not all that big inside, and the cargo area is very short (floor to ceiling). It's definitely a traditional station wagon, and not very tall. Being able to compare both side-by-side, I prefer the more upright nature of an SUV platform where you have a taller passenger compartment and cargo area.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
The CRV looks ugly and hopefully comes with a prescription for medication that prevents you from falling asleep at the wheel.


Your comment makes it clear to me that you haven't actually driven a CR-V. Or if you did drive one, the tires must have been 50% underinflated. The CR-V has long been known as one of the more entertaining small SUVs to drive.