· Now offered in two premium grade derivatives.
· Safest, most capable Outback ever.
· 11.6-inch Tablet Interface.
· More powerful 2.5-litre Boxer® engine added.
· Outback ushers in a number of firsts for the brandand segment.
Johannesburg,3 May 2021 – Today,Subaru Southern Africa presents the all-new flagship offering in the Subarurange, the MY2021 Subaru Outback. The new Outback is the next step in the evolution of the SUV wagon that Subaru developed in 1994. It represents Subaru’s commitment to creating vehicles that prioritise our customer’s safety and peace of mind through engineering excellence.
Theall-new Subaru Outback is the most advanced, most capable and safest car in the brand’s history. For the first time in South Africa, Outback is offered in two trim levels, the Field and Touring models giving customers more choice to suit specific lifestyles. The Outback also debuts a number of new technologies such as Hands Free Tailgate function, DriverFocus™ Distraction Mitigation System anda slick new 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen interface.
“Theall-new Outback is the representation of everything for which Subaru strives to achieve – unmatched safety, capability, practicality and especially in thiscase, a premium driving experience on any terrain,” says Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Lead at Subaru SA.
Active+ Tough Design Concept
The design brief for the Subaru Outback was to further entrench the Dynamic + Solid design philosophy through an Active + Tough design concept. The all new Outback appears more rugged and adventurous than ever before, designed to stimulate the intellectual curiosity of new journeys and adventures.
New Outback is 50mm longer and 30mm wider than its predecessor. The silhouette is more dynamic thanks to larger volume body panels and less pronounced presslines. The meeting point of the C-Pillars is sharper than before and the body cladding around the entire body conveys a rugged appearance. The black silica-plated grille is a strong signifier of class and adventure and still features active shutters for optimum cooling and fuel economy. The bumper and chrome fog light surrounds are also strongly panelled in black cladding trim that is carried throughout the sides and rear of the vehicle too. The LED headlight units are slimmer and now adopt the C-shaped lights for both the Daytime Running Lights as well as the turn signals.
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The Outback leaves you in no doubt of its intentions – to competently tackle anyroads on any adventure all the while within the safest and classiest of cabins available.
The Field derivative is differentiated by its lean towards adventure where the Touring model adopts a more urban approach in design. Field models are treated to the use of more black and green trim treatment. The Field model is fitted with 18-inch black metallic alloy wheels, black silica painted underguard, black roof rails with green accents, black door mirror caps, black OUTBACK lettering on the rear and green OUTBACK lettering on the side guards.
The Touring model sports silver trim in these areas as well as 18-inch aluminium finished alloy wheels.
A palette of nine new body colours is available for the new Outback: Crystal White Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic; Magnetite Grey Metallic; Crystal Black Silica; Crimson Red Pearl; Dark Blue Pearl; Storm Grey Metallic; Brilliant Bronze Metallic(all-new); Autumn Green Metallic(all new).
Further design on the underneath of the new Outback has improved fuel economy all round.
Structural Safety: Improving safety was a top priority when Subaru engineers considered the new Outback. Built on the new Subaru Global Platform, the new Outback was created with a new Inner Collapsible Body Structure, a first fo rany Subaru. The result of this is a body shell that is 70% more rigid than before and achieves 100% more energy absorption in a collision. The new structure is not just designed to protect the occupants of the Outback but also consider the energy impact on the other vehicle that may be involved in an accident with the Outback. It is the first Subaru designed with a structure such as this.
Primary Safety: Despite a more dynamic design, the Outback doesn’t compromise on class-leading all-round visibility.The windshield, side windows, rear windshield and door mirrors have all been designed for minimal blind spots, setting new standards in vehicle visibility in the class. The front seats have been specifically designed to reduce the fatigue that is experienced on long journeys, with multi-contoured design than ensures the body is well supported.
Active Safety: The use of Boxer engines and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive in the Subaru Outback is a commitment to achieving driver control in all situations. The new Subaru Outback is fitted with Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control, a suite of electronic safety aids that assist in situation where a loss of traction is evident. These includes ABS, EBD, ESC as well as Active Torque Vectoring. All of the engineering traits and systems work together to maintain control and keep the vehicle in tractive condition when emergencies occur. The Auto Vehicle Hold (AVH) function is a standard feature in the new Outback models, that that holds the vehicle in place when stopped on all road gradients, not only inclines. This mitigates the car rolling backwards unintentionally.
Passive Safety: Whilst Subaru engineers have built the Outback to prevents accidents as much as possible, the Outback is also fitted with the highest passive safety features to protect all passengers in the event of one. The seatbelt safety has been improved through the incorporation of an adaptive tensioner that reads the body type of the seat occupant to work out the energy absorption load. In addition to that, the seatbelt mechanism has been further improved to better hold the occupant’s waist in position during a collision.
The Subaru Outback now employs the use of 8airbags within the cabin, including a new and first ever passenger seat-cushion airbag. This airbag is located under the passenger seat and deploys in a collision to suppress the leg movement of the passenger and ensure an optimum body position for the seatbelts to work most effectively.
Another new feature is the Post Collision Braking that will decelerate the vehicle after a collision and flash the hazard lampstoo.
The Most Advanced EyeSight® System
Subaru’s Award-Winning EyeSight® Driver Assistance system is standard on both new Outback grades. The system in the Outback is the most advanced assistance system ever made and greatly enhances what is already a safe vehicle. Key improvements have been made to the software as well as the angle of view which is now wider than before. The pre-collision warning system now incorporates a steering vibration instead of the audible beep of previous generation systems.In addition to this, electric brake boosters have increased the responsiveness of the braking system when the vehicle is called in to apply emergency braking force.
EyeSight is a system that makes use of dual camera-based technology and integrates features and assistance systems such Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure, Sway Warning, Lane Keep Assist and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. Now on the MY2021 Outback, these features have been further improved.
Pre-Collision braking now includes autonomous steering assistance in addition to braking application. Due to the wider field of view of the cameras, the system has been expanded to support collision avoidance at intersections, an area where accidents frequently occur.
Now with the addition of steering control, the Outback can take more corrective lane centering as well as being able to better hold its position during adaptive cruise control use.
Speed limit signage recognition is also a new function of the new EyeSight system with Intelligent Speed Limiter on the Adaptive Cruise Control which automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to the recognised speed limit.
Subaru Vision Assist
Where the windshield cameras detect the road ahead, the Subaru Outback also features a number of rear detection technologies, all joined together in a suite of systems called Subaru Vision Assist. Subaru Vision Assist uses radar to assist in keeping track of vehicles and objects behind the vehicle and features Blind Spot Monitor (BSM); Lane Change Assist (LCA); Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA); Reverse Automatic Braking(RAB) and EyeSight Assist Monitor.
The Subaru Outback Field and Touring versions are both offered with a 2.5-litre direct injection Boxer® Engine. Power is 138kW at5,800rpm and maximum torque is 245Nm at 3,400 – 4600rpm. The engine is mated to a lightweight Lineartronic® CVT transmission. The 2.5-litre engine consists of 90% new inner components and almost 80% of the CVT transmission has been improved. The CVT now weighs less than before and the ratio has been enhanced to improve take-off responsiveness yet settle to a lower engine speed while cruising for better fuel economy. It also now features an 8-speed manual mode as well that is operable via paddle shifts behind the steering wheel.
These drivetrain improvements have lowered fuel consumption figures now at 7,3l/100km on the combined cycle, 9,2l/100km on the urban cycle and 6,2l/100km on the extra-urban cycle. Whilst efficiency has been achieved, the new, more powerful 2,5-litre Outback boasts its best braked towing capacity of 1.5-tons.
The drivetrain improvements are complemented by significant changes to the all-terrain capability, suspension and comfort levels of the Outback. Ride and handling has been improved with a more direct steering and less body roll. NVH levels have been reduced through the use of the new Subaru Global Platform as well as new sound reducing materials in the doors and front part of the floor.
The new Outback is equipped with X-Mode and Hill Descent Control across both grades. X Mode is a driver selectable programme for use in less than perfect terrain such as slippery or uneven surfaces, i.e.snow, mud, grass, ruts, rocks etc. The system has 2 settings that can be used depending on the severity of the surface, but each of these will optimise the vehicle to manage the Outback out of the situation, sending power to the wheelswith the best traction.
With 213mm of ground clearance, a 19.7 degree approach angle and 22.6 degree departure angle, the new Outback further inspires confidence on any terrain.
Outback is synonymous with high levels of comfort and luxury as well as practicality and ease of use. Now more than ever, the Outback is brimming with outstanding attention to detail and new technologies that really consider the owner needs.
The new Outback has the largest cabin to date.Overall, the length of the vehicle has increased by 50mm and the width by 35mm.The result is improvements in legroom, shoulder room and cargo floor room. The cargo area floor, a key offering in Outback has been made wider and longer by23,9mm on both sides. Overall boot volume is 522-litres with the rear seats in place and 1267-litres with the seats folded flat. The powered rear tailgate motor has now been incorporated into the struts that hold the tailgate in place and therefore the opening of the boot lid is wider for improved access. The rear of the Outback now also features a height-adjustable cover so that owners are still able to cover even taller items in the rear. The cargo area features cargo hooks arranged throughout the area as well as side nets for easy storage.A 12V power socket is also found in the rear cargo area too.
Hands Free Tailgate Operation
In a first ever technology introduction, the rear tailgate now offer hands free opening function by placing a hand directly in front of the rear Subaru logo on the centre of the tailgate. It’s a convenient and easy way to gain access to the boot.
New Generation Infotainment and Driver Monitoring System
The new cabin architecture is impeccably designed,unlike any other Subaru in the range. The eye is immediately drawn to the large11,6-inch portrait screen that sits in the centre of the dashboard. It is a new generation of infotainment display with touchscreen functionality and familiarswipe, drag and touch features found on any smart device. The most often used functions such as volume and climate control remain as button controls. In addition to the navigation, media, radio and the many other uses of the infotainment screen, the use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also available. 2 USB ports are available for front passengers and another 2 are available for rear seat passengers.
For a premium audio experience, Subaru Outback is fitted with the latest generation Harman/Kardon® sound system that features 12-speakers in the cabin including a sub-woofer in the cargo area for quality sound. A key highlight of the system is a software that ups the quality of MP3 or AAC audio files for a better-quality sound.
The multi-function displays in the Outback also feature new LCD screens with new graphic layouts.
The new Outback comes with 8-way power-adjustable front seats with seating memory function. Outback Field models come with choice silver fabric seats where Touring models come with full Nappa leather upholstery. Outback seat and steering heating is standard for those cold wintry starts, and the heating area for rear passengers extends higher up on the shoulders than before. This is the first time the Outback is offered in South Africa with seat heating for both front and rear occupants.
The MY2021 Subaru Outback will be the first Subaru model in South Africa to offer the revolutionary Driver Focus Distraction Mitigation System. The system uses facial recognition camera technology to monitor the driver for signs of fatigue or distraction and then warns the driver where it detects a lack of focus and attention to the road.
For added convenience, the system also incorporates Driver Setting Auto Adjustment which allows for up to 5 pre-programmed driver settings and then adjusts to these settings from the moment the driver gets into the seat. This adjustment is done through the facial recognition tech without the need for pushing apre-selected button. The adjustment includes seating, infotainment and climate control settings and door mirror adjustments. It is segment-leading technology that complements the Subaru commitment to safety yet also adds to driver convenience.
Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Lead at Subaru SA says, “Theall-new Subaru Outback is a leap ahead in terms of benchmark safety and technology not just for Subaru but for others in the segment as well. Now offered in two grades, this is a continuation of our strategy to offer our South African customers even more choice.”
Outback Line-Up
Subaru Outback 2.5i-Field ES R699000
Subaru Outback 2.5i-Touring ES R729000
Each Subaru Outback model is sold with a 3yr/75 000km Maintenance Plan as well as the5yr/150 000km Warranty.