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Subaru Outback grows up with boosted power for three engines
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Outback lives up to the rugged name.
This five-door wagon, built by Subaru of Japan at a factory in Indiana, uses the platform of the mid-size Legacy sedan but rides higher due to a hiked suspension that compares in height to a sport-utility vehicle.
It also carries an all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction system that's always engaged.
With the AWD equipment and that elevated chassis, you can steer an Outback down a rugged trail to a backwoods campground. It can climb over rocks and scamper across streambeds, transporting a party of five comfortably into the unpaved world.
And Outback scoots through snow like a snowmobile.
At the same time, it has the poise of a refined sedan, providing a cushy ride quality, comfortable seats and interior perks that border on the luxurious.
Then too there's the generous cabin of a station wagon with a cargo bay behind the second row of seats so you can haul a load of gear in addition to all in the family.
So it's a car, a station wagon and a sure-footed AWD sport-utility -- three vehicles encased in one sturdy compact package with mid-size interior measurements.
When Subaru coined the concept a decade ago, Outback became the world's first crossover vehicle, although at the time no one knew what a crossover was -- one vehicle with pliable traits of a sporty car in a format that resembles either a high-hiked station wagon or a dropped-down SUV.
Subaru added refinements to Outback over the years, beefing it up with rugged body work and bigger tires, plus powertrain options.
With the arrival of the class of 2005, however, Outback finally grows up.
Its structure expands in all directions to forge a larger vehicle with more room for riders in the cabin.
Mechanical hardware has been upgraded and fortified to create a smoother and more responsive ride quality and there are high-tech electronic controls for steering and brakes, plus different takes on Subaru's AWD traction system.
And there are three choices for powertrains, each pumping more power and torque than ever before.
Styling for the sheetmetal is also new, although changes seem subtle in contrast to the previous version yet more upscale and sophisticated.
Outback's wheelbase runs almost an inch longer now, and the overall length is about two inches greater so the package, in sleek wedge-shaped format, seems larger.
The face looks aggressive posed on the end of a sculpted hood. There are new clear-lens headlamp clusters flanking an octagonal grille split by two parallel bars in chrome and a lower fascia with wide air intakes and round foglamps on corners.
Flanks show bulging wheelwell blisters and protective body cladding, with rear roof pillars resembling glass in a wrap around back corners and a spoiler lip extending over the top of the rear liftgate.
Outback's platform reveals a wider track and a lower center of gravity, although the chassis ground clearance has been elevated by about an inch to 8.4 inches for most versions or 8.7 inches for two performance editions.
The suspension is fully independent with retuned MacPherson struts up front and a redesigned rear multi-link with lower roll center and wider track, plus revised geometry to increase stability and improve handling.
And the steering system, through a rack and pinion arrangement, is also revamped for quicker responses and a more precise on-center feel at the wheel.
All Outbacks employ a symmetrical AWD system, but the device differs by trim and type of transmission.
With a manual five-speed shifter, the AWD system has a viscous-coupling locking center differential designed to distribute the engine's power equally between front and rear wheels. Wheel slippage prompts the smart device to redirect some of the power to the wheels not slipping, and it's possible to send all of the torque to the front or rear, depending on the circumstance.
For 2005, Subaru segments Outback by three powertrains, then arranges two trim variation with each engine.
Outback's entry-level engine is a single-cam 2.5-liter Subaru four-cylinder boxer-style (horizontally-opposed) plant. It produces 168 hp at 5600 rpm with torque reaching to 166 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
This engine tied to a five-speed manual transmission fits in Outback 2.5i and up-level 2.5i Limited, with an automatic four-speed transaxle optional.
Subaru borrows from its sporty WRX STi performance car a turbo-charged and inter-cooled boxer four-pack to create two souped-up Outbacks, the 2.5 XT and 2.5 XT Limited.
Each shows a functional scoop on the hood to draw more air into the turbo.
The plant, with twin cams and 2.5-liter displacement, comes with STi's active valve control system (AVCS) variable valve timing to optimize engine efficiency.
Output climbs to 250 hp at 5600 rpm and the torque zips up to 250 lb-ft at 3600 rpm.
All of that energy channels through a heavy-duty manual five-speed or optional five-speed automatic with Subaru's SportShift mode.
Two top editions -- Outback 3.0 R L. L. Bean, named after the outdoor outfitter, and flagship Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited -- tote Subaru's horizontally-opposed six-cylinder unit that displaces 3.0 liters and features dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder with AVCS.
It hops with a robust 250 hp at 6600 rpm plus torque of 219 lb-ft at 4200 rpm and links exclusively to the five-speed SportShift automatic.
With Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited, variable torque distribution (VTD) applies to the AWD system in conjunction with a stability controller under Subaru's label of Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC).
Premium appointments come with L. L. Bean and VDC Limited editions, including perforated leather upholstery and a Momo brand steering wheel in mahogany wood and leather.
Subaru's MSRP map for Outback in 2005 extends from $23,995 to $32,195.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size AWD station wagon |
| Model Options: |
Mid-size AWD station wagon |
| Wheelbase: |
105.1 inches |
| Overall Length: |
188.7 inches |
| Engine Size: |
2.5i: SOHC 2.5-L H4, 2.5 XT: DOHC 2.5-L H4 TC/IC, 3.0 R: DOHC 3.0-L H6 |
| Transmission: |
2.5i: Manual/5 Auto/4 SportShift, 2.5 XT: Manual/5 Heavy Duty Auto/5 SportShift, 3.0 R: Auto/5 SportShift, 3.0 R VDC: Auto/5 SportShift |
| Drive: |
2.5i: AWD Symmetrical, 2.5 XT: AWD VDT, 3.0 R: AWD VDT, 3.0 R VDC: AWD VDT/VDC |
| Braking: |
2.5i: Power 4-disc ABS/EBD, 2.5 XT: Power 4-disc ABS/EBD, 3.0 R: Power 4-disc ABS/EBD/TPNS/TCS |
| Airbags: |
2(front), 2(side), 4(side curtain) |
| Gas Mileage: |
2.5i M/5: 23/28 mpg |
| Price: |
2.5i M/5: $23,995, 2.5 XT M/5: $27,995, 3.0 R A/5: $32,195 |
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