Ride & Handling

The Outback shines in terms of ride comfort. It's surprisingly tame and confident at 70 mph and higher, and it definitely feels like a car rather than an SUV. Its wagon style doesn't harm the Outback's offroad capability, though. It includes all-wheel drive that requires no intervention from the driver. Whether it's snow and ice, gravel or dirt roads, the Outback is unfazed. I've driven it on modest offroad trails (legit ones, not just off-pavement), and it can handle more than the vast majority of buyers would put in its way. If the Outback were a person, it would be your outdoorsy friend who always seems to be tan and fit, dressed for action and on his way to climb or ride something, or otherwise involve himself with exertion and dust. Odds are this friend is named Todd or Chad.

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    Washing the underbody
    Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road surfaces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the corrosion of underbody components, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake ...

    Sliding moonroof
    Sliding moonroof 1) Open 2) Close Push the “OPEN/CLOSE” switch rearward to open the moonroof. The sun shade will also be opened together with the moonroof. Push the “OPEN/CLOSE” switch forward to ...

    Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ELR)
    Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic/ Emergency Locking Retractor (A/ ELR). The Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor normally functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The A/ ...