A new Subaru Outback is in the works and according
to Car and Driver, it will receive many of the new features found in the 2020
Legacy unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. Upgrades to the latest-generation
Outback will start with the implementation of the same global platform as the
Legacy. This new platform provides greater rigidity, improved handling, better
refinement, and promises to overhaul the vehicle.
Subaru will do away with the
six-cylinder engine of some Outback variants and replace it with the 2.4-liter
turbocharged four-cylinder engine of the Ascent with around 260 hp – just like
it did with the new Legacy. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivering 182 hp and
making do without forced induction will serve as the entry-level engine. All
models will come standard with the same CVT.
Styling of the new Outback will be very similar to
the Legacy, albeit with an increased ride height and a station wagon body
style. The exterior looks may be rather uninspired, but the interior should be
a nice place to sit and play, especially with the 11.6-inch touchscreen seen on
the Legacy.
Subaru’s advanced EyeSight active safety features
are also expected to arrive as standard. Passenger room and luggage space will
obviously be much greater than the Legacy. Subaru spokesperson Dominick
Infante has confirmed that the new Outback will premiere later this year. It
will then go on sale in the United States as a 2020 model.
