Subaru Outback: No midlife crisis

Subaru Outback. Photo / Supplied

With Subaru celebrating the 40th anniversary of the introduction of all-wheel drive (AWD) on its passenger cars, it's as good a time as any to take a look back. With the 2012 Outback, you can do that because it's now fitted with a reversing camera as standard.

Such technology is rapidly becoming expected on high-riding wagons these days (it's fitted across the Outback and Legacy ranges).

It's a welcome addition to the Subaru, although the screen is rather modest - select reverse in our entry-level Outback 2.5i and the rearward image appears on a tiny display in the centre console, which also serves as the information centre for other cabin functions. At 4.3 inches, it's smaller than some smartphone screens.

The camera is the only change to a model that's become very familiar, but still very good. The 2.0-litre boxer-diesel remains my favourite Outback variant, but you can't argue with the value and abilities of the 2.5i petrol tested here: at $48,990 it's highly competitive, great to drive and impressively practical.

The only reservation I have is the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) fitted to the automatic version. Subaru's own particular take on CVT, which it calls Lineartronic, is the best such system out there.

It uses a steel chain that is more compact, more responsive and quieter than conventional belt-type systems. It's tuned to use the torque of the 123kW/229Nm engine rather than race to the redline every time you put your foot down. It's unobtrusive in operation and with decent economy, too: 8.9 litres per 100km.

But it's still not a lot of fun, which is a shame because this is a large, practical family car that can still put a smile on the face of any enthusiast.

Subaru has always been a driver-focused brand and that shows in the way this car tackles bumpy backroad corners - it steers with authority, telegraphs everything that's happening at ground level and transfers its weight so progressively during hard cornering that it feels like everything's happening in slow motion.

The Outback is much softer than the Legacy but the chassis is so beautifully set up there's little lost in driver enjoyment from one to the other.

To do the Outback justice, you need the six-speed manual gearbox. Changing your own gears means you get a more authentic mechanical AWD system. But I'm pretty much alone in this view, as Subaru NZ tells us that demand for manual gearboxes in its cars has all but disappeared - save diesels.

Regardless, the Outback is a complete family wagon and a very complete car for the driver.