The 2025 Subaru Outback: A Thirty-Year Legacy

Ewing Subaru of Plano is marking the 30th anniversary of the Subaru Outback. Its introduction was surrounded by irony for the small automaker. By the mid-90s, Subaru offered all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions of all its sedans, wagons, and hatchbacks, establishing itself in regions that particularly benefit from the drivetrain’s traction optimization, such as mountainous and cold-weather areas. They enjoyed a niche market until every manufacturer started popping out SUVs and crossovers. 

While Subaru’s AWD cars were perfectly capable of performing SUV functions, they didn’t look like rugged off-roaders, which is what consumers were purchasing. Unable to quickly create an SUV of their own and knowing their Legacy Wagon was fully capable, Subaru added lower body cladding, a rugged egg-crate grille, and a 1-inch lift to birth the Outback. Enter actor Paul Hogan as the Australian spokesperson for the car with an Australian name, and sales quickly exceeded expectations. “The Outback saved our company,” said Tim Mahoney, Senior Vice President of Subaru of America. 

The following year, the Outback received more modifications, including taller tires accompanied by more aggressive cladding, large built-in fog lights, and ground clearance increased to 7.8 inches. With each redesign, the Outback has become more sophisticated and more off-road capable but has never abandoned its lifted station wagon shape. Until…well, more on that in a moment. 

The Outback is now in its sixth generation. By this point, Subaru has introduced its own crossovers, including the Forester, the three-row Ascent, and even the Solterra EV. Nonetheless, the Outback has retained its distinctive wagon shape and is currently Subaru’s third best-selling model, following the Forester and the Outback-inspired Crosstrek. In the past year, Subaru sold its three millionth Outback. The fact that this car was purchased by a resident of Florida, a region quite different from its traditional mountain and snowbelt strongholds, symbolizes how the company has long since stopped being just a regional player. 

In its 1995 introduction, the Outback was powered by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed (boxer) engine, which remains true for most current models. The engine produced 165 horsepower then; today, it produces 185 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. That is enough for most applications, but for those who appreciate more power, the optional engine is a turbocharged 2.4-liter Boxer that produces 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Subaru leverages its long history with continuously variable transmissions for the Outback with paddle shifters to hit eight fixed ratios. These are particularly useful for controlling engine response and engine braking on mountain roads that have long been the Outback’s stomping grounds.  

The Outback was never intended to take on the Rubicon trail, and it was not designed to get in a jumping contest with a Ford Raptor. Its mission has always been to carry five people in comfort regardless of what is covering the pavement and confidently carry on after the pavement ends. Its 8.7 inches of ground clearance is greater than most of its compact crossover competitors, and 9.5 inches of clearance on the Wilderness model even approaches some Jeep Wrangler models.  

The suspension is tuned for comfortable touring, and the cabin features all the expected technology, including a well-integrated 11.3-inch touchscreen and wireless smartphone compatibility. The standard Subaru EyeSight® driver assistance and safety technology suite has received critical acclaim. Like many Subaru models, the Outback achieved an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA and has been designated a TOP SAFETY PICK by the IIHS.  

It’s all good, and it’s about to change. One issue Subaru faces with the Outback is that both it and the Forester belong to the same compact crossover category, appealing to many of the same customers. The Outback can’t transition into a larger vehicle category while maintaining its Legacy wagon core, so the 2026 Outback will be entirely new, larger, and likely to lose its long, low station wagon proportions.  

Consequently, if you like the raised wagon approach to the Outback, now is the time to visit Ewing Subaru of Plano and bring home one of the last of a proud 30-year…well… legacy. Ewing Subaru of Plano’s vast inventory is clearly the place to shop, whereas, as of this writing, there are over 80 Outback models from which to choose.