LOOKS

In terms of materials, Subaru keeps it nice -- but not too nice. There are some upgrades (like an option for a leather steering wheel), but you still get cloth seats (comfy ones I must say), plus some really simple-looking controls and overall design. There’s nothing showy here.

What there is is inside is plenty of room. You have two rows with more than ample leg room and head room, and it feels like a large vehicle even though it’s only got two rows. Outside it’s nothing too pretty, kind of an odd-looking duck, but Subaru isn’t trying to win a beauty contest. That’s never been their mission.

The design of the Outback offers strong visibility in all directions, a nice safety move, and the rear seats fold down for storage space.
As a side note: 50 percent of the Outback is U.S. or Canadian parts and the vehicle is build in Lafayette Indiana; Subaru is a bit more American than many think (though the engine and transmission do come from Japan.)

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER

Under the hood of most Outbacks, you get a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that provides 176 horsepower. The performance was nothing to get excited about, to be honest, and this is the weakest point of the Outback. You can upgrade to a 3.6-liter, 6-cylinder engine that will get you 256 horsepower -- a healthy improvement -- but it will cost you more.

All-wheel drive is standard on the Outback, and it’s got decent off-road capability.

Even though the speed and power aren’t great on the base engine, I will say it did well in the handling department, reacting well to every move of the steering wheel.

TECHNOLOGY
The tech interface on the Outback is simplistic in look and design, but works well both by touch and voice. Voice commands worked especially well, as it was easy to figure out commands (something that can’t be said for all tech systems).

The vehicle comes with SiriusXM satellite radio with a 4-month free trial, as well as AM/FM radio, CD, USB port, iPod connection, plus Bluetooth connection for phone and audio.

Other options include heated front seats and mirrors, dual-zone climate control and remote keyless entry (but oddly, I had to turn a key to start car … a rarity in new cars)

On the environmental front, the Outback is offered as a PZEV (partial zero-emissions vehicle), meaning it meets the most stringent standard for emissions and is less damaging to the environment.

SAFETY

Here’s where the Subaru lineup shines.

Standard features include: All-wheel drive; Vehicle Dynamics Control; Anti-lock disc brakes; rear vision camera, Frontal air bag system, side-curtain airbags, front seat cushion air bags, seat side-impact air bags, 3-point seat belts, alarm and Immobilizer system.

Then, you can add a bevy of other helpful safety features:
The EyeSight driver-assist system offers:Pre-collision braking system; Adaptive cruise control; Lane departure warning and lane sway warning; and Pre-collision throttle management system.
Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection offers: blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist.

To translate all of that, the vehicle will do everything it can by itself to prevent a crash, even if you’re trying to make one happen. It’s pretty remarkable and I highly recommend these features, which no doubt save lives and prevent accidents.

Oh yeah, one more thing -- the Outback was a tick shy of perfect crash test scores in government testing. It’s not a surprise that families with safety on the mind often choose Subaru.

MPG
The Outback does pretty well here too. Official numbers are 25 city/33 highway/28 combined. I averaged about 27 mpg during my time in the vehicle.

PRICE
The base model of the Outback starts just under $25K; My test vehicle was a level up and started just over $27K. Once the extra safety features were added, it came in just over $30K.

The highest trim level (with the better engine) starts off at $33K without options added.

There’s not a lot of competition for the Outback due its unique nature; it’s not like anything the big boys make. And the competition it does have (from companies like Audi and Volvo) is more expensive, so the Outback has a leg up in the price department.

BOTTOM LINE

The 2015 Subaru Outback feels bigger than a sedan but not quite an SUV. It’s a wagon that’s capable of going a bit off the beaten trail on the weekend, but can also take your kids to soccer practice on Monday.

It’s going to continue to attract those loyal Subaru buyers who love the safety record of the company and are committed to the brand, and if they spread the word enough a few new buyers might jump on the bandwagon.

AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page.

Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu