- 2013 Subaru Outbacks are available but inventories are still building
- Look for good finance incentives on outgoing 2012 models
The Subaru Outback has long been a 'tweener type of vehicle, as it is too small to be an SUV, yet too utilitarian to be a station wagon. This firmly plants it in the classification now known as the crossover market. Despite the confusion, the Outback remains one of Subaru's best-selling vehicles.
Introduction
Using extreme care not to rock the boat too much, the 2013 Outback arrives with only basic changes from the 2012 model year. The front fascia has been slightly revised, giving the Outback a smoother nose. Subaru also revised the Outback’s standard 2.5-liter engine to get an additional 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway, along with a revised constantly variable transmission and suspension. A few extra optional features also make their debuts in 2013, including remote start, adaptive cruise control and a collision-avoidance system.
For the 2013 model year, the Outback comes in five trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6R and 3.6R Limited. The 2.5i trim levels feature the fuel-sipping 2.5-liter engine that nets the Outback 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The 2.5i includes only the most basic standard features, like cloth interior and a quad-speaker sound system. The 2.5i Premium adds two more speakers and a set of alloy rims. The 2.5i Limited adds in all of the luxury features, like a premium stereo and leather seating. The 3.6R trims feature a less economical, but more powerful, 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that gets 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The 3.6R trim comes with just basic amenities, just like the 2.5i, and the 3.6R Limited is loaded to the gills, like the 2.5i Limited. Something that has always set the Outback apart from the competition is the fact that every trim level comes standard with Subaru’s famed all-wheel-drive system.
Which Style To Buy?
2013 Subaru Outback 2.5i
Recommended for: Buyers that want a basic AWD wagon at a fair price
The Outback 2.5i is the base trim level for Subaru’s wagon model. This model starts off with adequate performance from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 173 horsepower and mates to a standard six-speed manual transmission. The 2.5i’s exterior is pretty basic, as it comes with 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps keeping things slightly stylish. It does feature standard projector headlights, which put out a more direct headlight beam for better night vision, but the rest of the exterior features a rather basic, like b lack mirrors, two-speed wipers and body-colored door handles. The interior features more of just the basics, as a relatively common four-speaker audio system with a CD player, auxiliary input, iPod control and Bluetooth connectivity keep you entertained, and the seats are wrapped in cloth.
2013 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Most PopularRecommended for: Buyers that want all of the premium features, but still need good mpg
The 2.5i Limited trim level is the highest you can get with the fuel-sipping 2.5-liter engine. This trim level starts off with replacing the standard six-speed manual transmission with a Subaru’s Lineartronic constantly-variable transmission with six-speed manual mode and paddle shifters. There’s not much that the Premium trim level left off on the outside, so there are only minor exterior additions on the Limited package, like windshield wiper deicers for cold-weather buyers. The interior is where the 2.5i Limited really takes hold, as it starts off by adding a four-way power passenger seat to the mix, as well as heated front seats and full-leather upholstery, giving the Impreza a luxury-car-like interior. Adding a little extra class to the inside is woodgrain-pattern accent trim and an LCD multi-function display allows you to clearly read the information it displays. Last, but certainly not least, the 2.5i Limited pleases everyone inside the cabin with dual-zone automatic climate control and a 440-watt, nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system.
2013 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium
Recommended for: Buyers that want some premium options, but still need to same money
The 2.5i Premium trim level starts adding a little more class to the Outback, starting with the addition of 17-inch aluminum wheels and standard fog lamps. The 2.5i Premium also does away with the black mirrors, which are eyesores, and replaces them with body-colored ones. The 2.5i Premium retains the cloth interior, but adds in a 10-way power drive seat and steering-wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth and cruise control for added convenience. Along with the integrated controls, the steering wheel also gets wrapped in leather, giving it a more luxurious feel. Lastly, the 2.5i Premium eliminates the four-speaker radio and replaces it with a more eardrum-friendly six-speaker unit.
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Is It a Good Time to Buy?
Some Deals Available
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