The legendary wagon/crossover has been redesigned last year. That overhaul has brought a lot of improvements, so the Outback is now better than ever. However, that doesn’t mean the company is done with novelties for a while. It looks like big things are on the way already for the next year when we are about to see an electrified version of the popular family car. Allegedly, the new version is under development and should hit the market by the end of the year, as the 2021 Subaru Outback Hybrid.
On the other side, the standard gasoline version shouldn’t feature any particular change. Simply, it will represent the second production year of the current generation, so anything more than a couple of new standard features would be a surprise. Eventually, some brand-new, 2021 Subaru Outback colors might be introduced, while the rest of the features and design characteristics are expected to remain untouched.
2021 Subaru Outback Hybrid
Without any doubt, the biggest novelty for the next year should be 2021 Subaru Outback Hybrid. Although we are still waiting for the official confirmation, various reports suggest the new version is under development. According to them, we are about to see a similar setup to the one that came for hybrid versions of the Forester and Crosstrek models, though we might see a little bit more power in this case.
In any case, the new e-Boxer hybrid system will be based on a 2.0-liter engine and although we don’t know the numbers, the new system promises a lot in terms of driving experience. The main reason lays in the fact that such a system combined with a Boxer engine will provide a pretty low center of gravity, while the company claims excellent weight distribution. The battery pack will be on the rear axle.
2021 Subaru Outback Design
On the other side, the rest of the vehicle will carry on in the same way. The recent redesign has brought a lot of novelties, particularly in terms of mechanics. The new model gets a new platform. It is lighter and more efficient, it rides better, and it is also slightly bigger. On the other side, we haven’t seen such big changes from the aesthetical point of view. Of course, there are some novelties, but all the changes are rather evolutionary and pretty conservative. Still, that is something we get used to seeing from this brand.
On the other side, the recent overhaul has brought significant changes on the inside. You can easily notice significant improvements in terms of materials and dashboard design. As you would expect from Outback, the level of practicality and comfort in great, while the cargo area is also pretty respectable and offers around 32.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, while the overall volume goes around 76 cubic feet. All in all, the 2021 Subaru Outback interior should remain pretty much untouched.
Features
Yearly updates are mostly about adding new things to the list of standard equipment, so we may see some of these 2021 Subaru Outback changes. Still, we don’t expect to see too many of these updates and we are pretty sure that most of the things are about to remain the same. Therefore, the list of standard tech will definitely include things like a dual 7-inch screen setup, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, USB ports, satellite radio and similar things, with a couple of additions.
Currently, the list of optional features includes things like a 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen, remote start, dual-zone automatic climate control, a moonroof, a Rockford Fosgate stereo, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo, two rear USB ports, HD Radio, navigation, and wireless device charging. Some of these could become standard in the next year model.
Engines
Other than a new hybrid version, we don’t expect to see 2021 Subaru Outback changes under the hood. Therefore, count that base models will carry on with the recently updated 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated engine, which is good for 182 horsepower. It comes in pair with a CVT gearbox and delivers pretty decent overall performances. However, an optional 2.4-liter turbo-four seems like a much better choice, as it delivers pretty respectable 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This model also comes with a CVT gearbox. However, in this case, you may count on a simulation of traditional gear shifts. Of course, AWD is standard.
When it comes to fuel economy, the base engine returns around 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The turbo-four is a little bit thirstier and returns around 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Those are average ratings for the class.
2021 Subaru Outback Release Date and Price
Despite the new hybrid version, the 2021 Subaru Outback release date should be scheduled for the last quarter of the year. Also, the price should remain pretty much the same, so base models would go around 27.000 dollars. This station wagon crossover mostly competes with compact crossovers. So, some of the alternatives would be models like Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
How big is the Outback Hybrid’s fuel tank? What is the realistic distance the Outback Hybrid reach? Subaru’s website provides no relevant information.
We’ll have to wait for the official update. We hear that could be just under 500 miles (EPA).