Subaru Outback dimensions

The 2012 Subaru Outback is an attractive alternative to traditional wagons and crossovers. Subaru Outback Wagon offers the following pros: Roomy interior; impressive visibility; convenient ride; strong crash scores; commendable off-road performance for a wagon; easy controls on lower trims. Subaru Outback Wagon drawbacks are: Lacks agility; numb on-center steering; poor base stereo; fussy controls on upper trims.

The 2012 Subaru Outback is a five-passenger wagon that's provided in six versions: 2. 5i, 2. 5i Luxury, 2. 5i Limited, 3. 6R, 3. 6 Luxury and 3. 6R Limited. The numbers refer to motor displacement.

The entry-level 2. 5i's list of traditional equipment contains 16-inch metal wheels, automatic headlights, roof rack rails with fold-out crossbars, full performance accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver bench, a tilt-and-telescoping helm, 60/40-split-folding and reclining back seatings, and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player and an optional stereo slot. Features here include an Alloy Wheel suite that contains 16-inch alloy wheels and foglights, and an All Weather suite that adds heated front seatings, heated mirrors and a windshield wiper de-icer.

The 2. 5i Luxury model gets you a number of desirable extras, including 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, body-color mirrors, back privacy glass, an eight-way performance driver bench (with performance lumbar), a leather-wrapped helm, a trunk cover, Bluetooth phone and stereo streaming capability and a six-speaker audio system with an Ipod/usb stereo interface. Available features include the All-weather suite and a Performance Moonroof suite that contains (beyond the obvious) a rearview camera. Models with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) can also be had with a nine-speaker Harman Kardon luxury stereo system with a 4. 3-inch LCD display, radio and HD radio.

Step up to the 2. 5i Limited and you get the CVT automatic traditional, as well as dual-zone automatic conditioning, leather upholstery and wood trim, a four-way performance passenger bench, the contents of the All-weather suite and the above-mentioned Harman Kardon stereo system. The features list here is short, consisting of the Performance Moonroof suite and a navigator with an 8-inch screen, voice controls and a rearview camera.

The traditional and auxillary equipment for the 3. 6R models are very alike to those of the corresponding 2. 5i versions. There are a few exceptions, though, as all 3. 6R models get a six-cylinder motor, larger brakes and a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The base 3. 6R also differs from the base 2. 5i by adding 17-inch alloy wheels, a trunk cover and back privacy glass. .