2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SUV Wagon Reviews & Ratings

Subaru's Outback 3.6R Premium SUV Crossover was one of their first models to be specifically designed for the US market when it first made an appearance in 1995. Demand for SUVs at that time were at a peak, and the Subaru design crew put their heads together and came up with a winning format, that has continued to dominate the market ever since, with more than 800,000 Outback's having rolled of the Subaru production lines since then.

Initially based on the Subaru Legacy, in the ... click here for the full review

Subaru's Outback 3.6R Premium SUV Crossover was one of their first models to be specifically designed for the US market when it first made an appearance in 1995. Demand for SUVs at that time were at a peak, and the Subaru design crew put their heads together and came up with a winning format, that has continued to dominate the market ever since, with more than 800,000 Outback's having rolled of the Subaru production lines since then.

Initially based on the Subaru Legacy, in the close to twenty years that Outbacks have been produced, the model has evolved into an icon of the crossover SUV market. In the US and in Australia where it is also extremely popular (and from where it eventually earned its name) the Outback is especially popular due to its exceptional dual purpose vehicle abilities.

The 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium, the fourth in the series, retains a strong resemblance to its predecessors, although both taller and wider than the Series Three although the body is very slightly shorter. The Outback's trademark wide and long headlamps are still very much in evidence, as is the upright grille.

With the Outback 3.6R Premium, Subaru have established and succeeded in maintained a winning formula. A formula which has to be due to their ability to find a perfect pairing between providing a tough SUV that will perform off the road as well as it will on it.

As an off-road vehicle, the Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium, according to objective reviews, appears to be in a class of its own, coping with tough inclines as well as ice, snow and slippery conditions with almost contemptuous ease. A lot of the credit for the Series Four success off road has to be attributed to its powerful combination of a 256-horse power 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, supported by a highly versatile five-speed automatic transmission.

The Series Four Outback 3.6R Premium engine has been positioned sideways in the boxer style, that allows for pistons opposed horizontally, making for a stronger than average torque ideal for acceleration. This new configuration allows for vastly enhanced handling when compared to its nearest rivals the BMW X3 , or the Land Rover Discovery .

As a people carrier, the series four Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium is no slouch, capable of carrying five fully sized adult passengers with ease and in comfort. For the 2012 version of the Outback, Subaru have put a load of thought into the interior of the vehicle adding a few layers of upholstery to make for a real smooth ride over even the longest distances.