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2008 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited – Ride and Handling

Handling; Off Road
The Subaru Outback is aimed for those who do mild off-road traveling, and it does a good job. The raised ride height and relatively long suspension travel soak up bumps and ruts with ease. It won’t tackle much more than a fire road, and even then our test car’s pavement-only tires scrabbled a bit for traction, but overall it’s no wonder that Outbacks are everywhere in snow country. The only problem was that the front suspension clunked on occasion when the wheel was near left or right lock. Nothing was loose or broken, but it’s disquieting when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Handling; On Road
You’d think that a wagon that’s capable off road wouldn’t be much good on. You’d be wrong. The Outback’s ride is superb, and you can probably thank that long suspension travel for it. If anything, it’s a little on the soft side; some of us thought that it could benefit from slightly stiffer damping since the Outback tends to bob slightly after large undulations. The only real drawback is handling, where the Outback leans heavily in turns thanks to its high center of gravity. It grips well, but if you want a Subaru that lets you explore paved canyon roads, check out the turbocharged Legacy GT.

Fun to Drive
Let’s be clear: the crossover segment isn’t boiling over with fun, enthusiast-type cars. However, the Outback’s combination of a taut chassis and off-road capability add a bit of zest to the platform. The fact that it’s lower overall than many of its crossover competitors helps as well. Still, it’s all relative, and Subaru’s own Legacy GT line is aimed at those who like the looks of the car but want zippy handling. Besides, with only 170 horsepower to haul its mass around, fun is in short supply no matter what.