RMAP names 2015 Subaru Outback “Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year”

Rocky Mountain Automotive Press awards SUV of the Year Honors to the 2015 Subaru Outback. Who did Outback beat to get the honors?

Last year it was the 2014 Jeep Cherokee that was named “SUV of the Year” by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP). At the Denver Auto Show, this year’s “Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year” honors go to the 2015 Subaru Outback multi-purpose vehicle. The Outback was chosen by RMAP’s members who consists of automotive journalists from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The voting comes down to 3 finalists

2015 marks the ninth annual Rocky Mountain Vehicle of the Year awards. RMAP’s goal is to recognize vehicles that are all-new or significantly revised for the 2015 model year.  In order to be eligible for the award, vehicles must be in the Rocky Mountain regional press fleet and available for RMAP members to test.

The RMAP vehicle nominating committee considered performance, fuel economy, value, and vehicle features to narrow down the field to three finalists in the Rocky Mountain Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) of the year. The finalists for 2015 were the GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, the Range Rover Sport and the Subaru Outback. The multi-purpose Outback was the clear winner.

2015 Outback gets a complete remodel

The new Outback midsize crossover is all-new for 2015 and rides on an all-new platform with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive and Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission. Outback gets extensive revisions like quietening updates that includes a new acoustic windshield and liquid-filled engine mounts. Underneath, the crossover gets a new standard Active Torque Vectoring and electric power steering for greater agility. Outback features new updated styling on the outside and a more upscale interior with extensive soft-touch materials used throughout.

Outback 3.6R Limited impresses

We had the opportunity to test drive a 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited ($32,995) model and came away thoroughly impressed. In the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the Northeast and Northwest areas of the country are ideal climates and terrain for this type of vehicle. The new Outback is really a contrast in function between luxury and function. The inside is plush and comfortable, but underneath, this crossover is designed for getting away from civilization.

Outback comes with a newly refined version of the Active Torque Split version of Symmetrical AWD. So Outback’s ability to handle extreme conditions, gets better...read more.

The voting by RMAP is complete and the new Subaru Outback is the winner with Rocky Mountain journalists. Automotive fans who attend the Denver Auto Show will see a banner distinguishing the 2015 Subaru Outback as the “2015 Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year.” The Denver Auto Show runs from April 8-12 at the Denver Convention Center. Consumers who want a 2015 Outback will have to wait in line, as the new SUV-alternative vehicle is selling faster than any other car in Colorado.