Why You Would Shop The New 2020 Subaru Outback Along With Toyota Camry And Honda Accord
The 2020 Subaru Outback is a rare breed and when it comes to awards, car magazines can’t figure out what category to put it in. Is the new 2020 Outback a wagon, an SUV, or a crossover? Consumer Guide doesn’t have a wagon category because so few are even offered in the U.S. market. So the all-new Outback gets put in with sedans and scores a “Best Buy” award from Consumer Guide who says it’s the best vehicle for car shoppers in the Mid-Size Car category.
It shares the Best Buy award with the 2020 Toyota Camry and the 2020 Honda Accord, both popular sedans. Camry has been the best-selling sedan in America and the Honda Accord isn’t far behind. Why would you check out a wagon if you are shopping for a sedan?
2020 Subaru Outback
Outback isn’t your typical car and it’s hard to slot it in any category because it does many things well. It offers a car-like ride but offers sedan shoppers a lot more.
Outback is all-new for the 2020 model year and gets extensive updates over the outgoing model. According to Consumer Guides, the new Outback “offers an ideal blend of passenger and cargo versatility, on-road refinement, all-terrain capability, and luxury.”
Two engine options
Torque News drove the new 2020 Outback with the new 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine that replaced the 3.6-liter six-cylinder powerplant, and the upgraded 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine. They are designed for very different car buyers.
We found the new turbocharged four-cylinder has extra power (260 horsepower) as we drove the wagon at high altitudes in the mountains west of Denver. This would be an excellent choice for active families who need to haul extra gear or passengers, or even pull a small camping trailer. It has all the torque (277 lb-ft) needed to pull a high mountain pass without issue.
The base 2.5-liter normally-aspirated four-cylinder engine has received upgrades and is a good choice for urban commuters who need an all-wheel-drive vehicle for average city use. Both are fuel-efficient with the 2.5-liter engine rated at 26/33 city/highway mpg and the 2.4-liter XT is rated at 23/30 city/highway mpg. Consumer Guide says an Onyx Edition XT averaged 23.9 mpg in 65-percent city driving.
2020 Subaru Outback
The Outback gives consumers a car-like ride but sits higher than a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. It’s easier to slide in-and-out because of the ride height, it comes standard with all-wheel-drive and will deliver you safely in all weather conditions. If you need to carry cargo, it has the utility of an SUV without the bulky body style.
The 2020 Subaru Outback is not really a car, it’s a wagon/crossover/SUV with car-like attributes and a bit of a "go-anywhere" attitude. Toyota Camry and Honda Accord sedan shoppers might want to put it on their shopping list.
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Denis Flierl has invested nearly 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates!
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Photo credit: Subaru USA, Crosscreek Subaru