Subaru e-Outback Review: Back To Its Roots

Subaru has always occupied a curious corner of the automotive world.

While everyone else was busy chasing Nürburgring lap times, touchscreen sizes and increasingly questionable coupe-SUV designs, Subaru quietly built cars that appealed to people who actually enjoyed driving. Cars that felt honest; engineered by people who spent more time on roads than in marketing meetings.

The new Subaru e-Outback continues that tradition. Only now, it happens to be… electric.

And before you start wondering whether Subaru has abandoned its roots in favour of battery-powered conformity, the answer is surprisingly simple: It hasn't.

Aesthetically Speaking

One glance at the e-Outback and it's clear this thing was designed to look like it could survive a weekend expedition to somewhere far more adventurous than the multi-story carpark of Parkway Parade.

The chunky black plastic cladding wrapping the wheel arches and lower bodywork gives it a rugged, almost unapologetically outdoorsy appearance. In an era where many SUVs are essentially hatchbacks wearing hiking boots, the e-Outback genuinely looks like it wouldn't mind getting dirty.

More importantly, it backs up the visual promise.

With 211 mm of ground clearance, it sits among the highest-riding vehicles in its segment. That number isn't just useful when traversing gravel trails overseas. Here in Singapore, it becomes particularly relevant when ponding season arrives and roads suddenly resemble temporary water features. While lesser crossovers tiptoe nervously through standing water, the e-Outback simply gets on with life.

The Inside Story

Step inside and you'll immediately notice something familiar. The dashboard architecture bears more than a passing resemblance to the smaller Solterra XT.

That's not necessarily a bad thing though. The layout is clean, functional and refreshingly easy to understand. Yet somehow, the e-Outback manages to feel slightly more premium overall - not luxury-car premium, but enough to remind you that this is Subaru's electric flagship.

Space, meanwhile, borders on ridiculous. Rear passengers will never complain about legroom, ever; even if they're slightly taller than average. Headroom is equally generous, and the cabin's airy proportions create a sense of openness that many supposedly larger SUVs fail to achieve.

The seats deserve special mention too. They're wonderfully comfortable; after a long drive up north, you could probably recline in the driver's seat and enjoy a perfectly acceptable nap while waiting for everyone else to finish arguing over dinner plans.

Then there's the boot. Large, square and genuinely practical, it embodies everything an Outback should be. This is a cargo area that looks ready for bicycles, camping gear, golf bags, photography equipment and whatever impulsive bulky purchases you made. Simply put, it is practicality in its purest form.

The e-Outback is also very much a modern EV.

Ahead of the driver sits a crisp 7-inch digital display, while a massive 14-inch touchscreen dominates the centre console. The interface is intuitive enough and, thankfully, doesn't require a postgraduate degree in computer science to operate (phew!).

Audiophiles will appreciate the Harman Kardon sound system, which transforms the cabin into a surprisingly capable concert hall. My Spotify playlist sounded fantastic here; as boring as it may sound, Bruno Mars' latest The Romantic album was particularly enjoyable during a late-night drive down the ECP.

The oval-shaped steering wheel, however, requires some acclimatisation. I understand the visibility benefits, but personally, it feels a little small and slightly unusual at first. Give it time though, and you'll eventually stop noticing it.

Driving Performance

Power comes from dual electric motors, producing a combined 375 bhp and 536 Nm of torque. That's enough to launch the e-Outback from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds.

Respectable, especially when you consider that some EVs now dip below four seconds with alarming regularity. Strange times we're living in.

However, what matters more is how effortless the performance feels.

With 536 Nm available almost instantly, the e-Outback always feels ready to surge forward. Particularly useful when encountering those delightful motorists who see your indicator signal as a declaration of war and refuse to let you merge.

The battery pack measures 74.7 kWh and delivers up to 443 km of WLTP range. Charging speeds of up to 150 kW DC mean a 10 to 80 percent recharge takes roughly half an hour. In practical terms, charging anxiety should rarely feature on your list of concerns.

Handling Department

What surprised me most was how well it drives though.

Remember, this is essentially a wagon on stilts. Yet, attack the sweeping expressway bends linking the PIE to the ECP just after Changi Airport and the e-Outback simply settles into a rhythm; steering weight feels natural, body control is impressively disciplined. To add on, the suspension strikes an excellent balance between comfort and composure.

At one point, a van decided lane discipline was optional and abruptly moved across my path near the corner’s exit. The e-Outback scrubbed off speed confidently, and remained reassuringly stable throughout.

Put bluntly, it just feels right. That alone speaks volumes about Subaru's new e-Subaru Global Platform, which clearly has solid engineering foundations beneath all the technology.

Safety remains a Subaru hallmark, and the e-Outback doesn't disappoint.

Subaru Safety Sense comes standard, bringing together - just to name a few - Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert, Pre Collision System, Panoramic View Monitor, Advanced Park Assist; a comprehensive suite of collision avoidance technologies, yup.

The beauty of the system is that it works quietly in the background; it doesn't constantly nag, beep or panic. Instead, it acts like a particularly attentive co-driver who occasionally saves you from yourself.

In A Nutshell

The e-Outback successfully brings Subaru's core values into the electric age.

It's spacious, practical, comfortable, capable, safe and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. Most importantly, it still feels like a Subaru.

Yes, the annual road tax - north of $4,500 - remains a painful reality. That figure alone will give many buyers pause.

But if you can look beyond the tax bill, you'll discover one of the most complete electric family cars currently on sale in Singapore. An EV that doesn't merely tick boxes, but genuinely excels across nearly every aspect of motoring.

And in a world increasingly filled with soulless electric appliances, that's perhaps the e-Outback's greatest achievement: It still has character. And that's becoming a rare commodity these days.

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks).

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