Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 80%

Along with the Subaru Legacy diesel, the Subaru Outback diesel is the world's first passenger car to be fitted with a diesel boxer engine.

Subaru has devoted the last 40 years to developing this unusual engine configuration, which it claims is light, strong, has a low centre of gravity for better handling and is very smooth.

With all this in a car which in its petrol guise is already supremely refined, Subaru could be on to a winner, especially when considering the huge improvements in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Subaru Outback received a facelift for the 2007 model year, gaining a front grille of Audi proportions. It retains the distinctive scoop in the bonnet to suck in air to the engine, but is far more subtle than on its performance models, the Impreza WRX and Impreza STI. The whole package is less rugged than the black plastic-clad Volvo XC70 or Skoda Octavia Scout, particularly with the frameless front and rear side windows – a very nice touch. The Subaru Outback certainly looks as though it could haul itself along mud-soaked lanes or across boggy fields.

8/10

2. Looks inside

The 2007 facelift also saw some tweaks to the cabin. It results in an interior which is a nice place to sit, if lacking in the interesting design cues that its rivals feature. The dials are all clear, and have adjustable illumination from very bright to suitably dim for driving on dark country lanes. The readouts for the radio and climate control can be a little tricky to read in the centre console. But unlike some of Subaru's peers, and indeed some of its own other models, the Outback's cabin feels very well built and should stand up to plenty of abuse.

7/10

3. Practicality

The Subaru Outback scores well here. The boot grows from a handy 1,435 litres to a cavernous 1,600 litres, and there's a low sill which flows into a flat floor, making it easy to carry awkward loads. And the boot can cope with loads up to 525kgs. As a towcar, the Subaru Outback makes even more sense, with a maximum towing weight of 1,700kgs (braked) and 1,157kgs (unbraked). There's plenty of space for four adults on a long journey, although another could be squeezed in for shorter journeys.

9/10

4. Ride and Handling

Whether you can live with this Subaru Outback's driving dynamics depends on what you're looking for in a car. It has a wonderfully composed ride, soaking up bumps like a car costing at least twice the price. And it's quiet too, with only the nastiest motorway surfaces causing an aural discomfort in the cabin.

But as a drivers' car, it is left wanting. There's the kind of play in the steering usually reserved for SUVs, and the soft suspension encourages the front end to squeal and wash wide under faster cornering, despite the impressive levels of grip afforded by Subaru's four-wheel drive system.

7/10

5. Performance

The Subaru Outback is plenty quick enough for most drivers, offering up an 8.8 second 0-60mph time, and a top speed of 124mph. Unlike some diesel engines which display initial lag when pulling away from low engine speeds, this powerplant is punchy and smooth, providing plenty of urge throughout the rev range. It develops 147bhp at 3,600, but the performance has more to do with its 258lb/ft of pulling power which reaches its peak at 1,800rpm. The engine is very refined, and emits the off-beat 'boxer warble' exhaust note that has become a trademark of its more powerful road cars.

8/10

6. Running Costs

Priced between £22,495 and £25,895, the Subaru Outback competes with opposition from premium brands. But pitched against some of its jacked-up, four-wheel drive estates like the Volvo XC70 and Audi Allroad, it appears good value. Expect the Outback to loose 36-37 per cent of its value over the first three years of ownership; compared to 33-34 per cent for the petrol-engined Outback. Fuel costs are much improved over the petrol Outback, with a claimed average fuel consumption of 48.7mpg, although our week with the car exposed an average nearer to the claimed urban figure of 39.8mpg. But perhaps the best news is when it comes to emissions. CO2 emissions of 153g/km are markedly less than both the petrol Outback (205-300g/km) and Volvo XC70, which emits a considerable 193g/km. This means the Outback diesel falls into tax band D, which currently costs £145 per year.

8/10

7. Reliability

Subaru has a well established reputation for building tough, solid cars, and it appears the Subaru Outback is no exception. However, Subaru doesn't score well in the Reliability Index, which tracks the cost and frequency of breakdowns because of its cars' complexity.

8/10

8. Safety

The Subaru Outback hasn't gone through the rigorous EuroNCAP crash test programme, but the car offers driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags as standard. It also features Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control which incorporates traction and stability control.

8/10

9. Equipment

There are two models in the Subaru Outback range. The Outback 2.0D R features dual-zone climate control, cruise control, 17-inch alloys, bright high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with pop-out washers, electrically-folding door mirrors, an MP3-compatible CD player, front fog lamps and Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control as standard

8/10

10. X-Factor

Big Subarus are popular with the country set, thanks to a blend of genuine ruggedness coupled with discreet looks. And now the appeal has been widened further with the new, efficient and refined diesel powerplant.

9/10