At a time when even huge family estates are posting some seriously impressive figures for efficiency, the Outback’s vital statistics look way off the pace. Granted, it’s a symptom of all versions having four-wheel drive but, unless you really need it, that capability will be wasted for most buyers. Where other Subarus in the range have gained a hybrid electric boost the Outback soldiers on with an unfashionably large-capacity petrol engine and suffers in terms of CO2 figures and official fuel consumption figures as a result.