Recall Alert: 2005-09 Subaru Outback, Legacy

Subaru is recalling certain model-year 2005-09 Outback wagons and Legacy sedans due to a problem with the brake lines that could cause corrosion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In its April 1 recall report, NHTSA stated that the exact number of vehicles affected was still undetermined; a Reuters story puts the number around 200,000.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between December 2003 and April 2009 and registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. According to NHTSA, salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector and result in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. This could cause brake fluid leakage, which could necessitate longer stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

Recall Alert: 2012 Subaru Outback and Legacy

Subaru is recalling just 14 model-year 2012 Outback wagons and Legacy sedans due to a problem with the moonroof glass that could cause it to detach, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between April 6 and May 12, 2011. An inadequate amount and position of adhesive between the glass and retainer of the moonroof could cause the glass to loosen and detach while driving, creating a potential road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA.

Subaru has already notified affected owners, and dealers will inspect the condition of the glass adhesion and either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass for free, according to NHTSA. For more info, owners can call NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov.

Earlier this month, NHTSA announced that Subaru was recalling just 16 model-year 2012 Outback and Legacy vehicles also manufactured from April 6 to May 12, 2011. That recall stemmed from a problem with the windshield wiper motor and was an expansion of a previous recall from 2011.

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Recall Alert: 2012 Subaru Outback and Legacy
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2013 Honda Crosstour: First Look

• Competes with: Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback,Nissan Murano
• Looks like: A more-lovable-looking Crosstour with some Accord design influence
• Drivetrain: New 3.5-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Tuesday,Nov. 20

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the 2013 Honda Crosstour production model is that there's so little distinction to be made between it and the concept version that debuted at the 2012 New York Auto Show. Even then it was clear that this concept was only a concept, well, in concept.

Needless to say, there's not a lot to talk about in terms of brand-new features on the 2013 Crosstour, which goes on sale Tuesday — except that its base price of $27,230 is $525 less than it was in 2012 (Honda has not yet listed the car's destination fee).

Concept-car aesthetics that have made their way to the production model include more rugged exterior styling thanks to a redesigned front end and new grille. It also gets new bumper fog lights, front-diffuser designs and Accord-inspired exaggerated lower-front-intake flares. The rugged look is achieved with black composite plastic along the sill plates and front and rear bumper edges. Newly available paint colors include Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic.

Unofficial Long-Term Test Car: 2010 Subaru Outback

As automotive journalists, we sometimes hear from a reader or blog commenter who says, “If you like it so much, why don’t you buy one?” Well, last week my wife and I picked up a new 2010 Subaru Outback, in the exact same color as the one I tested back in the fall.

We didn’t go for the leather, nav and moonroof studded 2.5 Limited trim but instead opted for the 2.5 Premium with All-Weather Package. We need those heated seats, especially when it’s 10 degrees out like today.

I’ll detail more about the purchase and what I like about the new car versus the 2008 Outback we traded in, as the week goes on. If you have specific questions ask them in the comments below.

Cars.com Podcast: 2010 Subaru Outback, Suzuki SX4

Subaru and Suzuki, not exactly the biggest automakers out there, but when it comes to the new Outback there is a huge buzz (it’s been the most popular new-car review on Cars.com for the past week) and sales are brisk. Editors Kelsey Mays, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the wagon/crossover at length, and then they touch on the quirky Suzuki SX4 and where it stands in a sea of tough competition.

You can listen to the podcast via iTunes, or for the first time, you can listen to it here in this post by clicking the play button below.

Cars.com Podcast #26

2010|Subaru|Outback

2009|Suzuki|SX4

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Subaru Outback

Subaru survived the recent auto industry turmoil by simply releasing a new product that people wanted to buy. The redesigned Forester helped Subaru keep sales rolling earlier this year, and now the company has rolled out a redesigned version of its Outback wagon. Senior editor David Thomas reviews the new Outback and finds a lot to like, even though the 2010 is more like a crossover than his own wagon-like 2008.

2010 Subaru Outback Review

2010|Subaru|Outback

2010 Subaru Outback: Up Close

The last time Subaru restyled the Outback, I was very surprised it didn't get larger. First off, every car, SUV and minivan had been growing with each successive update, whether it needed to or not. Second, the Outback actually needed it. I didn't want the first "sport-utility wagon" to become an SUV, but its backseat had been too snug for too long, and so it continued. The 2009 Outback has less backseat space than many smaller cars do, but Subaru has improved matters markedly in the 2010 version.

2010 Subaru Outback at 2009 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Toyota Venza, Volvo XC70, VW Passat, Saab 9-3
• Looks like: Subaru’s new design was meant for the Outback, not the Legacy
• Drivetrain: 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or CVT, or 256-hp, 3.6-liter six-cylinder with five-speed automatic; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Late summer 2009

While the just-released 2010 Subaru Legacy may look a bit awkward in the design department, the all-new 2010 Outback appears much more refined even though it features the same lines and styling. Maybe the company started with the Outback and tried to adapt that design to the Legacy sedan. Whatever the case, the new Outback has a roomier interior, new engine and transmission choices, and improved gas mileage.

Passenger room grows by 8 cubic feet overall, while cargo room grows by 6 cubic feet. Check out the photos below to see how wide the cargo opening is, as well. There’s also 3.9 more inches of rear legroom. Speaking as a current Outback owner, that will be welcomed. Subaru says headroom has increased, but doesn’t say by how much. The car is 4 inches taller than the outgoing model, and despite the increased interior room it’s 1 inch shorter in overall length.

There will be just two engine choices for the 2010 Outback, down from three from 2009 and three offered in the Legacy sedan. What gets the axe? The turbocharged four-cylinder in the 2.5 GT. Instead, there will be the base 170-hp four-cylinder engine and a new 3.6-liter six-cylinder good for 256 hp. Subaru hasn’t released official mileage figures yet, but does say they will be improved over the outgoing model.

The 2010 model also sports 8.7 inches of ground clearance, up from 8.4 inches in the 2009 model.

There will also be three trim levels available for each engine option. Both the 2.5 and the 3.6 will get a base version — 2.5i and 3.6R — plus Premium and Limited trims. All Outbacks come with all-wheel drive, four-wheel-disc brakes, stability control, cruise control and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. 

There are more photos below.

March Subaru Deals

If you follow our blog, you know that Subaru is one of the few automakers selling more cars in 2009 than it did last year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some good deals available on Subaru’s all-wheel-drive lineup, especially if you’re looking for an Impreza or Outback.

Let’s start with the Outback. Rumor has it a new Legacy sedan and Outback wagon will be revealed at April’s New York auto show. If so, that likely means a 2010 Outback would arrive at dealerships in late fall or early winter, at the earliest. Need a car now? 2009 Outbacks get $2,000 cash back right now. If you get a base 2.5i with an MSRP of $22,295, and a Cars.com Smart Target Price of $21,875, the price could drop below $20,000. 2008 models get $2,500 cash back, but in a quick search of local inventory on Cars.com, we found very few 2008 models listed.

Subaru Legacy Concept at 2009 Detroit Auto Show

• Looks like: The Legacy got taller but not prettier
• Defining characteristics: Vertical headlights and an all-new profile for the brand
• Ridiculous features: Matte silver paint job
• Chance of being mass-produced: This is what the next generation of Legacys and Outbacks will look like

Subaru’s Legacy Concept is certainly a new look for a company known for polarizing designs. Remember the Tribeca’s grille? The Legacy concept is no different, but its polarizing feature is its tall, round roofline. It’s functional for sure, and should provide lots of headroom, but most automotive designs have shifted to severely sloping rooflines, leaving the Legacy Concept looking somewhat out of date.

What’s good is that the concept rides on a longer wheelbase than the old model, and the company says legroom in the front and rear has been greatly enlarged. There are no specs on legroom — this is still a concept — but one gripe about the current Legacy and Outback is their cramped rear quarters. Competition like the Honda Accord and Mazda6 have also grown by leaps and bounds in the rear space department.

The paint on the concept is a matte silver that will never make it to production, but the 3.6-liter six-cylinder and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive are Subaru standards that will most likely make a production model.

Subaru hasn’t said when a new Legacy will debut, but it could easily turn this design into a production vehicle in short order from the looks of it on the show floor. More images below, including live shots from Detroit.