- station wagon 204,457
- 3,936 below average
- 2,990 great
- Stratford, CT
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- autoshopper.com
- 3,936 below average station wagon 204,457 gold
2006 subaru outback review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Newly designed lineup expanded with more models. introductionthe newly redesigned line of subaru outback models has been further improved for 2006. The new cabins are more comfortable, more luxurious, and better looking, and the styling was refined, so the outback doesn't look as boxy as before. More important, it was re-engineered with a lower center of gravity for improved handling and stability, even though it already boasted those attributes in spades, especially when compared with sport utility vehicles. the outback features the latest in subaru's premium technology, with one of the world's best all-wheel-drive systems paired with boxer-style engines that help it achieve a low center of gravity. As a result, the outback delivers excellent all-weather capability. Whether on paved or unpaved roads, the outback's handling is vastly superior to that of a sport utility, yet it can stand up to a fair amount of abuse. Outback wagons are an excellent choice for outdoor activities. safety is enhanced with dual-stage frontal airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and full coverage side curtain airbags. Active front-seat head restraints are standard. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution come standard. They come with a choice of three engines. The five-speed manual transmission is beefed up to handle the additional power, and a five-speed sportshift automatic is available 1200). the 3. 0 r models, the l. Bean edition and the vdc limited come with a six-cylinder engine rated at 250 horsepower and the five-speed sportshift automatic. For 2006, the vdc model (for vehicle dynamics control, an electronic stability control system) comes standard with the navigation system, an option on the other outback models 2,000). the base 2. 5 i 24,795) comes standard with an eight-way power seat, tilt steering wheel, auto-off headlights and cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, and remote keyless entry. Air conditioning comes standard, along with durable-looking fabric upholstery and a six-speaker am/fm/cd stereo. The cargo area has its own light, carpet (including on the back of the rear seats, which are 60/40 split fold-down units), grocery bag hooks and a retractable cargo area cover. The xt limited 30,995) adds perforated leather seat trim and the power moonroof. the 3. 0 r l. Bean sedan 31,295) gets the l. Bean logos, a tire pressure monitoring system, a rear-seat center armrest with trunk pass-through and a single panel power moonroof (but trades the turn indicator-equipped outside mirrors for the base units). A momo mahogany-and-leather-wrapped steering wheel has integrated audio controls. Bean wagon 32,495) also gets an auto-dimming inside mirror with electronic compass, l. Bean floor mats and leather-trimmed seats and a removable cargo tray. The 3. 0 r vdc limited wagon 35,395) gets the outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, the dual-pane moonroof, and the navigation system, a three-frequency, programmable remote homelink transmitter, and upgraded audio with an mp3 player and rear subwoofer. options include the navigation system, packaged with other amenities including dual-zone climate control, and a six-disc in-dash cd changer 2,000). A variety of cargo nets is available, one of which attaches to the rear seatbacks and ceiling-mounted hooks separating the passenger and cargo compartments, a must-have feature. Other options include an auto-dimming/compass rearview mirror 183), an upgraded security system with perimeter alarm 98); a cargo area spotlight 65); a subwoofer/amplifier 273); a hood protector 85); a front bumper underguard 136); all-weather floor mats 55); locks for alloy wheels 41); a short-throw shifter fo. walkaroundthe outback is a new vehicle, having been redesigned for 2005. It looks firmly planted. It is, in fact, firmly planted, but its smartly crafted fender blisters, deep front bumper and nicely proportioned tire and wheel combinations add to this impression. For 2006, the 2. 5 i and 2. 5 i limited models have been upgraded with 17-inch wheels as standard equipment, as on the higher-level models. the outback is taller than its fraternal twin, the legacy, and is further distinguished with two honeycomb-like bars that split the outback's grille horizontally, highlighting its extended, octagonal shape. Large round fog lamps emphasize and soften the aggressive lower fascia. A low-rise air intake scoop on the xt model's hood hints at power lurking beneath. On the xt and the 3. 0 r, the clear-lens turn indicators on the lower edges of the outside mirrors minimize their mass. Wide tires visually stretch the car's stance. even while standing still, the outback has a look of motion. That begins with the aerodynamic slope of the hood, made possible by the low profile of subaru's horizontally opposed engines. The look of motion is enhanced through the wagon's roof line, which drops steadily rearward from the front doors. This design is functional, combining with the increasing inward tilt of the rear side windows to ease air flow beyond the wagon's tail end. Clearly outlined fender blisters make the gap between tire and wheel well look smaller than it is. Minimalist splashguards behind both wheel wells and cladding along the bottom of the doors make the body look tightly connected to its wheels, unlike many other off-road capable vehicles. on the rear of the wagon, all the lines (roof, rear window outline, beltline, bumper and rocker panel) draw inward toward the car's center, giving it a taut, neat finish. Large, geometric taillights cover the upper corners of the rear fenders. Small, almost demure backup lights are embedded in the liftgate on each side of the chrome eyelid over the recess for the rear license plate. The secondary, high-mounted stop light is centered in the roof-high spoiler behind a stylish clear lens. in the sedan, the silhouette rises gradually to the a-pillar, then loops up over the geometrically arched side windows and back down behind the upscale, bmw-like c-pillar where it merges with the shoulder-like beltline before wrapping around the trunk, aerodynamically tapered like that of the wagon the back end of the sedan traces the rounded shape of the car, with visible shoulders connected by a smoothly arcing trunk lid, concave below the trailing top edge. The license plate is inset in the rear, and large, trapezoidal taillights wrap around the rear fenders. interiorthe outbacks have comfortable, versatile cabins. The front seats in the base 2. 5 i model are comfortable, but not what one might call cushy, upholstered in a durable fabric that's reasonably grippy, more so than the leather in the 2. 5 i limited. Rear seats are bolstered about the same as the fronts, with a minimal rise in the center in recognition of the driveline hump. The leather in the limited had a thick feel, but it is richly surfaced. The front seats in the xt and more expensive models have fuller bolsters and better overall support; the lumbar adjustments can be set from very soft to accommodate sensitive lower backs, to very aggressive to brace a classic ramrod spine. Bottom cushions are deeper than many but could offer more thigh.
2,990 Stratford, CTStratford, CT at autoshopper.com