The Outback has been a historic product in Subaru’s portfolio. This vehicle is for those folks who want the comfort of a sedan and ruggedness of an SUV. Yes, you have subcompact crossovers for that, but the Outback is for people who don’t like crossovers also. Might sound like a niche category, but the Outback is actually Subaru’s Best-selling vehicle in the U.S. The Outback is known for its fuss-free long-term ownership; thus making it a perfect vehicle for families who want a car they can rely on. Come next year, Subaru will launch the fifth generation Outback. But will it be a competitive product and garner customer interest like the generations that came before it? Let’s find out what we can expect from the 2020 Subaru Outback.

The Exterior Will Feature Old Styling with New DNA

Subaru is not known to make a lot of changes to its models from one generation to another, though, don't don't expect too much. At the most, you can expect slight revisions in the face, perhaps tweaked bumpers and few cuts and creases. Expect it to have a resemblance to the Forester and the Ascent. I’m not sure if it will increase in dimensions, but the wheelbase could grow a bit to make the car more spacious inside.

A New Chassis with a Strong Backbone

The new platform will have increased rigidity in the body and chassis. The joints will also be made stronger, which is important because 293 Ascents were called back for weak joints and were destroyed because nothing could be done to fix them! Hopefully, these changes will decrease the noise, vibrations, and harness in the cabin as well. The new platform has improved the ride quality in the Impreza and Forester, so we can expect the new Outback to ride better than the current-gen.

Under The Hood

Currently, the Outback is available with two engine options – a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder unit that develops 175 horses and 174 pound-feet of torque and a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder unit that churns out 256 ponies and 247 pound-feet of torque. So, can we see a four-cylinder turbocharged unit that can deliver similar power output? The Ascent currently uses a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged unit that delivers 260 horses and 277 pound-feet of torque. This should solve the dilemma. However, if Subaru follows the Forester suit, expect the Outback to come packed with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with direct injection that makes 12 extra horses and two pound-feet of torque more than the current-gen Outback. The Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and CVT transmission will most definitely be carried over if not updated.

Final Thoughts

The new Outback will be a 2020 model, so the automaker should start selling it by summer next year. As for the price, the current-gen starts selling at $27,300. We speculate the prices to increase somewhere in the ballpark of $2,000. Do you think the new Subaru Outback can continue selling in good numbers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru Outback.

Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru Viziv Tourer Concept.