this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2025
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[–] cobysev@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The Outback is [...] slow

I had to pause here for a moment because my wife's 2016 Subaru Outback is the fastest of our cars and has some serious pick-up-and-go. I couldn't understand why they were complaining about it being slow.

Then I remembered my wife specifically requested the V6 engine variant of the Outbacks. Only 1% of them are made with a V6 engine and there's a waiting list a year or two long for one, depending on where you live. It's worth it; it feels like driving an EV with how quickly it picks up speed, and with the amount of weight it can tow. And since it's so rare, they deck them out with all the options. You don't get a choice; they come with everything pre-installed.

We got lucky; we bought ours from a Subaru dealership where all the employees were salaried, so they didn't give a shit whether we bought a car or not. They weren't pushy or trying to haggle a price. The sticker price was the cost, end of story. You either pay it or leave.

We were both active duty military at the time we bought it, and they had a deal where AD military paid 10% below the MSRP price, so we only paid around $34K for it. It was almost $38K MSRP in 2016. So we got a deal and it's been a mostly reliable car this past decade.

My extended family all buys Subarus; they really love them. I'm the black sheep; my personal car is actually a Mazda. 😜

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

H6 not V6 but otherwise good points.

Most Outbacks have the 2.slow

[–] cobysev@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Ah, gotcha, I didn't know the "V" or "H" was based on the engine shape. That makes sense. But it's the 6 cylinder version of the Outback that we bought. I believe they list them as the 3.6R version.

[–] Soggy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

They're usually named based on the arrangement of the pistons. V and W engines are pretty clear, H engines are a type of "flat" (or "horizontally-opposed") engine with two pairs of horizontal pistons.

[–] Asetru@feddit.org 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's worth it; it feels like driving an EV with how quickly it picks up speed

Doubt.

Just checked it and if I got the right model, 0-100 is between 7.2 and 8 seconds, depending on the model year. Mid range EV SUVs such as the Enyaq are between 5.5 and 8.7 seconds, so way below the outback if you don't pick the low end version. Performance-centric EVs are below 4 seconds. And they all have a more or less constant torque which just isn't possible for ICEs.

If you like your car that's fine. But combustion engines aren't even close to how EVs drive.

[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's firmly in Ford Escape territory🀣

The h6 is only fast if you just got out of the h4

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 1 points 1 week ago

"Fast" is always relative.

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

between 7.2 and 8.0

between 5.5 and 8.7

So slower by 0.7 sec? Unless only you are allowed to cherry pick from the data.

Pick a performance version

Okay then pick a performance ICE SUV to compare to and not a Subaru Outback.

Constant torque

This isnt the 1950s. Most vehicles have very flat torque curves when they're in the power and high gear counts in their auto transmissions to provide this, as well.

If you like EVs that's fine but the driving dynamics of EVs and ICEs is basically the same when actually in use.

[–] Asetru@feddit.org -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

So slower by 0.7 sec? Unless only you are allowed to cherry pick from the data.

The Subaru is specifically the rare higher performance engine, so comparing them to the higher performance versions of comparable EVs would be the only fair thing to do.

the driving dynamics of EVs and ICEs is basically the same when actually in use.

Absolutely not, but hey, whatever you want to believe that makes you happy.

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

My 2.5 H4 Subaru was a bit sluggish, but the real issue is fuel consumption. Diesel is cheaper to power than petrol OR Electric atm. Price of electricity has been going up in recent years. Plus turbodiesels get ridiculous torque, just not instantly like EVs.