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Subaru Outback Named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year(R)

- Subaru First Automaker with two consecutive MOTOR TREND Sport/Utility of the Year Titles -



CHERRY HILL, N.J., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that the Subaru Outback has been named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year.

The Subaru Outback's victory follows the Subaru Forester's win for the 2009 award, making Subaru the first automaker to win two consecutive MOTOR TREND Sport/Utility of the Year awards.

MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie, said, "The 2010 Subaru Outback offers a unique combination of comfort, efficiency, versatility and value. It boasts car-like refinement, drivability and gas mileage on the road, yet is as capable in the rough stuff as all but the most off-road focused sport utilities. Thoughtfully engineered, cleverly detailed and competitively priced, the Subaru Outback is a terrific all-rounder with broad appeal."

"We are doubly proud and honored to receive the MOTOR TREND 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year award for the second consecutive year," said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America Inc. "To win the 2009 award for the Forester was wonderful enough, but to have won for the 2010 Outback this year is truly an outstanding achievement. The Subaru Outback is an icon of performance and capability and was the original SUV alternative. Now with its improved power, economy and increased dimensions it is the complete package."

Speaking to Subaru of America's sales success as the top performing automaker of 2009, Doll noted, "The success of our business is founded not only on our outstanding products, but also on the commitment and dedication of our retail sales network and great sales and marketing programs. We are absolutely thrilled that MOTOR TREND has added their validation to the Subaru brand."

Priced from $22,995, and produced at Subaru's zero-landfill plant in Lafayette, Indiana, the all-new Subaru Outback is available with either a 170-hp 2.5-liter four cylinder boxer engine or a 256-hp 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine. The 2010 Outback is built on an all-new platform featuring a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase (now 107.9 inches) that improves ride and interior space, especially rear seat legroom. The 2010 Outback also features increased hip and shoulder room.

Living up to Subaru's legendary safety record, the Outback offers cutting-edge safety technology, including Subaru's ring reinforcement safety system, front, seat-mounted side, and side-curtain airbags and ABS. Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system, which incorporates stability and traction control systems with a roll-over sensor, is also standard equipment.

The Subaru Outback was recently named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

To judge contenders for the award, MOTOR TREND's editorial staff conducted an exhaustive three-phase testing process. Phase one of the process includes a full tech check and weigh-in, then full track testing to establish baseline data for acceleration, braking, and handling. Phase two involves three days of road loops offering a range of road surfaces and traffic conditions to evaluate ride and handling, engine and transmission smoothness and responsiveness, wind and road noise, and ergonomics. A dirt-track section tests traction, stability, and braking control systems. In phase three the judges debate and deliberate. This year, the editors updated and expanded the judging criteria to six new categories:

-- Design Advancement - well-executed exterior and interior styling;
innovative vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.
-- Engineering Excellence - total vehicle concept and execution; clever
solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues;
cost-effective tech that benefits the consumer.
-- Intended Function - how well the vehicle does the job its planners,
designers, and engineers intended it to do.
-- Efficiency - low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to
the vehicle's competitive set.
-- Safety - a vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash, as well
as the secondary safety measures that protect its occupants from harm
during a crash.

-- Value - competitive price and equipment levels, measured against those
of vehicles in the same market segment.


MOTOR TREND's Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test and is only open to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1 of the previous year. MOTOR TREND looks for the pick of each year's crop of new SUV's, and does not revisit vehicles that have been on sale for the past few years.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of approximately 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru boasts the most fuel efficient line-up of all-wheel drive products sold in the market today based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy standards. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. For additional information visit Subaru Cars, Wagons, SUVs, Crossovers | Subaru of America.

Subaru a historic two-timer as Outback wins Motor Trend SUV of the Year award — Autoblog

Martin is going to love this!

M

That is a shame! I see that as more of a wagon then an SUV.

It's almost like the CLS being called the "SEDAN or the Year" or the X6 being the "Coupe of the year". Motor Trend is getting to relaxed over there.

And this beat the Q5 and GLK? Horrible news...makes me sad that I just renewed my subscription.

Kudos to Subaru! A worthy winner & indeed a very practical & reliable vehicle!

Eagerly waiting for the comments from a guy with white truck in his avatar!

^I thought he said he didn't like the new Outback??

Yes, I know, that's why I posted it. For some unexplainable reason everytime I read/hear or see something about Subaru, he comes to my mind. And I have not even met him in person!

Indeed! That kind of struck me as well. I'd expect the Forester to be the "king" of the SUV category, rather than the Outback. After all the Forester is supposed to be the SUV of the Scoob line-up.

So you pay them only for the good news?

That is as much SUV as I would ever need

Lol...

Dunkel, Why not...



10,000 lbs of fun!

Ditto. Martin = Subaru and very knowledgeable too.

M

MT is stretching it here......the Outback is a raised station wagon, not a true SUV, but oh well...the award is what it is.


M

Well done Subaru; even if the Outback isn't an SUV.

It may not be your typical 'SUV', but it sure can do the off-road stuff better than any vehicle mentioned in this thread so far!

Not a fan of its looks, but can't argue with its off-road capabilities. There's a reason why the Outback and Forester keep receiving accolades in a variety of countries.

I wouldn't necessarily call this an SUV (like HOH) but this definitely offers more "utility" than anything else on that list.

It's quite funny, though, that most SUV:s are lacking severely in the "S" department.

Or the "U" department.

Which leads us to the million dollar question; what are they for?

Aww, you fellas make me blush.

Ag fanks hay!

Yes, I'm not as pleased with this new Outback, especially in US-spec trim, as I was with the previous generation which I thought was classy, capable, stylish yet underrated. Whether I'm less enamoured with the looks of the new Outback or not, there's no denying that the Outback is a proper SUV in the truest sense of the concept.

What defines an SUV? Is it outright sportiness? Nope. Is it absolute utility? Not that either... The best sport utility vehicles are the ones that best combine a multitude of requirements into one, jack-of-all-trades (and master of none), multi-road vehicle. Which is more important for an SUV? How high you sit off the ground or how high the vehicle clears itself from the ground? For anyone driving off tarmac the latter is obviously the preference. In this respect the Outback 225mm of clearance substantially betters that of the GLK (201mm) and Q5 (200 mm). Approach, departure and breakover angles are less important for this kind of vehicle. The Outback also features the same rugged double wishbone rear suspension and strut front suspension with long travel that I have personally put to the test in demanding conditions.

People that live in urban conditions don't have the daily need for offroad, bundu-bashing capability of a Defender or Land Cruiser. What they do need is a modicum of lifestyle-oriented capability and versatility when they do venture into the country. The Outback with its lower profile shape (than a typical SUV), lower centre of gravity and better economy that results is actually a far better SUV than most will give credit for. And why not... after all it is from the car maker that was a pioneer of the crossover genre with the Outback and Forester.

A thoroughly deserving recognition for a vehicle so uniquely engineered that it's genuinely good both on and off the beaten track.

very very ugly.

Well, SUVs are great for long trips with a bunch of people. But how often do people do that anyways? I have gone camping in SUVs but the job was also done in a Van a few times as well. I don't have a problem with using SUV's to carry people or stuff around, but when you're driving around the city in this HUGE ass truck and you're the only one in there, then it's like WT-F...

Just speaking the truth Martin.

You have to help me with this, is not the saying; The heavier the merrier?