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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

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We drive the 2010 Subaru Outback 2.0 diesel

Full time awd without fuel consumption penalty

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday December 22, 2010

I was in two minds (no MPD jokes, please) as to whether to write this up as a minitest because I told you about the current Subaru Outback already or go ahead and give you the uncut version because this one has historic significance. I finally decided, after a full two minutes' consideration, that since it's the first diesel interpretation of the 45-year old flat four, you should get the long version.

Subaru stayed with the boxer layout because they believe it's ideally suited to quelling imbalances that can plague compression ignition engines. Horizontally opposed pistons working in unison effectively cancel out secondary harmonic vibrations but just to be sure, liquid-filled engine mountings are used to mask any that might remain.

The inherent balance of the horizontally opposed engine also leads to low rotational inertia and minimal friction, aiding throttle response. A rigid crankcase and short crankshaft length helped to reduce vibrations and enabled Subaru engineers to use an aluminium engine block with consequent weight savings.

Compared to Subaru’s EJ20 2.0-litre petrol engine, the EE20 turbodiesel has an 11 mm longer stroke and 6 mm smaller bore, resulting in an overall engine length of just 353 mm. With ‘square’ dimensions (both bore and stroke are 86 mm), the engine displaces 1 998 cc. Compression ratio is 16.3 to one.

A number of design features enable the motor to cope with the additional stresses imposed on compression ignition engines. These include extra cooling channels between the cylinder bores and connecting rods with asymmetrical big ends: this is more compact in terms of the rotational path of the crankshaft and connecting rod assembly and the offset bearing also reduces friction.

As far as the SOHC cylinder heads are concerned, valve sizes and intake port swirl characteristics were optimised to suit diesel combustion characteristics and of course the actual castings are designed to withstand higher pressures. A variable nozzle turbocharger ensures strong performance across a wide engine speed range, with the turbo itself mounted under the engine right next to the catalytic converter for maximum efficiency. The air-to-air intercooler is mounted close to the inlet manifold, reducing air temperature as it enters the engine and ensuring consistent performance. The exhaust system has also been fine-tuned for this application. Output numbers are 110 kW at 3 600 rpm with 350 Nm of torque at 1 800 rpm.

Subaru bills the Outback as an XUV or crossover utility vehicle, although even they admit that the term has been worked to death. They feel justified though, because this big, comfortable station wagon can keep on going when the road no longer does. Thank all-wheel drive and 213 mm of ground clearance for that. Another key feature is self-levelling rear suspension (the rear shock absorbers have remote reservoirs that pump hydraulic fluid back into the main damper body) that, coupled with a towing capacity of 1 700 kg, potentially make this an exceptional towing car.

Apart from that, this car's spaciousness, comfort, dirt road ability and equipment levels are well documented, so I won't repeat all that again.  What I can do is give some impressions of driving the car with the new diesel. While it goes very well and will satisfy most people most of the time, I can't shake the feeling that there is still some work to be done.

To me, the power peaking at only 3 600 rpm seemed a bit odd as most diesels keep going to either 5 000 or 5 500 rpm. This was borne out by the tachometer redlined at 4 750, and the rev. limiter kicking in already at 4 500 rpm. A side effect is that you run out of revs in the first two gears somewhat earlier than you are used to, even in a diesel. Third and fourth give more range, with third being good for almost 120 km/h, and fourth being quite capable of getting you into trouble with John Law. The top two ratios are well suited for cruising with about 2 300 rpm on the dial at 120 in top. I also found the gearbox somewhat notchier than I have become used to, if used quickly.

Overall, the car drives well and those whose needs run purely to driving the family around will never understand what I'm complaining about. It's well equipped, full of safety kit and features and has the inherent handling advantages of full time awd without, I might add, the usual fuel consumption penalty. I just think it needs more rev. range and a smoother gearbox.

The numbers

Price: R399 000

Engine: 1 998 cc twin cam flat four

Power: 110 kW at 3 600 rpm

Torque: 350 Nm at 1 800 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h (claimed): 10.4 seconds

Maximum speed (claimed): 198 km/h

Real life fuel consumption: about 7.0 l/100 km

Fuel: 50-ppm diesel

Tank: 65 litres

Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km

Maintenance plan: 3 years/60 000 km

Intervals: 10 000 km

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

Comments?

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