3 Luxury Subaru Outback Alternatives You Should Take Camping in Style
The Subaru Outback is a staple among wagon crossovers with offroading credentials. However, the Outback lacks some of the refinement and luxury of pricier competition. The Volvo V60 Cross Country, Audi A4 allroad, and A6 allroad provide rugged all-wheel drive (AWD) alternatives to the Subaru Outback without compromising their posh luxury aesthetic. Of course, the better-looking lifted Volvo and Audi wagons cost quite a bit more than the sensible Subaru.
- Audi A4 allroad
- Volvo V60 Cross Country
- Audi A6 allroad
Is the Audi A4 allroad a luxury Subaru Outback alternative?
The Audi A4 allroad takes the A4’s sensibilities and adds a wagon liftback construction with greater ground clearance. The result of the wagon application and added height is a solid luxury alternative to the Subaru Outback. According to TrueCar, Audi endowed its A4 allroad with an impact-resistant body. That’s good news for potential owners who want their posh, luxurious Audi to easily handle their next camping trip.
Moreover, the Audi A4 allroad’s 261-horsepower turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder is more powerful than both Outback powerplant options, albeit barely. The Outback’s 260-horsepower turbocharged flat 2.4L four-cylinder also gets around 22 mpg city and 29 highway, one mpg shy of the Audi. Still, much like other lifted wagons, the Audi A4 allroad is more attuned to the road than the trail.
What is the difference between a V60 and a V60 Cross Country?
The Volvo V60 is a discontinued sibling of the V60 Cross Country. While the V60 is a true-to-form wagon, the V60 Cross Country is a luxury alternative for the Subaru Outback. The taller V60 Cross Country packs 60mm of additional ground clearance over the fair weather V60. In addition to extra height, the Cross Country’s AWD system provides a clear off-road advantage over the standard front-wheel drive (FWD) V60.
Moreover, the Volvo V60 Cross Country sports more attractive exterior styling and a more refined interior than the Subaru Outback. In terms of performance, the 247-horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder engine is more powerful than the Outback’s naturally aspirated 2.5L flat four. The V60 Cross Country is a camping-ready luxury alternative to the Subaru Outback.
What’s the difference between the A6 and the A6 allroad?
Like the A4 allroad, the Audi A6 allroad is the offroad-ready lifted wagon version of the A6 sedan. However, the A6 allroad is larger and more powerful than the A4 variation. First, the A6 allroad carries over the A6 Prestige’s 335-horsepower 3.0L turbocharged V6, making it much more powerful than the Subaru Outback, A4 allroad, and the Cross Country. Moreover, the A6 allroad’s 30 cubic feet of cargo volume is comparable to the Outback’s 32.6.
Should you consider one of these luxury alternatives to the Subaru Outback?
Compared to the Volvo and Audi lifted wagons, the Subaru Outback is much more affordable. Specifically, the 2022 Outback starts at around $29,620 compared to the Volvo’s $49,895 and the A6 allroad’s staggering $67,995. So, potential owners who want the most bang for their buck will have to stick with the AWD Outback. However, luxury alternatives to the Subaru Outback, like the Audi A4 allroad and Volvo V60 Cross Country, provide a refinement that luxury car fans will want to take on their next camping trip.
