This year, SUVs continue to be some of the most sought-after vehicles in America. Because of their popularity, SUVs are one of the most competitive sectors in the automotive market. In order to compete in such an oversaturated market, many auto manufacturers try to come up with new and innovative ways to make their SUVs stand out from the crowd.

Instead of relying on flashy accessories and high-tech gadgets, the Subaru Outback focuses more on reliability to ensure that it is able to stay ahead of the competition. The Outback comes equipped with several special structural and powerful features that help to make it one of the most durable and reliable SUVs on the market.

The Subaru Outback continues to outsell the competition

The Subaru Outback made its debut back in 1994. Back then, SUVs were just starting to gain popularity. Many consumers were looking for a vehicle that was both spacious and durable. During the mid-’90s, minivans and wagons were at the height of their popularity. Subaru took the wagon’s design and expanded on it to make it more rugged than the average family vehicle.

Many consumers were instantly impressed with the Outback. It offered an abundance of passenger and cargo space while also having the power and performance features that made it great for taking an off-road adventure. 

According to Biz Journals, the first generation Outback sold around 200,000 units worldwide. And with every new generation, the Outback’s popularity only seems to increase. When the Outback was in its fourth generation, sales had skyrocketed to around 450,000. The next generation saw sales increase even more with around 700,00 fifth-generation models sold around the globe.

Why is it so popular?

When the Subaru Outback first hit the market, it looked more like a station wagon than it did a midsized SUV. Even though the first generation was extremely popular, the Subaru engineers were constantly trying to come up with a way to make the next generation Outback even more impressive than the last.

In the early 2000s, Subaru had completely changed the design of the Outback to now feature a wider frame and more interior space, and they replaced the 2.5-liter engine for a more powerful 3.0-liter V6 engine that was mated to a smooth-shifting four-speed transmission.

Around 2005, the Outback became even more impressive when Subaru introduced the XT trim. This trim featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that was capable of producing up to 250 hp. The new engine gave the Outback the power that fans had been craving and helped to make it even more popular than it had been before.

In 2010, the Subaru Outback really started to evolve into a more stylish and sporty SUV. Subaru had redesigned the Outback’s exterior to give it a fresher look and better ground clearance, which helped to create a whole new fan base for the impressive car. Even though the Outback has gone through many changes, there are still several Outback fans that refer to the vehicle as a wagon that resembles an SUV.

Is the Subaru Outback the most reliable SUV on the market?

The engineers and designers of the Subaru Outback have spent decades perfecting the vehicle. No matter what changes the Outback has gone through, the focus has always been on safety and reliability. To this day, there are still some first-generation Outback models on the road that are running just fine.

And the new 2020 Subaru Outback has even more desirable safety features than the previous model has. The newly redesigned Outback features a host of safety features, including an advanced airbag system, Driver Assist features, and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes.