The Subaru Outback is a station wagon, but not the ones from years past that were often adorned with the wooden panels on the sides. Nowadays, wagons are more stylish, comfortable, and useful for families. It’s no wonder that many critics love the Outback. According to Good Housekeeping, it’s so impressive, it’s a winner in their Best Station Wagon category. 

What made Good Housekeeping pick the Subaru Outback for best Station Wagon?

When it comes to family-friendly vehicles, it seems that it was hard to beat the Subaru Outback, since Good Housekeeping gave it the No. 1 spot for the Best Station Wagon. There were many things they loved about this vehicle. Its spaciousness, ruggedness, and reliability are the three main factors that put it out on top. 

This model offers more than what your typical family needs. With useful roof rails on top that come with tie-down points, you can strap down just about anything you’d need for an adventure. As standard, you get all-wheel drive, and nine inches of ground clearance, which is perfect for hitting the trails. 

The only thing that didn’t exactly impress them was its less-than-dynamic driving ability. The Outback can handle some pretty rough terrain with ease, but when it comes to the pavement, it seems to fall flat. There just wasn’t enough pep in the steering. 

Why should you listen to Good Housekeeping?

Good Housekeeping has been around since 1885, providing daily tips for two decades, written 1,200 magazine editions, and they have spent over 134 years testing products that they ultimately recommend to their readers. 

To gain trust from their readers, they spend a large amount of time verifying and testing their theories, so they can provide the most accurate results. While they’re upfront about any affiliate income they receive or any advertising money that supports them, they pride themselves on staying independent of the media.

That means that they have strict standards for the quality of writing they produce and business integrity that keeps them on top of their game. That’s why this high praise for the Subaru Outback shouldn’t be ignored.

What makes the Subaru Outback best for families?

Under the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 182 hp, which is standard for this model. An optional 2.4-liter turbocharged motor generating 260 hp, is available as an upgrade, according to Car and Driver. Both of these are paired with a continuously variable transmission, which didn’t actually impress editors of C& D. 

When it comes to fuel economy, you can expect the Outback to get 26 mpg in the city and 30 mpg when traveling on the highway. The available turbocharged motor will get around 24 mpg on city roads, and 32 mpg on the highway. 

The interior is made of high-quality materials and is comfortable to drive and ride in. On every trim but the base, you can get heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a few USB ports to name just a few. 

The cargo area, however, is the most impressive with 32 cubic feet of storage space that can handle up to 11 carry-on suitcases. If you fold down the rear seats, it will increase to 76 cubic feet. 

The Subaru Outback has many family-friendly features that Good Housekeeping thought made it a winner when it came to the Best Station Wagon on the market. If you’re wanting something with a lot of cargo space, but aren’t interested in an SUV, this wagon should hit the spot nicely.