Just got this car in early July. I opted for the eyesight system package, but the nice thing is that with this package there are almost no other options you can buy. I think the exterior and interior finishes are the best in the market for the price. I would compare them to that of cars costing $10,000 to $15,000 more. I have driven it about 5,000 miles in two months, including a 2,000 mile round trip. I found that the 4 cylinder offered plenty of power, although not much “OOMPH”, but the gas milage was outstanding, averaging 26 miles per gallon since I had it and nearly 29 miles per gallon on the highway. It is quiet and you do not get much road feel.
The seats and steering wheel are very adjustable and the dash controls and sound system are excellent, offering all of the features I was looking for. It has a roomy feel and the back seats are very comfortable and even recline. My wife has a fully loaded top model Mazda CX5 which is a nice car, but it feels much less luxurious and more cramped that the Outback, particularly in the rear seats. The eyesight system seems to work, perhaps delivering a few too many warnings, but, obviously, it is no substitute for being an alert driver.
Although it has roof racks, the car is a bit tall and I would recommend getting a decent hitch for things like bicycle racks as lifting things onto the roof is not really that easy and you do not want to risk scratching the car. In addition to the rear cargo floor liner, you can get Subaru liners for the back of the rear seats which is useful if you carry things that may dirty up the back. My dealer fitted what I had heard about Subaru dealers, which is that are straightforward, knowledgable about the products and do not jerk you around.
