When the 2020 Subaru Legacy first made its appearance at the 2019 Chicago Auto Show in February, the first question on the world’s mind was when the Subaru Outback going to make its eventual appearance? The long running wagon version of the Legacy has always been a key partner for its sedan sibling, and the company has revealed that the Outback will indeed make its debut at the 2019 New York Auto Show on April 17th.
Subaru’s teaser images don’t reveal too much about what kind of design defines the newest iteration of the Subaru Outback, but the Outback does appear to have a stack of vertical LED lights in the lower portion of the front fascia, which are a notable departure from the units seen on the Legacy sedan. The distinctive protective body cladding that defines the Outback are also very apparent here (as is the equally mandatory roof mounted cargo rack.) Slick Y-spoked wheels are also part of the package, and a second image reveals that the Outback will be equipped with an 11.6 inch portrait style touchscreen infotainment system. Like the Legacy, the screen is standard on all but the base Outback, and the company also promises better interior quality for the rest of the cabin, but still expect some rugged touches to help the Outback be a reliable partner for buyers that prefer to take their cars off roading.
Look for the Legacy and Outback to continue the longstanding tradition of sharing performance hardware with each other. This translates to the base model featuring a 2.5 liter flat four boxer engine that produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. Owners looking for more performance can opt for the optional 2.4 liter turbocharged flat four which brings a stouter 260 horse power and an equally beefy 270 lb-ft of torque to the party. A CVT will most likely be the sole transmission offering available with no manual alternative due to the U.S. market’s extremely low take rate. All-wheel drive will be a potent selling point for the Outback, and look for four wheeled motivation to also be standard across the bulk of the Outback range, with front-wheel drive being reserved for only the base model.
With the Outback’s debut taking place so early in 2019, this could indicate that Subaru is very keen on trying to get the Outback to U.S. dealers before the end of the year in a bid to try and get a jump on some of its rivals in the sales race. However, in the event that Subaru is forced to change this timetable, look for the Outback to make its debut in early 2020 which is still very early for a model of its type. Look for Subaru to perhaps shed some light on this question at the Outback’s unveiling, as well as other information including final fuel economy numbers, and even some aspects of its off-road capabilities.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.