Conclusion

To quote Spiderman's uncle Ben, "With great power comes great fuel consumption." Well, those may not have been his exact words but the statement remains very true. This is certainly the Outback's greatest weakness. Mildly spirited driving would bring the instant average consumption to a full size SUV-like 18L per 100km. On a short road trip, and while maintaining a median speed of 115 km per hour, I managed a reasonable 11.8L on average in a half hour's time. So, there is hope for fewer trips to the gas station.

Subaru has had a few problems with engine knock, specifically with the 2.5L engine. This noise can easily be heard when the vehicle is first started and the engine is cold. The noise will then disappear when the motor has warmed up. In most instances, no immediate damage will occur to the engine but a trip to your local dealer is in order. I have heard that in some cases, with the proper proof of maintenance, the dealers will replace the engines under warranty. Otherwise, these cars are quite reliable.

As my title suggests, the Outback XT has the ability to be many things to many people all at once. It is versatile, very quick, spacious and able to venture even where other cars dare not go.

Good stuff:
Gobs of power
Cargo area volume

Not so good stuff:
Fuel consumption
High price