The 2021 Subaru Outback hangs on to its remarkably rugged stance as it grows more refined than ever.
Pros Capable as ever Big 11.6-inch touchscreen A roomy interior Excellent safety record Rides very well
Cons Careful styling Moderate acceleration from base engine Needs more small-item storage
The 2021 Subaru Outback comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.Adaptive LED headlights now standard on all trims.Seat-belt reminder standard for all passengers.Reminder to check rear seat added as standard safety feature.
Pros Spacious cabin and smooth, comfortable ride Optional turbocharged engine provides plenty of power Loading the roof or cargo area is easier than in most SUVs Above-average off-road ability
Cons Big touchscreen is slow to respond and buries many controls in complicated menus Slow acceleration from standard engine Native voice recognition system isn't very accurate
The Outback was redesigned from the ground up for the 2020 model year, so for 2021 Subaru has made only three minor changes: Adaptive headlamps, a rear-seat reminder system, and a passenger's seatbelt warning light and chime are now standard across the lineup.
Pros Ground clearance helps off-road or in snow, spacious cabin, tons of available tech.
Cons Unhurried acceleration, ho-hum driving dynamics, indistinct exterior styling.
Land Rover has given the Discovery a fairly thorough refresh for 2021 that includes two new turbocharged engines—a 296-hp four-cylinder and a 355-hp six-cylinder—as well as a new Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch display. A new grille, tweaked exterior lighting elements, and new wheel designs give the Disco a visual update, and a new R-Dynamic model—complete with glossy black exterior accents—joins the lineup. Land Rover has improved rear-seat comfort by adding additional padding to the second-row chairs. There's a new 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a full-color head-up display for the driver; a toggle-style gear selector is also new and all Discovery models now come standard with an adjustable air suspension.
PROS Legitimate off-road capability, stylish exterior, modern technology comes standard.
CONS Clumsy handling, cargo space suffers with third row in use, adults won't fit comfortably in the rearmost seats.
“A heroically talented go-anywhere, do-anything family SUV. Just be sure you *need* this much space and ability ”
PROS Unstoppable off-road, superb motorway manners, vast cabin space, improved interior tech
CONS Too damn big for the UK. Perhaps a little over-endowed for most of us. And now the Defender’s here, wouldn’t you sooner have that?
For 2021 Refreshed exterior styling,New infotainment system,New four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines; the diesel is discontinued.
PROS Smooth on-road driving manners Above-average capabilities off-road Luxurious interior with excellent materials Clever features in terms of utility and technology
CONS Infotainment system can be difficult to operate
