The 2019 Subaru Outback makes a sensible crossover SUV alternative.
Pros Like a crossover SUV, but better No shortage of safety gear Spacious, refined interior Rides and handles well Better off-road than many SUVs
Cons 6-cylinder engine guzzles fuel… … but 4-cylinder can feel pokey Starting to show its age here and there Touring needs roof rack cross bars
The 2019 Subaru Outback ranked #3 in Wagons. Currently the Subaru Outback has a score of 8.4 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 42 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Standard all-wheel drive Roomy seats and great visibility Class-leading amount of cargo space Impressive set of standard tech and safety features
Cons Acceleration is slow with the base engine Throttle for base engine is overly sensitive at times
The 2019 Subaru Outback is both wagon and SUV. It has the profile of a wagon, yet its traction-enhancing all-wheel-drive system and extra ground clearance make it more capable off-road than most other SUVs. Like other modern Subarus, it's also packed with the latest safety features.Subaru's EyeSight driver assist suite is now standard on all Outbacks.Base 2.5i trim gets additional USB ports.
PROS Spacious and comfortable cabin Roof and cargo-loading heights are lower than those of most SUVs Excellent visibility in all directions Off-road ability is above average
CONS Acceleration is lackluster, especially with four-cylinder engine Sensitive gas pedal at low speeds Modest handling capabilities
Not only is the MX-30 an all-new model for Mazda, it marks the first time the Japanese automaker has experimented with an all-electric powertrain. It's similarly sized to the current CX-3 and the upcoming CX-30 crossovers, but borrows the MX nomenclature of the MX-5 Miata, giving us hope that it will be a performance-oriented option in the electric-SUV marketplace.
Another day, another electric vehicle. This time around it's from Mazda, and it blends all the hallmarks of a sporty city SUV with a fully-electric heart. The MX-30 debuts Mazda's pure-electric e-SkyActiv platform, along with a number of new interior technologies likely to filter through the rest of the Japanese brand's line-up in due course. The all-electric MX-30 is part of Mazda's plan to offer an e-SkyActiv (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric) vehicle in each of its model lines by 2030. That includes everything from the Mazda 2 through to the dual-cab BT-50 replacement.
Mazda could have played it safe with this one but it didn't. Instead, it went bold. Rugged, in fact. All the more impressive is the fact that the all-new 2021 Mazda MX-30 is the Japanese automaker's first-ever all-electric vehicle. Going bold is something GM, for example, never would have done. Just look at the Chevrolet Bolt. The new MX-30, by contrast, has unique styling inside and out that may not be to everyone's liking. Mazda has been repositioning itself over the past few years as a more premium brand overall, and the MX-30's slightly more rugged look is not what everyone expected. But it also serves as the ideal gateway model for the brand as it takes its first step towards all-out electrification. The question is whether the MX-30 can successfully challenge the likes of the popular Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and even the upcoming BMW iX3.
