Redesigned 2015 Subaru Outback. |
I'm not the kind of guy who gets jaded
after years and years of being entertained and informed by car
companies. In many respects, I still approach most media car launches
wide eyed and full of anticipation. After more than 25 years, I still
love what I do and appreciate when carmakers include me in their
events.
It's a simple fact, though, some
carmakers do it better than others. It may be a function of budget,
but more often than not, it has to do with attitude. Some carmakers
view their media outreach as a chore to be avoided at all costs,
virtually ignoring media whenever possible.
Subaru is on the other end of the
spectrum as one of a handful of car manufacturers still approaching
media with a degree of enthusiasm and creativity.
I recently spent four days in Oregon
with Subaru being immersed in all things Outback.
Outrageously important to Subaru,
Outback is its second-best selling vehicle behind the larger
Forester. Arguably the first crossover and certainly the original
“sport utility wagon,” it really put Subaru on the map. The
redesigned 2015 Outback is the fifth generation of this popular
git'r-done wagon.
Subaru chose the Bend, Oregon area to
show off its next Outback. Bend itself looks like the giant display
floor in an interactive Outback museum. Every intersection, parking
lot and trail head is brimming with examples of Outback's four
previous generations. They are like rolling kudzu overwhelming the
Oregon vehicle landscape.
Brasada Ranch entrance. |
Those of us flying into Oregon arrived
by way of Redmond, Oregon's airport. Subaru then whisked us the 14
miles to Brasada Ranch about 20 miles outside of Bend. “Ranch”
isn't quite an accurate descriptor of this 1,800-acre property. It
would be like calling a Four Seasons a motel. I've stayed at a number
of guest ranches: some rather rustic and others remarkably upscale.
Brasada definitely falls into the upscale bracket. It offers a golf
course, spa, fitness center, as well as horseback riding, fly
fishing, hiking and so forth.
Once upon a time it was a sheep farm
called the Shumway Ranch. Apparently when new owners decided to
transform it into a resort, some sharp marketing type decided people
capable of ponying up more than $800 per night would be more likely
to do that at a joint called Brasada Ranch rather than Shumway Ranch.
I'm no marketing genius, but I concur.
No matter the name, the view of the
snow-covered Cascade Mountain peaks is breathtaking. Most of us spent
our nights in the Sage Canyon Cabins. Again, “cabin” is a bit
misleading. These were anything but cabin-esque. Subaru bunked us two
to a unit. We each had a large bedroom and bath, but shared a great
room including a full kitchen, dining room and lounge area.
The common area in my cabin. |
Because the property is so sprawling,
each cabin was assigned its own golf cart. I usually left the cart to
my roomie and walked to most functions, but did avail myself of the
electrified transport more than once.
On the second day, Subaru mapped out a
drive route intentionally designed to show off the 2015 Outback's
all-wheel-drive prowess. Much of the road surface was dirt or gravel.
Although its generous 8.7-inch ground clearance rarely came into
play, Outback's capability off the asphalt was nothing short of
impressive. But here's the thing, thanks to sharing some of its AWD
engineering with the WRX STI, on paved roads it grips in the corners
like a go cart. What? Who'da thunk?
Outback cabin. |
My driving buddy and I piloted both the
four- and six-cylinder versions. Yes, I really like the power and
acceleration of the six, but would buy the four-cylinder if given the
choice. It delivers a robust 175 horsepower, but still managed to
earn an EPA-estimated combined-mpg rating of 28 mpg. And remember,
that's with AWD!
The six-cylinder generates 256
horsepower and delivers 22 mpg in combined driving.
A tad bigger on the outside results in
nearly every interior dimension being larger. Scads of new technology
and safety features are either standard or optional: rearview camera,
blind-spot detection, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic
alert. Front-seat-cushion airbags deploy in frontal crashes to help
keep passengers from submarining under the dashboard. EyeSight
utilizes stereo-camera technology, adaptive cruise control,
pre-collision braking and lane-departure warning technology to warn
the driver of an impending frontal crash and even bringing the car to
a full stop if the driver fails to respond.
Ah, the good life at Lake Billy Chinook. |
Our midday driving break for lunch was
at Lake Billy Chinook. There we chowed down on sandwiches, enjoying
the view.
Dinner that evening was a few miles
away from our cabins on one of the ranch's mountain peaks. More than
20 of us chose to take a trail ride (on the Outback Trail, no less)
to dinner. Our guides separated us into groups of five and spread out
our departures to minimize the dust. This part of Oregon is high
desert and “dry” doesn't begin to describe it.
Save a horse, ride a cowboy.... |
I hadn't been on a horse in about a
year. I did bring my riding boots and riding gloves with me. My horse
Sunny was compact, but spirited. I was able to mount him without
standing on something – rare for little old me. When I first
mounted him, one of the wranglers told me that he was very responsive
and would go when prodded. A couple of times on the trail I nudged
his flanks with my heels and go he did. I'd love to put him in a
trailer and haul him with me to Eatons' Ranch in Wyoming this
September. I liked this horse!
I've shot sunsets all over the country and this is easily among the best. |
After dinner we adjourned to an outdoor
lounge area where we witnessed a spectacular sunset. Good sense had
our band of intrepid cowboys going back to the lodging area by car.
I accepted Subaru's invitation to stay
an additional day to go white-water rafting on the Deschutes River. I
characterize that experience as bracing.
Although long – Redmond and
Greenville/Spartanburg airports are both a bit off the beaten path –
my flights home were uneventful.
A fitting end to a glorious week!
If anyone is considering getting the 2015 Subaru Outback, I can say from firsthand experience that this is the vehicle for you if you love the outdoors. We go camping quite often, and we back the SUV to our tent, open the back and extend our sleeping quarters. We have never had one issue in years of camping in harsh conditions.
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