The 2015 Subaru Outback made its global debut at the 2014 New York International Auto Show with a “bolder design, roomiest interior, most capable chassis and highest fuel-efficiency."

Subaru says the 2015 Outback has been incorporated with outdoor-oriented vehicle engineering that can take on rough roads, slippery surfaces and steep inclines.

The front fascia of the wagon combines the hexagonal grill and bumper into one smooth piece. The aluminum hood of the 2015 Outback reduces weight over the front wheels, which helps enhance steering response. High-intensity discharge (HID) low-beam headlights are standard on the top-of-the-line Outback 3.6R Limited variant.

The body of the 2015 Outback is 15.2 mm longer, 17.8 mm wider, and the wheelbase has been increased by 5.1 mm. The changes, though small, enable the vehicle to have a more spacious cabin from 105.4 cu. ft. to 108.1 cu. ft. The automaker says the added space includes gains in shoulder, front and rear hip room and elbow room, and rear legroom.

The Outback has a 221-mm ground clearance, which Subaru says is “higher than for some SUVs.” It also has new, step-style doorsills and a power rear tailgate with a memory function that remembers a specific height set by the owner.

It is equipped with 17-inch wheels, while the Limited variant features 18-inch alloy wheels.  

Inside, the Outback has soft-touch materials, like the thick cushioning for armrests and the center console. The instrument panel is highlighted by two, binocular-style gauge pods with a 3.5-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) information display in the center.

The vehicle also features a 6.2-inch infotainment system that provides AM/FM stereo and HD Radio, a Radio Data Broadcast System, a single-disc in-dash CD player and a multi-function touch screen display, among others.

The 2015 Outback 2.5i is powered by a double-overhead-cam (DOHC), FB series, 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder BOXER engine that can deliver an output of 177 PS with 236 Nm of torque.

On the other hand, the Outback 3.6R Limited is powered by a 3.6-liter, BOXER 6-cylinder engine that produces 260 PS with 345 Nm of torque.

All Outback models now come standard with a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), with the 6-cylinder model using a high-torque version of the gearbox.