Special test Subaru Outback LPG: Bayonne - Madrid and final summary

Yesterday was the last day of our journey through France with the Subaru Outback LPG, as we left French territory to finally arrive in Madrid. It was a day with few stops since we went straight to Madrid, but I’ll use this last post of the Outback LPG test to share the final impressions on the model, the route and our overall assessment of the Outback.

For those who may not follow us closely, for 10 days we left Madrid in a Subaru Outback LPG and went to France with this Subaru to see how a vehicle running on LPG behaves on long trips and whether that fuel is practical or not. I can already anticipate the answer: our Outback has a 2.5 engine producing 167 CV, paired with the Lineartronic automatic gearbox. With this engine, petrol consumption would be very high and so its economy wouldn’t be particularly good, but with LPG we practically get the advantages of a diesel engine.

At around 7 in the morning we left Bayonne to reach Madrid early, with quite bad weather and heavy rain that accompanied us all the way into Spain. Along the way we also saw how the Outback behaves on wet roads (or rather, very wet ones), and the Japanese car held its ground very well. We arrived in Madrid around midday with a total of 3,600 km covered (90% on national roads and motorways).

LPG: Profitability, economy, behaviour

We always tried to drive on LPG whenever possible, which was easy in France since there is an LPG station every few kilometres, although prices are another matter, varying by up to 20 cents depending on whether you are on a motorway or in a town. In total, over those 3,600 km we refuelled seven times, each time with 49 litres of LPG (approx.; the tank was never completely filled). Therefore, deducting a few km driven on petrol (about 200 km on the way to Montpellier and central Paris) and converting to cost in euros for the km driven on LPG, we averaged €6.5/100 km across the whole route (approximate calculation with a margin of €0.2/100 km).

A figure that is not bad at all considering that our Outback carried two adults plus luggage, has a 2.5-litre engine, all-wheel drive, automatic gearbox and 167 CV. So LPG is a good fuel for travelling, as long as there are filling stations nearby, since in France they are easy to find but in Spain there are just over 36 stations where LPG can be filled. Moreover, it is a way of having a petrol engine with smooth operation (Boxer engine) without worrying too much about consumption. Leaving the figures aside, regarding behaviour, running with or without LPG does not alter the engine’s response (it loses around 2–3 CV), but it is barely noticeable.

Equipment and prices

As for prices, our unit cost €40,470 with the 2.5 167 CV petrol engine. Our trim level was the Limited Plus, which starts at €38,100, but compared with the Limited it only adds keyless entry and satellite navigation, so the Limited trim is available from €35,400 with leather, xenon lights, sunroof, dual-zone climate control, electric parking brake and manual gearbox. Meanwhile, the diesel range starts at €34,900 for the Premium, €36,900 for the Limited and goes up to €39,600 for the Limited Plus.

At these prices some equipment is missing, such as bi-xenon headlights (which many saloons already offer as an option), swivelling headlights (which would improve night visibility together with the bi-xenon) or even electric adjustment of the front passenger seat (while the driver’s seat has it). Furthermore, some interior finishes were not up to the standard of the overall package, as in some areas there was too much plastic, which detracts from an otherwise well-resolved interior.

Overall assessment

Starting with the overall assessment of the engine and LPG, there is no doubt that the Outback LPG is recommendable if there is a filling station nearby (or on our route), even more so than the Boxer diesel engine. On the other hand, we liked its smoothness, and the automatic gearbox is an interesting option if you are looking for maximum comfort, responding quickly to accelerator and paddle-shift commands.

The downside of this engine is on the motorway, the lack of power at certain speeds, since below 3,000 rpm it is sluggish, and at 120 km/h if we wanted to overtake, the gearbox would drop to 5th or even 4th to have enough power; in other words, it feels somewhat lazy in response, especially on country roads. Certain gaps in equipment could also be improved, as I mentioned before, along with some interior finishes that detract from the whole.

I am not a fan of estate bodies, but after 10 days with it I admit that for those who need space it is a good car; its 526-litre boot comfortably took our suitcases and everything else with no space problems. I think it is a complete unknown, because it is very practical and has fairly complete equipment for around €36,000 (in Limited trim).

And it is practical not only in terms of dimensions but also in engine and traction, since when we travelled with it, we had the freedom that at any moment we could take the Subaru onto a forest track, a poorly paved road without worrying about scraping the underside of the car (it had very generous ground clearance), and with the security of its traction. Though, of course, we must not forget that it is a crossover with good off-road capability.

Photos | HM test team