Subaru Outback. Price: $53,000 (+ $10,000 customization). On sale: 2003.
Volvo XC70. Price: $64,000. On sale: 2000.
Meeting of laureates. Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC70
Although the XC70 was designed six years ago, its appearance still doesn't look outdated today. I definitely wouldn't call it old-fashioned, even when compared to the newer Outback. There's a certain solidity in this car that commands respect. You can feel it was prepared for a wide range of operating conditions. It's like a Viking's club — massive, reliable, simple, and therefore practical.
Meeting of laureates. Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC70
The Outback is the complete opposite. You can't call it a simpleton. With its stylish and swift silhouette, the Subaru resembles an elegant katana sword: seemingly nothing special, but its beauty is captivating. That's why the Outback looks far more interesting than the XC70. Personally, I find it simply irresistible.
As for the interiors, the XC70's cabin doesn't excite me much. I prefer more modern solutions, but here conservatism reigns. It's like a business-class airplane cabin style. You take off your shoes, put on the airline's slippers, play with the seat settings, buckle up, snack on sturgeon with a glass of good wine, watch a movie on DVD, and then blissfully doze off until landing. In general, nothing extraordinary, but honestly, it's comfortable and pleasant.
The same concept applies to the driver's seat. At first, it seems like there's too much, like in a pilot's cockpit, but then you realize — nothing is superfluous. Everything is in its place and doesn't cause confusion. I easily found the necessary buttons while driving. I was especially pleased with the climate control. The buttons shaped like a little person are clearly a successful find by those who designed the central console's ergonomics. It's nice that the car already has a really good audio system. As someone experienced in this matter, I didn't expect to like it. Factory systems in other cars usually rate at most a three, but here it's a solid four. However, regarding interior space, I feel it's a bit cramped. Especially in the driver's seat. The car isn't small, but the central console presses on your psyche. It's like a huge grandmother's dresser: on one hand, it's spacious and convenient, but on the other, it takes up so much space that you hate it for that.
Meeting of laureates. Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC70
The Outback's cabin isn't ultra-modern either, but in my opinion, its styling is more refined, and therefore it doesn't feel as cramped. At least, I have no complaints. I sit behind the wheel completely freely. Everything is oriented towards the driver. No, passengers are also comfortable and at ease. But, as it seems to me, the interior was created primarily for the driver. He's the main one here, so everything should please him. And I like that concept. The only thing that doesn't suit me is the color scheme. That's why I seriously revised the palette and selected different materials. In short, I reupholstered the interior to my taste, and also improved the sound insulation — it seemed insufficient to me. By the way, the XC70 seems to have no such problems.
Meeting of laureates. Subaru Outback vs Volvo XC70
The Outback also shows its favor towards the driver on the move. In terms of feel, it's more composed at speed than the Volvo. Although fast driving in the XC70 isn't stressful either, I get more pleasure from the Outback. Which, probably, can't be said about passengers. The Japanese car is somewhat stiffer than the Swede, and there's nothing to be done about it. It's hard to find a compromise between handling and comfort: it's either one or the other. One could follow Volvo's path and make the suspension stiffness adjustable. I really liked this feature. If you want a smooth ride, switch to "comfort"; if you want fast and safe, switch to "sport." True, such a suspension costs accordingly — $2,500. It's a pity that the Outback doesn't offer this even as an option. There, the design only levels the body depending on the load.
Overall, in terms of options, the XC70 noticeably wins over the Outback. The Volvo has almost everything you could wish for: from a rain sensor, which you can't install on the Subaru for any money, to DVD monitors in the headrests. The function of an autonomous heater with a timer is also useful.
As for dynamics and off-road capabilities, they are similar in these cars. Both accelerate to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. Both easily move over relatively rough terrain. The route I managed to drive, both passed without problems. However, the maximum speed on the highway is higher for the Subaru.
Which one did I like more? It's hard to say now. The cars seem the same, but each has its own philosophy. The Subaru is created for the driver, and that's appealing. The Volvo tries to please everyone, and it does it quite well. Plus, it's richly equipped with options. The Subaru has always had problems with this: electrically folding mirrors, for example, only appeared on 2007 model year cars. And yet, Subaru's philosophy is closer to me.
According to the results of 2006, both the Volvo XC70 and the Subaru Outback became winners in the "Crossover Wagons" category. How could that happen?.. Well, in our country, anything can happen. The competitions were different. More precisely, they were held by different organizers. As a result, one had the XC70 winning, and the other had the Outback. However, judging by consumer demand and the number of cars on the roads, the XC70 is more popular than the Outback. And this time we fully agree with the people. Although the Subaru definitely deserves praise.
January 19, 2007.
Author: Oleg Kalaushin
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