Love my Subaru Outback, but want turbo and more cargo room

More space would mean something like an Explorer with an Eco-Boost engine.

bambooer -. Just curious....WHY didn't you purchase the 3.6 SIX cylinder??? Sure, more space... YES, a Ford Explorer would be great... Good luck ... turning over vehicles prematurely is one of the most expensive thing you can do..

Check out the Forester 2.0XT.. Just don't end up like Doctor Strange...

Thanks everyone. The new Forester sounds promising, I'll go test drive one soon.

Forester?! After owning one of the two best years of the FAR better OB? Just the noise level at speed, but also the compromised handling and ride, should convince you quickly that a road trip en famille will piss you off and result in justifiable buyer's remorse. DON'T DO IT! It's true that there's nothing you can do to increase midrange boost with your DOHC 2.5i and CVT. You could gear it down 4%, whilst lowering it only about 10mm (a GOOD thing!), by getting crisper and more responsive better 225/55R 17 tires next time. This is the better sized tire Subie used so successfully in the 2006-2009 era OBs. Much of the improvement in passing will be split between reality and placebo effect from improved handling. When it comes time (kids grow, eh?) for a larger cabin I'l look at the new Ascent...or if it seems too fraught with birthing pains, the venerable Mazda CX-9...an existing winner. Remember that the Forester is built on the smaller Impreza platform, NOT the far better Legacy/OB from Indiana.

I was waiting for that ;) happy new year ern! I like what mark said about the 6 but the tq numbers on the Foz look good. Haven’t driven one though...I have basic 03-04 boring models

Happy You Near, Walt. What Grasshopper omitted was the HUGE compromise in real world fuel eco with the 6. In comparing NEW models, the CX-9 is clearly the handling and eco winner. I think the Ascent may be a winner, but as usual SOA will need a year+ to iron out new bugs...just like 2010 and 2015 Leg/OBs, for example. Maybe the new X5 if pockets are flush...or the Q7. Such big, pricey monsters....

Yeah I’m too cheap for those haha. I mean, frugal. I was really looking forward to the flex but seeing a lot of mixed reviews. I will want something that has good legroom front and back and is awd. Staying away from Volvo though!!

A Forester will not have more room than the Outback which is why I suggested a turbo charged Explorer.

It’s so minute tho... https://www.planetsubaru.com/forester-vs-- outback.htm

I know they are close but the original poster wants more room, not the same or less.

New explorer cargo space is 21 (seats up) and 81 (seats down).. subies are ~35 and ~73.. I drove a new explorer for work about 4 years ago and wasn’t impressed with visibility and cargo practicality. If you get rid of the “white knuckle passing on mountain roads”, I’d go with something like an expedition or sienna. No perfect answer but the explorer seems too small if the cargo is only 21cf.

Thank you. I had not considered the Sienna or the CX-3, so now I have more to read up on. The reason I mentioned a turbo was because a good chunk of my driving is at or above 7000ft. On snowy days with icy roads not an issue, I'm never in a hurry and the Outback with winter tires (Hankook Pike right now) feel super safe. But on dry days, stuck behind a slow semi with very short passing zones, the Outback just doesn't have the oomph to pass quickly. I know most of the passing spots and can plan for them, but ...

The CX-3 is tiny. Even the CX-5 is a little smaller than the Forester. Check out the CX-9 which is a nice size and it has a turbo as well.

If you really want room and a turbo get an Eco-Boost Expedition.

How much more space is actually needed?? If you really want plenty of space and ample power... maybe you need to start thinking about a Sprinter They are available in a number of configurations...and you can remove seats. Torque is not a problem for the Sprinters... 6 cylinder has 325 foot pounds.. https://www.mbvans.com/sprinter/commercial-vans/passenger-van And they now are available in 4WD.... Just a thought..

Mercedes? Tons of room but break down all the time. I’d pick a transit before a sprinter. We have them both at Fedex.

Again: CX-9.

My next car will probably be a CX-5 but I would prefer a CX-9.

walth ; how would you know that.... do you have one?? They're certainly expensive to maintain.. I drove a Ford Transit , the in line 5 cylinder is NOT as smooth and the handling of the Sprinter is much better..

Reading comprehension Mark? He works with them every day.

I’ll do some digging on the CX9 Ern - maybe that’ll replace my foresters someday. Have you seen the Edge ST that’s coming out?

F_O_R- well, just because they are at his company doesn't mean he knows the repair history and breakdowns. OR, maybe he is actually in that department? Look, I can only tell you that the Ford Transit drives more like a "truck" than the Sprinters do...IF I don't like driving a vehicle, it doesn't matter to me how good the repair record is and actually, the Sprinters have a pretty good record, otherwise, they wouldn't be as ubiquitous as they are in fleets for buses, panel trucks, work vehicles and yes, even some RV's. The Ford Transit has a very jammed cockpit area making access difficult to move from the front to the back of the coach...it's not good... And, even though it has a 3.2 diesel engine, it's not nearly as smooth..... See this article below, https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans/news-and-advice/2015/february/mercedes- benz-sprinter-v-ford-transit-clash-of-the-titans/

Who brought up a Transit? Oh yes - you did.

He brought up sprinter and then I brought up transit. Mark, give it up cuz the sprinter isn’t going to be passing on mountain roads like an outback, or pretty much any passenger vehicle... talk about the cx9

Actually, the Mazda line is quite well respected.....I do like them.

The ONLY reason I even brought up the Sprinter , about a day ago... much earlier in the thread was to point out if you "needed that kind of space" that's all.... They are very large and make use of space well. OK, I'm done with this.

Have you ever even driven a Mazda, Grasshopper?

Walth: re the Edge ST I'm a bit surprised that Ford would bother, but maybe they want to bite at the Germans...even targeting the Macan? ST treatments seem to be over-wrought...but maybe not this time? Might be too pricey, though....

Thanks again, everyone. Although I was really set on an Asian car (Toyota, Honda, etc), in the end we liked the American cars better. CX9 was too small. Loved driving the Q7, but sticker price and expected maintenance cost scared me away. Highlander had the safety features and great price, but windshield was too small and no zip. Honda Pilot had the space, but we didn't like the handling. If I sound picky -- well, hoping to keep this car for the next 10 years... We compromised on the Subaru from the start, and maybe it was a sign. In the end, it came down to Chevy Traverse vs. Ford Explorer, and we found a 3 y/o Explorer with 10K miles, twin turbo, and ecoboost. Our mpg will suffer, but the new car has a ton of space, safety options, and plenty of zip. Thanks again everyone for suggestions and thoughts.

Thanks for the update bam. Hope it provides all your needs :)

Chris, take a look at this crash test video of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter and the Ford Transit... tell me .. what difference does it make on the maintenance if you're compromising your personal safety?? I know both are expensive, especially the Mercedes , but, again, I've driven both of them and still see countless numbers of them used by FedEx....my guess is that FedEx has purchased the Ford Transit to save money...they are cheaper.....driver safety is kinda important.. don't you think.. Of course no one wants an accident, and I have to drive my van much different than the car... Finally, the vehicle I purchased is an RV... made on the Sprinter chassis...170 inch wheelbase... the extra space inside is very desirable.... One more thing..the front driver's cabin of the Ford Transit is so cramped..the dashboard sticks out between the driver and passenger seat making access to the rear extremely difficult. Anyone who saw that in person would want the Sprinter... notice how much room is up front... European styling...in terms of interior space..the Sprinter is pretty much in a class by itself.... https://youtu.be/C3kN6WF5vAA

Oh my....

Ernie... I presume you saw the crash video?? Probably safer in the Subaru?? Again, it's a weight distribution matter... as well..... larger vehicles usually fare better....and incidentally.. I forgot to add the picture for the front dashboard...the Ford Transit has a very small area to exit around the protruding dashboard for the gear shift and cupholders, while the Sprinter is a very clean look with plenty of exit room....see picture for the Sprinter...

Haha

Grasshopper: WHO are you writing this for?

We'll...it was in response to your last..."oh my".. AND, a statement about the SAFETY of the Sprinter over the Ford Transit... Like I said.. avoid all accidents, but I'd rather be either in the Subaru or Sprinter than the Ford..which looked pretty bad on the you tube video .... again..it's all about weight...the Sprinter weighs about three times more than the car...

Mark now works selling Sprinters. His answer to everything was Subaru now he interjects Sprinters into discussions that have nothing at all to do with vans.

Movin from a 90’s Honda to a newer outback to a massive sprinter — what’s next Mark? AirforkOne?

Mark is doing his part to make winter a thing of the past ;)

Huh? Is he hopping to Mexico?

A small thing. I am 6'9" tall, I tried on the Forester and Outback for fit. The molding for the sun-roof on the Forester is about an inch lower than the roof molding on the Outback. I can not ride in the Forester without bumping my head every time I get in. We are getting the Outback.

You fit in an Outback?

I just realized I never posted about my final decision. We traded the Outback for a 2015 Ford Explorer Sport. The dual-turbo give us plenty of pep here at elevation, and the folded third seat row offer more space than the Outback ever did. Fuel efficiency at about 24mpg, not stellar, but a worth the power and cargo space. Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions!

Glad it is working out :)