Outback: still pulling its weight despite its age

Subaru Outback drive by Steve Rogers

Long before we became addicted to crossover SUVs there was very little around for people wanting something more than a bog standard family estate.

Hauling a horsebox, pulling a trailer, or just towing a caravan off a muddy field, the answer was a big old 4x4, capable but noisy, and uncomfortable on the open road.

Or....you could buy a Subaru Outback, the car that looked like a normal family estate but with a secret stash of hardware. Twenty five years ago Outback was no ordinary estate. It had the company's renowned permanent all wheel drive system, raised suspension and bits of plastic body armour. It could paddle through streams and tackle the same off-road challenges normally the domain of Land Rover and the like.

I'll bet you didn't know that Subaru, a company fairly anonymous on our roads, is a world leader in all wheel drive sales. Good pub quiz question that.

Outback started a trend and big hitters followed with Audi's Allroad, Volvo's Cross Country, Volkswagen's Alltrack and Skoda's Scout.

They have all faded, replaced by SUVs, but the Outback is fighting on and made a comeback with a big upgrade last year. It got a new platform to improve ride and handling and a bunch of tech upgrades, yet it is difficult to place Outback in today's world of motoring.

Marketing speak would say Outback does not fit today's customer profile, and it doesn't.

In fact it is all wrong. It is not the SUV everyone wants, it has an ageing petrol engine with high exhaust emissions, lousy economy and is bereft of hybrid technology.

It was for those reasons that my expectations for Outback were in the medium to low region.

If you are expecting me to say how could I be so wrong, forget it. But I was pleasantly surprised, it exceded expectations and any notion that Outback is just hanging on like an ageing sportsman living only on past glories can be kicked right out of the park.

The facelift breathed new life into the old girl, a freshened up front grille and headlight signature giving it a bit more street cred while inside is even more impressive. There is nothing to make you shout wow, it is still a bit old style with good old fashioned needles in the speedo and rev counter dials, but trim and build quality are high grade giving the cabin a real classy feel.

What does provide a fashionable lift is the near 12in high portrait style touchscreen. Not my favourite piece of new world tech but this one is actually easy to use with helpful quick keys to get to the 11 menus. They open in a flash to reveal clear directions in big type. Nothing is difficult to find which is as well because getting into the menu to activate auto brake hold and turn off lane departure for every journey is annoying.

Outback does redeem itself with no fuss voice control, responding easily to commands to adjust heating, radio selections and navigation destinations.

As a forerunner to the sports utility Outback is a substantial family car with plenty of legroom front and back. The transmission hump is a bit of a nuisance but three adults across the back is a given. The boot is cavernous and stretches to around 1700 litres with the seats folded flat.

Compared to speedster hybrid rivals Outback is a bit of a plodder but with enough grunt for safe overtaking and smooth motorway cruising. The less said about economy the better, mid thirties on a good day, otherwise be happy to get past 30mpg.

The photograph shows Outback doing something it does best; this is a safe as houses towcar and hovered between 24-25mpg on a 400 mile round trip which is surprisingly efficient.

Subaru offers three trim levels and has thrown just about everything at the entry Limited, even powered front seats, and heated seats in the back as well as the front. Extras for my top of the range Touring include nappa leather seats, memory function for the driver seat, sunroof, deafening 11 speaker quality audio, hands free powered tailgate, and digital all round camera with jet wash.

All models get the Eyesight safety system which is world beating and with more improvements is about as good as it gets.

What does the future hold for Outback? There are no immediate plans to replace it so it has to keep plugging away and hope that substance over modern day styling wins the day.

Fast facts

Outback Touring AWD

£42,595 (starts £36,990)

2.5 litre petrol; 8sp automatic

166bhp

0-62mph 10.2secs; 120mph

32.8mpg combined

193g/km. 1st tax £1,650

Boot: 561 litres

Insurance group 30

New martial arts club opens at Llan Leisure Centre

A new martial arts club has recently opened at Llangollen Leisure Centre.

Llangollen Kickboxing Club meets on Monday nights from 7 to 8pm (£6). 

It is run by Steve Stockdale, a current World Kickboxing Champion who has over 30 years martial arts experience and has fought his way to many titles over the years.

Steve is an additional needs teacher at St Christopher’s School in Wrexham and is also a qualified personal trainer and martial arts instructor. 

Having taught small groups and individuals for many years, he was persuaded by his students to open up the club to others after taking the over-35s kickboxing World Championship in Greece last year.

The club is affiliated to the World United Martial Arts Organisation (WUMA) and students follow a certified syllabus. 

Focusing on fitness, flexibility and sparring, members can also compete and many have already been successful in tournaments around the country.

Steve says the club has a friendly, supportive and positive atmosphere but it is also one where you are pushed to be your best. 

"The doors are always open to new members and if you are interested in more information see llangollenkickboxingclub.co.uk," he added.

Repair cafe to hold its first session this Saturday

Llangollen's first repair café session will be held this Saturday, May 18, at St Collen's Community Hall, from 11am-2pm.

Repair cafés are pop-up events held on regular dates where the local community can get their broken household items repaired for free by volunteers.

The types of things fixed include clothes, household electrics, technology, woodwork, children’s toys, furniture and bikes.

The new Llangollen cafe is part of the Repair Café Wales movement.

* If you'd like to bring a thing to mend or be mended, you can book it in at https://repaircafewales.org/what-are-you-having-repaired.../

If you'd like to volunteer to help repair, you can sign up as a volunteer at https://repaircafewales.org/volunteer-form/

Recycling information session today at the Town Hall until 7pm

 

Denbighshire County Council is holding a series of drop-in sessions to answer questions about its new recycling service which comes into effect on June 3.

One of these is being held today (Wednesday) at Llangollen Town Hall, between 2 and 7pm.

* There is also comprehensive information about the new service in the FAQs on the website: https://bit.ly/4aBpRGA

Eisteddfod hosts all-star family fun day on festival Sunday

* Fun day host Andy Day.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be opening its gates for a Family Fun Day on Sunday July 7 featuring children’s TV presenter Andy Day. 

Andy will be presenting a lunchtime concert in the pavilion, which is being produced in association with Music for Youth, and will feature young musicians from across the UK, as well as some of the Eisteddfod’s visiting groups from overseas.  

Either side of the lunchtime concert there will be outside stage performances, featuring international competitors, young musicians, local bands, and another appearance from Andy as he presents his Dinosaur Raps!

There will be a wide range of other activities for all the family to enjoy, including interactive workshops, along with retail traders, and a variety of food and drink outlets. 

This is all part of a revitalised Llangollen Eisteddfod, which features artists such as Tom Jones, Gregory Porter and Katherine Jenkins during its Core Eisteddfod Week (July 2-7) along with additional shows either side from global superstars such as Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, Paloma Faith, Manic Street Preachers, Jess Glynne, and Madness.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “The line-up of artists we have coming to perform in Llangollen this year is incredible, and alongside the global superstars we have the best homegrown Welsh talent as well, including Calan, royal harpist Alis Huws, and Johns’ Boys’ Male Chorus. 

"We also have over 3,000 competitors from 32 countries coming here to compete, many of whom will also be performing during our Family Day on Sunday July 7. 

"This day will be a real celebration, with a full programme of entertainment to suit all ages, along with a lunchtime concert in the pavilion, which is being produced alongside Music for Youth, to showcase some of the UK’s finest young musicians.

“Andy Day has been a familiar face on our TV screens for over 15 years, and we can’t wait to welcome him to the Eisteddfod, as he brings his infectious enthusiasm to proceedings.”

* All tickets allow access to the Eisteddfod field from 10am to 4pm, and the lunchtime concert inside the pavilion at 12.30pm at no additional cost.

A family ticket for 1 adult + 2 children costs just £21, with additional adults at £18, additional children at £3, and under 5s are free.

Tickets are available to buy online from LLANGOLLEN.NET

Town's summer fete is coming back after five years

After a gap of five years due to the pandemic Llangollen Summer Fete is back next month.

Three local organisations - Vale of Llangollen Rotary, Llangollen Parks Project and Plas Newydd – have teamed up to revive the popular event, which was last held in 2019, on Saturday June 8 at its traditional location of Plas Newydd, from 12.30-4pm.

Organisers say it will feature a range of family-friendly favourites, including games, stalls, treasure hunts, raffles, entertainment, yummy food, competitions, a local artisan market, music and much more.

Entry to the event will be by donation only and funds raised on the day will go to a number of good causes.

Further updates and announcements on the event will be given on its Facebook page here and the event page here.

Organiser are also encouraging people to share their memories of past summer fetes.

Councillor raises band hut graffiti attack with police

* The graffiti sprayed on the band hut wall.

A concerned county councillor has raised a graffiti attack on the Llangollen Silver Band hut with the police. 

Band members saw the huge white letters daubed on the rear, riverside wall of their Parade Street headquarters when they turned up for practice there on Monday evening. 

Now Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards says she will be giving details of the act of vandalism to local police. 

A conductor with the band described the attack as "disgraceful."

The defacement of one of the town's best known buildings which took members years to complete, has sparked anger on social media.

Comments include:

“Dear me, that’s so disrespectful to the people who put so much time and effort into that building , including my own father.”

"We work so hard to look after the band room. It’s run completely voluntarily and all we want it to be able to bring happiness to the community. Breaks my heart that people find it appropriate to do this.”

“The Police Station is across the road, hopefully they will have some footage of the culprits.”

“What is wrong with people, constantly wanting to destroy things, why? So sad.” 

“Narcissists like to see their names emblazoned on roads and paths in our park this week.”

“Omg that’s awful!”

“Disgraceful lack of respect.”

“Such a shame people work so hard to keep the band going and building looking nice.”

“Any CCTV? There was a spate of this late last year - culprits were on camera.”

“A stupid thing to do.”