Outback 2.5i, 2.5i Special Edition & 2.5i Limited
For the best mileage, the 2.5i manual is your best bet, rated at 20/27 mpg city/highway. Along with 1 mpg better highway mileage, the five-speed stick will help you get better acceleration out of the base horizontally opposed four-cylinder. The automatic has enough oomph for grocery-getting and other errands, but it quickly gets winded when pushed hard. The transmission could use a fifth gear; in many cases you can press the gas pedal halfway down without inducing a downshift, which doesn't help your passing confidence.
Outback 3.0 R Limited
On the other end of the spectrum is the 3.0 R Limited's normally aspirated 3.0-liter H-6 engine, which shaves another city mpg in exchange for ... not much. As the table shows, it brings a negligible horsepower increase and much lower torque — at higher rpm, where you don't want it. This option is the key to towing 3,000-pound trailers, rather than 2,700 pounds with the four-cylinder. If you're not planning to tow, I just don't see the point of this engine.
See also:
Under the rear floor
1) Jack handle
A) 4-door models
B) 5-door models
1) Under-floor storage compartment (if equipped) (Refer to “Under-floor storage compartment”.)
2) Tool bucket
3) Spare tire
A) 4-door models
...
Inserting a disc in a desired position
1. Briefly press the “LOAD” button. If the magazine in the player has an idle
position where you can insert a disc, the disc number indicator associated with
the idle position will blink.
The p ...
Select lever
: Shifting is possible with the
brake pedal
depressed.
: Shifting is possible whether the
brake
pedal is depressed or not. However,
while the ignition switch is in the “LOCK”
or ...