Subaru Outback wagon??

Anyone have a 2005 or 2006 Outback wagon? I am considering buying one, as my Chevy trailblazer did not get a good safety rating and I have a newborn. Does an infant car seat (I have chicco keyfit) go in the middle seat or side? And are side airbags safe for babies? Any other info/feedback would be much appreciated! TIA.

Sorry, forgot to include this-I have a Britax Marathon convertible for when DS outgrows the infant seat, will that fit in an Outback? Thanks!

I have an 06 Legacy wagon, which is quite similar to the Outback in interior design, if not practically identical. I *love* it. Subaru makes some of the safest cars on the road, and yes, the side curtain airbags are safe for children in harnessed seats. (That was one of the selling points for me--there are not that many station wagons with side curtain airbags for rear passengers. A newborn or older baby in a rearfacing seat is unlikely to benefit from them too much, but they're still good to have.) If you keep your cars for a while, you might also like to know that Subaru allows its LATCH system to be used to 60 lbs, unlike the 40 or 48 lb limit in many cars.

Now as for installation, I've never used an infant seat in mine, but have used rear-facing Roundabouts and Marathons with no difficulty. The Marathon does fit surprisingly well rearfacing, even with a tall driver. And it's an awesome fit front-facing.

*But* my Legacy manual recommends against center installations for carseats. It allows it, and has a top tether anchor for the spot, but it's not easy to get a good install there. I think it's possible to get an infant seat in the center position, but most definitely try it before you buy. (Both my girls ride in the outboard spots, and I am very comfortable with them there, given my car's outstanding safety ratings. The Outback's ratings may be slightly lower than the Legacy's, mostly because of its higher center of gravity. Check www.informedforlife.org.)

One more thing: The Legacy wagon was redesigned between 2005 and 2006 to improve its side impact performance. I'm not sure what the problem was, but it was enough to convince me that I definitely wanted the 2006. I don't know if that applies to the Outback. Look for a Subaru owners message board and ask, or else ask at the Edmunds Subaru board.

Hope that helps.

My parents have a 2005 Outback. I love that car! I've installed the Graco Safeseat (infant seat) with the seatbelt and Britax Boulevard rear facing with LATCH, both in outboard positions. No problems with the install at all - extremely solid and easy. There is also lots of room in the backseat for large rear facing seats.

I haven't tried any center installs - they are pretty challenging in Subarus.

My sister has a 2006 Outback. As everyone else said, center installations are challenging.

deleted post because i obviously do not explain myself well and i'm too sleep deprived to figure out how

Make sure you give it a good test drive. Subarus are my dream car EXCEPT the seats don't fit my body at all and I am incredibly uncomfortable in them. I was all set to purchase a wagon when I went on a long road trip with a friend in her Outback and was in a lot of pain (lower back) after 18 hours of driving. I've tried riding in them/driving since then and its the same thing.

happyfrog said:

Subaru's are truly one of the BEST cars - low repair issues and you never need 'fancy' tires. i used to live in alaska and only had all purpose tires on year round and NEVER had a trouble. Heck, it regularly snows there in winter and as long as i could beat a hole to my door with my windshield wiper brush after work, I could drive away and never needed to shovel out - just wiped off the windshield to see where i was going.bettyann

Click to expand...

you don't need "fancy" tires on any car, BUT, no matter if you have AWD or not, a true dedicated snow tire is safer on ANY car when driving in snow. AWD may get you moving in deep snow with regular tires easier than a 2WD car, but AWD does not help you brake any better than a FWD or RWD car. only better tires can improve your braking.

i just don't want people to get a false sense of security by thinking that AWD makes you safer driving in snow. yes it helps propel you, but it does NOT help you stop.

southpawboston said:

i just don't want people to get a false sense of security by thinking that AWD makes you safer driving in snow. yes it helps propel you, but it does NOT help you stop.

Click to expand...

I don't think anyone *was* suggesting that, but there's little doubt that a great AWD system like Subaru's can be a real help in snowy climates (when combined with proper tires, of course). Surely there's a reason why they're so popular in the northeast! Even a Mazda diehard like you has to admit that Subaru knows what it's doing when it comes to AWD.

IMHO, Subarus are a blast to drive. My Legacy looks like a mild-mannered station wagon, but it drives like a sports car. Plus, they are really top-notch when it comes to crashworthiness. (Now if only they'd put that darned VDC in more models.....)

twokidstwodogs said:

I don't think anyone *was* suggesting that, but there's little doubt that a great AWD system like Subaru's can be a real help in snowy climates (when combined with proper tires, of course). Surely there's a reason why they're so popular in the northeast! Even a Mazda diehard like you has to admit that Subaru knows what it's doing when it comes to AWD.

Click to expand...

don't get me wrong... AWD is a hoot, and i'd own a legacy in a heartbeat if it weren't for the sub-par fuel efficiency (my one and only gripe about subarus)! and we've had lots of subarus in our family. but my dad once got into a totally avoidable accident because he mistakenly thought that AWD would keep the car planted on the road going down a steep hill in the snow... well, he was wrong. . and i've seen this quite a lot with SUVs. i've driven through some pretty harsh snow storms and have seen SUVs littering the ditches along the interstate (far more than regular cars)... i can only explain this observation by guessing that these drivers assumed they could stay *on* the road better than regular cars because of their 4WD capabilities, so they didn't use the same amount of caution and prudence. i think that's what it comes down to.

even after having driven many AWD cars, i still personally wouldn't buy one unless i had to drive up snowy mountainous roads for a good chunk of the year (as my parents had to). for me, on regular flat roads, i just don't see the advantages outweighing the disadvantages... and we even get some pretty bad storms around these parts.

my point was that just because you have an AWD vehicle, that doesn't mean you should avoid "fancy" tires. call them what you will, but "fancy" snow tires (and non-fancy ones as well) will be a better safety feature on a car than AWD and "regular" tires.

EDIT: and FWIW, i'm not even a mazda diehard. i just happen to own one which i like. i may very well buy something else in a few years

southpawboston said:

don't get me wrong... AWD is a hoot, and i'd own a legacy in a heartbeat if it weren't for the sub-par fuel efficiency (my one and only gripe about subarus)!

Click to expand...

ITA. This is also my biggest gripe. I had a really hard time finding a car that met my criteria. It needed to be big enough to transport two kids in seats and/or two 70 lb dogs, but it also needed to be small enough to handle the narrow urban streets that are part of my commute. I absolutely did not want an SUV, and there just aren't that many good station wagons on the market. Particularly not ones with side curtain airbags for rear passengers, which was also one of my "must-haves". At the time, the only live options were an Audi A4 Avant, a VW Passat, and a Volvo V50, none of which particularly shine in the gas mileage dept. So I bit the bullet and bought the Legacy, which is otherwise perfect. I've been making up for it by changing my driving habits to conserve fuel and taking extra planet-friendly steps in other areas of my life.

Before my Legacy, I had a Forester, so it's been a while since I've routinely driven a FWD car. I do think that AWD improves handling in conditions other than snow, but I'm impressed by how well our FWD Odyssey handles in poor weather. The low ground clearance of the Legacy would be a problem in areas with heavy snow anyway. But it's a great car, and it's too bad that Subaru has nixed the wagon version for the U.S. market.

Comment on wagons in general... (I drive a passat wagon) I don't like the "cargo" being so exposed and not securely placed in a trunk area. I guess it would be the same as a mini van though placed much lower. I know my wagon has a cover you can pull over but, I worry in an accident. How well will it hold a 12 pack of coke, stroller, library books, groceries...? I know, I'm a worrier though. I just can't stop thinking of that every time I drive my wagon with my DS just inches from the cargo area.

Well, we have a dog, so we don't really have a choice on the wagon feature.

I live in the PacNW, so I really like AWD for all sorts of winter weather - snow, ice, rain, etc. Also hills - I lived in the Midwest for awhile, drove a FWD car (Ford Escort) and never even had snow tires, but it was flat, flat, flat and nicely plowed and salted.

I do have snow tires on my Forester (studless - better in the rain and on hard ice than studded tires). It makes the car rather tank-like (in a good way) for getting through bad weather, especially up and down mountain passes. I notice a big difference in handling with the snow tires on.

The Subaru Outback does have a factory made compatible cargo barrier. However, the cargo barrier is NOT compatible with FF top tether anchors. I have spoken to Subaru about this and there are currently no plans to change it. I was all set to buy an Outback until I saw this. I didn't want to sacrifice one safety feature of my car for another.

My Passat wagon has a cargo barrier as well however, it pops on and off VERY easily. (We can still use it with top teathers) I doubt very much that it would hold anything down in an accident. I try to keep the cargo area as clear as possible while driving with my DS though. Since joining this site, I have been so much more aware of these things. I think that is a good thing!!!