“Subaru NZ doesn’t like being pushed around and this Outback experience suggests this car won’t be a pushover either.

“Slightly roomier, more tech and luxury within a cautious redesign: These factors will help but what’ll keep it sweet with the faithful are toughness, durability and all-round competence.”

Words penned six years ago on this page, about the previous generation Subaru Outback, really still ring equally true today, with arrival of a successor.