2016 SUBARU OUTBACK X-mode

CVT models1) Select lever (page 7-26)
2) Climate control (page 4-1)
3) Audio (page 5-1)/Navigation system (Re-
fer to the Owner’s Manual supplement for
the navigation system)
4) Glove box (page 6-6)
5) Accessory power outlet (page 6-10)
6) Cup holder (page 6-8)
7) Electronic parking brake switch
(page 7-42)
8) X-mode switch (page 7-39)
9) Hill Holder switch (page 7-45)
–CONTINUED–
13

&Warning and indicator lights
Mark Name Page
Seatbelt warning light 3-12
Front passenger’s
seatbelt warning light3-12
SRS airbag system
warning light3-14
CHECK ENGINE warn-
ing light/Malfunction in-
dicator light3-15
Charge warning light 3-15
Oil pressure warning
light3-15
Engine low oil level
warning indicator3-16
AT OIL TEMP warning
light (CVT models)3-16
/ABS warning light 3-18
/Brake system warning
light3-18Mark Name Page
/Electronic parking
brake indicator light3-20
Hill Holder indicator
light3-21
Door open indicator 3-22
Low fuel warning light 3-21
All-Wheel Drive warn-
ing light (CVT models)3-22
Power steering warning
light3-22
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol warning light/Vehi-
cle Dynamics Control
operation indicator light3-23
Vehicle Dynamics Con-
trol OFF indicator light3-24
Access key warning in-
dicator (if equipped)3-24
Security indicator light 3-29
Turn signal indicator
lights3-30Mark Name Page
High beam indicator
light3-30
Automatic headlight
beam leveler warning
light (if equipped)3-30
Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)3-31
Cruise control indicator 3-30
Cruise control set indi-
cator3-30
X-mode indicator (if
equipped)3-31
Hill descent control in-
dicator (if equipped)3-31
Headlight indicator light 3-31
Low tire pressure
warning light (U.S.
spec. models)3-16
/Front passenger’s fron-
tal airbag ON indicator
light3-14
/Front passenger’s fron-
tal airbag OFF indicator
light3-14
–CONTINUED–
23

Instruments and controls
Automatic headlight beam leveler warning light
(models with HID headlights)............................ 3-30
Headlight indicator light..................................... 3-31
Front fog light indicator light (if equipped).......... 3-31
X-mode indicator (if equipped)............................ 3-31
Hill descent control indicator (if equipped).......... 3-31
Steering responsive fog lights OFF indicator
(models with EyeSight system)......................... 3-31
BSD/RCTA warning indicator (if equipped).......... 3-31
BSD/RCTA OFF indicator (if equipped)................ 3-31
Icy road surface warning.................................... 3-31
Information display............................................ 3-32
Clock................................................................. 3-32
Climate control mode indicators......................... 3-33
Outside temperature indicator............................ 3-33
Multi information display................................... 3-34
Basic operation.................................................. 3-34
Welcome screen and Good-bye screen............... 3-35
Warning screen.................................................. 3-35
Basic screens.................................................... 3-36
Telltale screen.................................................... 3-38
Menu screens.................................................... 3-38
Light control switch........................................... 3-43Headlights.......................................................... 3-44
High/low beam change (dimmer)......................... 3-46Headlight flasher............................................... 3-46
Daytime running light system............................. 3-46
Headlight beam leveler (models with HID
headlights)...................................................... 3-47
Turn signal lever................................................ 3-47
One-touch lane changer..................................... 3-48
Illumination brightness control......................... 3-48Auto dimmer cancel function............................. 3-48
Front fog light switch (if equipped).................. 3-49Steering responsive fog lights system (models
with EyeSight system)..................................... 3-49
Wiper and washer.............................................. 3-50Windshield wiper and washer switches.............. 3-52
Rear window wiper and washer switch
(Outback)........................................................ 3-53
Defogger and deicer.......................................... 3-54
Mirrors................................................................ 3-56
Inside mirror (without auto-dimming function) (if
equipped)........................................................ 3-56
Auto-dimming mirror/compass with HomeLink
®(if
equipped)........................................................ 3-56
Outside mirrors................................................. 3-62
Tilt/telescopic steering wheel........................... 3-63
Horn.................................................................... 3-63

&Headlight indicator
light
This indicator light illuminates under the
following conditions.
.when the light switch is turned to the
“
”or“”position
.when the light switch is in the“AUTO”
position and the headlights illuminate
automatically
&Front fog light indicator
light (if equipped)
This indicator light illuminates while the
front fog lights are illuminated.
&X-mode indicator (if
equipped)
This indicator appears while the X-mode is
activated. It will disappear when the X-
mode is deactivated.
&Hill descent control
indicator (if equipped)
This indicator appears while the hill
descent control function is in standby. It
will flash while the hill descent control
function is operating. It will disappear
when the hill descent control function is
not available.
&Steering responsive
fog lights OFF indicator
(models with EyeSight
system)
This indicator appears when the steering
responsive fog lights system is deacti-
vated. This indicator disappears when the
system is activated.
For details about the steering responsive
fog lights system, refer to“Steering
responsive fog lights system (models with
EyeSight system)”F3-49.
&BSD/RCTA warning in-
dicator (if equipped)
This warning indicator appears on the
multi information display when the BSD
(Blind Spot Detection) or RCTA (Rear
Cross Traffic Alert) is not functioning for
any reason. For further details, refer to
“BSD/RCTA warning indicator”F7-58. If
this indicator remains displayed, have
your vehicle inspected by your SUBARU
dealer as soon as possible.
&BSD/RCTA OFF indica-
tor (if equipped)
This indicator appears on the multi in-
formation display when the BSD/RCTA
OFF switch is pressed to deactivate theBSD (Blind Spot Detection) and RCTA
(Rear Cross Traffic Alert). For details, refer
to“BSD/RCTA OFF switch”F7-59.
&Icy road surface warn-
ing
When the outside temperature is 378F
(38C) or less, the icy road surface warning
will illuminate to inform the driver that the
road surface may be frozen.
NOTE
.The outside temperature indicator
shows the temperature in the area
around the sensor. Therefore, the tem-
perature indication may differ from the
actual outside air temperature.
.The icy road surface warning screen
should be treated only as a guide. Be
sure to check the condition of the road
surface before driving.
.Once the icy road surface warning
screen appears, it will not disappear
unless the outside temperature has
increased to 418F(58C) or higher.
Instruments and controls/Warning and indicator lights3-31

Starting and operating
X-mode (Outback CVT models)......................... 7-38
To activate/deactivate the X-mode....................... 7-39
Hill descent control function............................... 7-39
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (if
equipped)......................................................... 7-40
Parking your vehicle.......................................... 7-42
Electronic parking brake..................................... 7-42
Parking tips....................................................... 7-47
Hill start assist system (MT models)................ 7-48
To activate/deactivate the Hill start assist
system............................................................. 7-49
Cruise control..................................................... 7-49To set cruise control.......................................... 7-50
To temporarily cancel the cruise control............. 7-51To turn off the cruise control.............................. 7-51
To change the cruising speed............................ 7-51
Cruise control indicator..................................... 7-53
Cruise control set indicator................................ 7-53
BSD/RCTA (if equipped).................................... 7-53System features................................................. 7-53
System operation............................................... 7-55
BSD/RCTA approach indicator light/warning
buzzer............................................................. 7-56
BSD/RCTA warning indicator.............................. 7-58
BSD/RCTA OFF switch....................................... 7-59
Certification for the BSD/RCTA........................... 7-60
Handling of radar sensors.................................. 7-60

Starting and operating/X–mode (Outback CVT models)
X-mode (Outback CVT mod-
els)
WARNING
.Always use the utmost care in
driving–overconfidence be-
cause you are driving a vehicle
with X-mode could easily lead to
a serious accident.
.Always use the utmost care in
driving–overconfidence be-
cause you are driving a vehicle
with hill descent control function
could easily lead to a serious
accident. Be especially careful,
and depress the brake pedal if
necessary when driving on ex-
tremely steep downhill, frozen,
muddy or sandy roads. Failure
to control the vehicle’s speed
may cause a loss of control and
result in a serious accident.
CAUTION
.Even if your vehicle is equipped
with X-mode, winter tires should
be used when driving on snow-
covered or icy roads; in addition,
vehicle speed should be reducedconsiderably. Simply having X-
mode does not guarantee that
the vehicle will be able to avoid
accidents in any situation.
.Activating the X-mode should be
done when you encounter a very
slippery surface at low speed.
However, having X-mode is no
guarantee that full vehicle con-
trol will be maintained at all times
and under all conditions. When
activating X-mode, the speed of
the vehicle should be reduced
considerably.
.Whenever suspension compo-
nents, steering components, or
an axle are removed from a
vehicle, have the system in-
spected by an authorized
SUBARU dealer.
.The following precautions should
be observed in order to ensure
that the X-mode is operating
properly:
–All four wheels should be
fitted with tires of the same
size, type, and brand. Further-
more, the amount of wear
should be the same for all
four tires.
–Keep the tire pressure at theproper level as shown on the
label attached to the vehicle’s
door pillar.
–Use only the special tempor-
ary spare tire to replace a flat
tire. With a normal temporary
spare tire, the effectiveness of
the X-mode is reduced and
this should be taken into ac-
count when driving the vehi-
cle in such a condition.
.If the hill descent control function
has operated continuously for a
long time, the temperature of the
brake disc may increase and the
hill descent control function may
be temporarily disabled. In this
case, the hill descent control
indicator will disappear. When
the hill descent control indicator
disappears, the hill descent con-
trol function is disabled.
X-mode is the integrated control system of
the engine, AWD and Vehicle Dynamics
Control system, etc. for driving with bad
road conditions. Using X-mode, you can
drive more comfortably even in slippery
road conditions including uphill and down-
hill.
X-mode has the following functions.
7-38

.Hill descent control function:
Using the hill descent control function, you
can keep the vehicle at a consistent speed
driving downhill. If the vehicle speed is
likely to increase, the brake control system
will be activated to adjust the vehicle
speed.
.Driving ability control:
This mode increases the hill-climbing
ability and driving ability as well as
enabling smooth application of torque for
easier control of the steering wheel.
&To activate/deactivate the X-
mode
X-mode switch
X-mode indicator
To activate:
Press the X-mode switch. While the X-
mode is activated, the X-mode indicator
appears.
To deactivate:
Press the X-mode switch again. The X-
mode indicator will disappear when the X-
mode is deactivated.
NOTE
.Even if you try to activate the X-
mode by pressing the X-mode switch
when the vehicle speed is 12 mph (20
km/h) or more, the X-mode will not be
activated. At this time, a buzzer will
sound twice.
.If the vehicle speed reaches 25 mph(40 km/h) or more while the X-mode is
activated, a buzzer will sound once and
the X-mode will be deactivated.
.While the engine is running, if either
of the following conditions is met, the
X-mode will be deactivated. In this
case, it is not possible to activate the
X-mode.
–The CHECK ENGINE warning
light/malfunction indicator light illu-
minates.
–The AT OIL TEMP warning light
flashes.
–The ABS warning light illumi-
nates.
–The Vehicle Dynamics Control
warning light illuminates.
.If there is a possibility that the
engine could overheat because of a
temperature increase of the engine
coolant, it is not possible to activate
the X-mode. Even while the X-mode is
activated, the X-mode will be deacti-
vated when the engine coolant tem-
perature increases.
&Hill descent control function
The hill descent control function will be in
standby mode when the X-mode is acti-
vated and the vehicle speed is less than
approximately 12 mph (20 km/h).
Starting and operating/X–mode (Outback CVT models)
–CONTINUED–7-39

maintain the previous cruising speed.
&To temporarily cancel the
cruise control
The cruise control can be temporarily
canceled in the following ways.
.Press the“CANCEL”button.
.Press the X-mode switch to activate
the X-mode (models with X-mode).
.Depress the brake pedal.
.Depress the clutch pedal (MT models).
WARNING
For CVT models, do not place the
select lever in the“N”position while
driving. If the select lever is shifted
into the“N”position, cruise control
can be canceled but the enginebrake will no longer work. This
could result in an accident.
The cruise control set indicator in the
combination meter disappears when the
cruise control is canceled.
To resume the cruise control after it has
been temporarily canceled and with vehi-
cle speed of approximately 20 mph (30
km/h) or more, press the“RES/SET”
switch to the“RES”side to return to the
original cruising speed automatically.
The cruise control set indicator in the
combination meter will automatically ap-
pear at this time.
&To turn off the cruise control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise
control:
.Press the cruise control main button
again.
.Turn the ignition switch to the“ACC”or
“LOCK”/“OFF”position (but only when the
vehicle is completely stopped).
&To change the cruising speed
!To increase the speed (by the“RES/
SET”switch)
Press the“RES/SET”switch to the“RES”
side and hold it until the vehicle reaches
the desired speed. Then, release the
switch. The vehicle speed at that moment
will be memorized and treated as the new
set speed.
Starting and operating/Cruise control
–CONTINUED–7-51