Pedal comander vs Pedal monster

Pretty sure all Outbacks have been throttle-by-wire since the 2005 model year. (I owned a 2006 for some years)

 

... but I'd guess still in a straightforward 'pedal input goes to throttle position' way, compared to a Prius, where it's 'pedal input goes to net motive power request gets divided into electrical and engine power, engine power request gets sent to ECM, ECM decides what throttle position makes sense'.

 

Unfortunately, I would agree to a point... full throttle at just a touch of the pedal is dangerous no matter how you slice it. Years ago I volunteered at one of those "Adopt-a-highway" litter cleanup things and one of the guides was a retired college professor. About 90 years old and the sterotypical "drives like a Grandpa" type. Showed up in his Subaru Outback, when he went to leave, literally spun the tires pulling out onto the road with nobody barreling down the highway. We all thought it was funny, but years later when I went to drive the same Outback, I realized it's just the car, and you literally have to breathe on the pedal to avoid peeling out.

So before anyone says you are in full control, go ahead and drive one of those silly cars where 10% throttle is on the edge of breaking traction and any more results in tire squeal.

You'll be happy when you get back into your Prius with ECO, Normal, or PWR mode - all of which don't do that when you push the pedal 10% from a full stop. Heck, I've never had any issues controlling my Prius but on the Outback, it's light 'em up all the time unless you really think about fine motor control.