Overview & Reviews

Designed with the North American market in mind, the Subaru Outback wagon provides many popular SUV traits without the associated drawbacks. Based on Subaru's midsize Legacy, the Outback comes standard with all-wheel drive, a raised suspension for better ground clearance, and special interior and exterior styling details.

There have been four Outback generations. At its debut, the original Subaru Outback was pretty much the only vehicle of its type and was an instant hit with consumers. More recent iterations lost a bit of an edge as other automakers came up with similar crossover wagons and SUVs at the start of the new millennium, but the latest fourth-generation Outback is more like a crossover SUV than ever. New or used, the Outback is a strong contender for shoppers interested in a car that provides plenty of everyday versatility with the type of all-season capability needed for frosty climes.

Current Subaru Outback
The five-passenger Subaru Outback is a tall wagon available in a number of trim levels -- 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6R, 3.6R Premium and 3.6R Limited -- distinguished by powertrain. The base engine is a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder that makes 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. It comes with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Also available is 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine good for 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, with a five-speed conventional automatic as the only available transmission.

Even the base Outback comes with roof rails, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-telescoping steering column, a height-adjustable driver seat and a CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack. Higher trims add niceties like alloy wheels, foglights, powered and heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, iPod/USB inputs, Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity and a Harman Kardon sound system. There's also an optional voice-activated navigation system.

More so than previous Outbacks, the new model is meant to appeal to more mainstream buyers by being larger on the inside. To this end, while bumper-to-bumper length has shrunk by almost 1 inch, the wheelbase has grown by nearly 3 inches, width by 2 inches and height by 4 inches, enlarging interior space considerably and putting the Outback on par with other midsize crossovers. With the rear seats folded, there are an impressive 71 cubic feet of cargo space available.

In reviews, we've commented favorably about the current Outback's roomier interior. Performance with the base four-cylinder is unremarkable, however; if you want some zip, you'll need to ante up for the 3.6-liter engine. We miss the previous Outback's turbocharged boxer-4, a boon for owners living in mountainous areas. Handling is also unimpressive, as the Outback's elevated ride height and soft suspension tuning do their best to obscure the vehicle's sedan roots. Overall, the latest Outback is a solid choice for utility-minded families, but it's not as enjoyable to drive as previous models.

Used Subaru Outback Models
The current, fourth-generation Subaru Outback was introduced for 2010. There have been no significant changes since then.

The third-generation Outback was produced from 2005-'09. There were several trim levels: base 2.5i, 2.5i Special Edition, 2.5i Limited, 2.5 XT Limited, 3.0 R, 3.0R Limited and 3.0R L.L. Bean Edition.

For power, 2.5i trim levels had a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that made 170 hp. The XT level upgraded to a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 243 hp. The 3.0 R model came with a 3.0-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder (H6) good for 245 hp. All-wheel drive was standard across the board.

Models with either of the 2.5-liter engines could be equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic was available on 2.5i models, while 2.5 XT models got an optional five-speed auto. The 2.5i Limited models were four-speed automatics only, and the H6 came only with the five-speed automatic.

If you're shopping for a used model of this generation, there are a few items to note. An Outback sedan was offered from 2005-'07. Additionally, all Outbacks prior to the 2008 model year lacked a telescoping steering wheel and auxiliary audio jack. Horsepower figures were lowered for 2007 due to revised SAE standards, but actual performance was not affected. The luxurious L.L. Bean trim levels were discontinued after 2008, replaced by a single 3.0 R Limited model, and stability control also became standard.

In reviews, this third-generation Subaru Outback received praise for its standard all-wheel drive, long list of features, strong turbocharged engine, above-average build quality and balanced ride and handling dynamics. While it didn't quite have the off-road capabilities of a true SUV, it could take on light-duty terrain without complaint. Negatives brought up in reviews typically centered on the vehicle's smallish backseat and the sluggish response from the automatic transmissions.

The second-generation Subaru Outback (2000-'04) was also available as either a sedan or a wagon. In its first year, this model was available in base and Limited trims, and had a 165-hp, 2.5-liter engine. The following year, Subaru introduced the L.L. Bean Edition and the VDC trim levels. These featured the more powerful 212-hp six-cylinder engine.

Compared to the current car, the second-generation Outback is a bit smaller and not quite as refined or capable. Subaru made minor improvements to this generation during the years, but none are significant enough to make any particular model year stand out. In Edmunds.com road tests, reviewers liked its standard all-wheel drive and car-based comfort. Some felt that the four-cylinder models were underpowered, however, and that it was eclipsed by newer competition in its later years.

When the original Subaru Outback model debuted in 1995, it was little more than a trim package on the Legacy wagon. In 1996, the Outback (officially known as the Legacy Outback for this generation) gained its raised suspension, large foglights, SUV design cues and optional 155-hp 2.5-liter engine. Further improvements during successive years included the addition of a leather-lined Limited model, dual sunroofs and powertrain refinements. As the Outback was one of the first crossover wagons to be designed, consumers interested in this type of vehicle from the late 1990s will likely find it to be quite suitable, especially compared to SUVs from the same period.

User Reviews:

• 

  I LOVED my Outback!!!! - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By Kt - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I loved my Outback so much. I bought it even though it broke the bank, but it had all the features I could ever want on it. I drove this car in 18" of snow and did not get stuck AT ALL!!!!

• 

  Subaru Outback - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Craig Meldrum - March 1 - 2:31 am

  Car has everything that you could possibly want for safety and convenience. On the highway it can practically drive itself.

• 

  Like the ad says, We Lived - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Don Miller - February 24 - 5:53 pm

  We love this car. We were in crash in our 2015 Outback when a woman pulled in front of us(failed to yield) and the front end of our car was destroyed. The car was totaled. My wife and I had injuries, but nothing life threatening. The 5 star safety rated Outback safety features saved us from serious injuries. Based on this, and the fact that we really liked this car, we have bought a 2016 Outback with all the same safety items. I would also like to add that Joe Amore of Subaru International of Merrilleville, In did and excellent job in finding us a new Outback with the extras we wanted

• 

  Perfect family car - 2009 Subaru Outback
  By wagondad - February 23 - 6:39 pm

  Fills the duties of daily transportation perfectly, fast enough not to get boring and utilitarian enough that I dont feel guilty for enjoying it so much. The only thing I HATE about this car is the danged speakers rattling the door panels. REALLY?? Seriously guys, its a $30,000 car and you couldnt spend the time in development to make sure the map pockets dont vibrate apart when someones listening to music? Hell, even NPR throws this car for a loop...if Lakshmi Sing messes your sound system up, you have a problem. So I will spend this weekend stuffing my map pockets full of old towels. Oh, 45,000 miles and no problems. Original tires/brakes. Yeah, much love for Subaru.

• 

  Awesome Car - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Ran S - February 23 - 9:21 am

  This is the best car i ever own. It is much better than other SUVs /wagons in this segment. Best bang for the buck with the comfort and safety features.

• 

  Very Good Car - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By anotherORhipstaru - February 22 - 12:13 am

  The biggest draws to the Outback for me were the resale value, practicality and build quality. For the price, the materials and construction are very good. The options were great, near luxury.Its difficult to find them on a similar vehicle for the price. The interior is pleasant and logically laid out. The back storage is great. Not just the total cubic feet, but the dimensions allow flexibility in what can be stored. I have the 3.6R, and it was worth it. The ride is smooth and quiet, great for long trips. The acceleration responds quickly, but might not be pony-car-esque for some. The power is good for mountain passes and keeping the revs low. The clearance is high, so there can be occasional control challenges at high speeds with heavy crosswinds, but good control during normal driving. The gas milage depends on how its driven. It can be either powerful or efficient. Theres an instrument to help with that on the dash. Even though Ive evaluated it in a rational way, please dont take that as "not fun". Its tons of fun feeling that I made the right choice, a year later, when making my car payments. When shopping, I test drove fun cars too. They were great to drive for a half hour test drive, but I bought something I could live with. The Outback was the right choice for me.

• 

  Wonderful car! - 2004 Subaru Outback
  By Isaac - February 19 - 2:16 am

  We live in Colorado so this Subaru really gets tested during the winter and long trips up to the mountains. For the 3 years we have had it it has had zero problems with the vehicle and the 4 cylinder boxer engine runs fantastic.

• 

  New Favorite - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By Chase - February 18 - 7:06 am

  Previously owned 2 Audis. Would probably never buy another one. Just as good a car, if not better, for $15K less.

• 

  Solid Subaru - 2006 Subaru Outback
  By ricardo - February 17 - 2:06 pm

  The car is solid as a vault and has been absolutely reliable. Plenty of power from the turbo 4, but the transmission is a little squishy on shifts. Great traction from the AWD, but the suspension is a little too soft for cornering. comfortable and quite ride. Car provides a feeling of confidence, and AWD is very effective since the 5 speed AT powers all wheels all the time (unlike the 4AT which is FWD biased). Mileage fairly poor ~20 overall, and never higher than 24 on highway. CD/radio a disappointment - rather mediocre custom built radio that cant be changed out or adapted for iPod.

• 

  Very disappointing - 2002 Subaru Outback
  By New England Resident - February 15 - 8:34 am

  I purchased this car for my son in 2015. 110k miles, body rust like you wouldn’t believe. I voted no; son voted yes because he’s a millennial and believes everything that he reads on the web. In this case, social media shows that Subaru is a great car, incredibly reliable, etc etc. He showed me a quote/metric saying that 97% of Subaru’s built since 1997 are still on the road ... so they are bullet proof. And so safe (more on safety later)!! What the quote/metric didn’t say was that they leak oil from the head gasket like no other car, have electrical problems galore, exhaust issues, and many others. I honestly have no idea how these cars got such a reputation for being great cars. Do people who drive these rat traps know what a ‘great car’ is ?? I spent about $7000 on repairs over 18 months. What a PoS. Thankfully, my son totaled the car, hence I don’t have to suffer any more repair bills. BTW, it didn’t take much to total it. He hit a curb at about 20 mpg, which destroyed the front end. The insurance adjuster said that type of damage is very common with these cars, and that they aren’t nearly as safe as Subaru likes to say. Their only saving grace is the AWD system. It really is pretty good. Everything around that ... forget it. IMHO, if you ‘must’ have a Subaru, lease one. They are relatively cheap, and they are warrantied during the lease period. At the end of the lease period ... give it back. I