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:

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  grrrreat - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By owen - December 25 - 10:00 am

  I love this wagon,every thing about it is great.Quick and responsive,quiet and comfortable with a wonderful sound system to boot.Plenty of cargo room for almost everything you may have to carry including the dog.I would reccomend it to anyone

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  Good, Not Great - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By pasubi - December 24 - 4:00 pm

  Overall, happy with the car which meets 90% of our needs. Economical for size, comfortable, versitle, well designed ergonomic interior. Navigation, audio, voice activation very unintuitive and poor overall user interface. Nav accuracy and options better on our $100 Garmin. All-wheel drive system good on highways, such as slippery roads. However, ours got stuck in 5 inches of snow and did not transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip. Could not get passenger side wheels which had traction to engage. We knew that this would not replace our 4-wheel drive vehicle, but expected better.

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  My First Suabru but cant say last - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By suntg - December 24 - 12:49 pm

  Though I found following features are missing, still love it. 1. Speedometer is so small and not easy to read as compare to other cars. I have no clue why there is a fuel economy meter; when there is an option to see fuel average next to digital clock. 2. AC options are limited and not completely described in the manual. Manual doesn’t say how to change the Auto mode to manual mode. I accidently discovered that. 3.There is no Service Reminder available and you need to remember the service dates/miles etc. 4.Seats are comfortable but not long enough to give you thigh support. 5.No auto lock feature. 6.GPS is a jock not enough features.

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  Don`s Bean - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Drdon - December 23 - 5:30 pm

  I have had NO problems!! I have looked all over the car and I am impressed with the workmanship. Lots of storage space in the back. Several hidden places to store things.

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  I didnt want to love this car so much.... - 2016 Subaru Outback
  By Diane - December 23 - 1:07 am

  I had been driving a luxury wagon for 10+ years, and it was time to get something new. I always assumed Id once again buy expensive and keep whatever I got for 10 years. We looked at wagons/SUVs from Volvo, Lexus, etc., and had the budget to buy any of their models. We didnt like the Volvos. The Lexus RX350 was nice, but seemed a little too fancy for our needs. Also didnt like the lack of visibility out the back window. When I walked into the Subaru dealership, I was just there to cross the Outback off my list. (And it was only on the list because I kept seeing them zipping around on the freeway and had been experiencing car envy, which was odd considering that I always thought Outbacks were boring). I walked in, saw the Outback model parked on the dealership floor, and fell in love. There was no turning back.....that was the car for me. We bought it fully loaded, paying less than Id paid 10 years ago for my luxury car. Its been a couple of weeks now and I LOVE this car. I dont know if I will keep it 10 years. Its nice to know that I dont have to, because the price was much more affordable. The car drives like a dream and it has everything I wanted inside and out. Ive read all the criticisms of this car, and can honestly say that Ive not experienced any of them. The car has ample pick-up, although yes, I have to step on it a little harder than I did with the old car. Once I adjusted to that, its been smooth sailing.

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  I finally found a car, I can trust !! - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Marge Jesberger - December 21 - 2:53 pm

  My daughter wanted to buy my 2001 Subaru. I told her "over my dead body" and I meant it literally. I have had my share of unreliable transportation over the years, one cars transmission even gave up, when we were driving it out of a showroom. When we went looking for a new car (this car was a demo so it was practically new), my husband (who takes care of our finances) almost didnt buy it. The salesman wasnt ready to budge another 100 dollars off. If we would have walked away from this car, I would have been heart broken. It is now 2008 and I think it has been in the garage maybe 4 times. I can depend on it day after day to get me to work, shopping, wherever. I will never take it for granted.

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  Great in the Snow - 2011 Subaru Outback
  By danwatson - December 18 - 7:07 am

  I purchased a 2011 Outback Premium new in May, 2011. It now has 52,000 mostly trouble free miles. The only problem was with a power window that would get stuck and the dealer had a difficult time finding the cause. Other than that, its been very reliable. We live in a ski resort at 8,000 feet and the extra power from the six cylinder engine is well worth it. Even with the bigger engine, we are getting over 25 mpg with a combination of highway and town driving. Styling is subjective, but I think both the exterior and interior are attractive. We have a 100 pound golden retriever who loves riding in the back. I wish it had a little more leg room in front and rear, but its adequate.

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  Gotta go Out Back - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Ellard - December 17 - 1:48 pm

  Not the fastest but holds the road like it is glued to it

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  Lapis Blue SUV - 2017 Subaru Outback
  By Christine - December 16 - 4:59 am

  Know the value of your trade in and use it to your best advantage! Be persistent and youll end up with the car you want! I really like my Subaru Outback!

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  Gotta love my 2008 Outback - 2008 Subaru Outback
  By Dr. Bob - December 15 - 4:03 pm

  I recently traded cars with my wife. She got the 2007 Lexus ES 350 and I got the 2008 Subaru Outback LL Bean--I won the trade. (OK, we both think we won.) My loves: I (a 6 guy) love the front seating and the views through the windows. I love the solid, absolutely confident feel that the car will go exactly where I point it. I really like the gas mileage. This is a 6 cylinder car, I average 26.1 miles and get 29.4 on the highway driving at a steady 72 mph. The seat fits me like a glove, I love this front seat. Lastly, I love the cargo capacity. You cannot possibly fill this car up. My wishes: I would love brighter headlights and a bigger back seat.