Overview & Reviews

Two new models, the H6-3.0 L.L.Bean Edition and the H6-3.0 VDC, both featuring a more-powerful 3.0-liter engine, join the happy Outback family.

• The security of all-wheel drive, comfortable on pavement, capable on dirt, well-appointed interior.

• Questionable exterior styling, still not an SUV in terms of pure off-road capability.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 99.00

• 

  Is it time to give up? - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By CG - January 17 - 7:16 pm

  Purchased this 6 cyl. used at 60,000 miles; it now has 125,000. The engine is so much better- smoother - than in my previous 4 cyl Outback. I had hoped to run it to 150,000 or so-- it depends on how much ongoing repairs cost. An ongoing maintenance issue is that the brake discs- esp. front- have worn out fast and the rotors warp -- somewhere I heard that they were undersized for the weight/size of the engine. This year I have to replace the muffler and a rusted out rear suspension piece - pricey repairs that I hope keep it on the road another year or two. Ive been able to go almost anywhere, in any weather, on rough roads or the highway-- its been a fine car.

• 

  Midsize WannaB - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By RoadRunner47 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought the larger Outback vs my 1998 Forrester. The interior is NOT midsized. Travel strains my legs. The power seats on the Outback helps some. The brakes on the Outback squeaks and have warped, an unexpected extra expense. I like the dark green, but lack of insulation makes the air conditioner ineffective. The great sound system is muffled by road noise. The 4 cylinder engine is far superior than any US made 4 cylinder, but I would prefer an US AWD 3.8L V6. I swear by AWD, many times avoiding other drivers mistakes. The plasic appearance is a far cry from the interior appointments of US made cars 20-30 years ago. 200,000 mile throw- away car.

• 

  Its not perfect, but what car is? - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By gatorband - October 4 - 10:00 am

  1st Subaru & 60K mi. later, still tickled w/ it. Have had only 1 recall item & a handfull of warranty-covered issues, incl. one that was covered way after 3/36! PROS: EXCELLENT handling, esp. in bad weather (rain/storms) & on dirt/gravel roads; smooth & stable ride on pavement; ample cargo space; good visibility; overall reliability. CONS: sluggish pick-up from stop (4cyl/auto); poor cup holders; tight back seat knee- space. Take care of it & it will run forever! How many Subies do you see stranded?

• 

  Solid Wagon - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By SeattleDrvr - June 9 - 10:13 am

  Bought it new. Extras include premium sound, heated seats, heated mirors and heated windshield. Manual transmission does well even with Seattles steep hills. No problems that werent covered by the warranty. I plan to keep it for many years to come. My only majior complaint is that the air conditioning isnt cool enough. There are only vents in the front seats so my passengers and dogs bake in the back or we freeze in front to keep them cool.

• 

  Nice but some erg issues - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By jeep8 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Overall we like the Outback, but there are a few odd ergonomic issues. The switch for the sunroof needs to be held down to open or close. Since the sunroof has build in stops, to close you hold down until it stops moving, release the button, hold down again (repeat) Due to the short winshield (the roof slopes up in front) tall drivers (62") may have an issue with the rearview mirror creating a nasty blindspot. Also on rough roads your head may bump on the side handle (roof is narrow). A shorter person will not have these problems. As for quality I rank the Subaru below Toyota/Honda but above the Big Three. This is our second Subaru.

• 

  Summit County Subaru - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By zlmtb - June 8 - 8:30 pm

  This is my third Subaru wagon. Its been very reliable during the 4.5 years Ive owned it. The only non-scheduled maintenance item Ive had to perform was the replacement of a malfunctioning anti knock sensor. At 70k the engine is not as strong as it was at first, but still runs strong. Both my previous wagons (GL and Loyale) were purchased used at about 90k and driven to 160k. With regular maintenance Subaru wagons will serve you a long time. They get good gas mileage too; 26-28 mpg on my current Outback wagon. Theres plenty of space to haul cargo and luggage too. Dont hesitate to buy one!

• 

  Great Cruiser - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By slivka - June 4 - 5:26 pm

  The car is a great freeway cruiser. The engine is very smooth and quiet. At freeway speeds RPMs are well bellow 3000. Little wind noise does get in (especially around window seals) and rear differential whines a bit at around 70mph, but overall the cabin stays quiet. Soft suspension and raised ground clearance make Outback a comfy ride when the pavement ends. Lazy automatic, on the other hand, kills performance and makes it hard to control the car at slow speeds when “off-roading”.

• 

  Subie #2 - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By flacke - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Subaru. I like it but I too find the 5 speed to shift a little rough. The clutch is graby and reverse is hard to find a lot. It also has to low of a final drive gear. At 80mph my 93 runs at 3100rpms the 01 runs 3800rpms at 80mph. This makes the engine a little more torquey but doesnt help the trany/clutch problems, MPG and engine noise level. Dont get me wrong I love the car I just have to be very smooth when shifting. The AWD system feel great in snow and mud. It corners well and is smooth feeling on the highway. The Limited is Great Highway road tripper, around towner and backroad shuttle vehicle.

• 

  Head gaskets - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Not so lucky - September 25 - 7:33 pm

  I also had the head gaskets problem. Only when I bought my car in (at 102K) the dealership did not want to repair them on their cost because they would only do so for cars below 100K. This while my car had been in the dealership at 97K and they found nothing. I find it a bit fishy they only found it after the 100K had passed. For me no Subaru anymore, although they drive great, dont expect to get much further above 100K without significant repairs.

• 

  2001 OutBack - 2001 Subaru Outback
  By Mike - August 20 - 4:36 pm

  Really have nothing to complain about except the fact I had to replace the catalytic converter at 90,000 which was expensive! I have had many vehicles with many more miles and NEVER had to replace a converter. just be warned if you buy one youre in for a expensive replacement part as this seems to be common.