Used 2002 Subaru Outback Wagon Consumer Reviews
Used Outback for sale
MOST RELIABLE ALL WEATHER CAR
BEV, 05/22/2002
2002 Subaru Outback VDC AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is our 3rd Subaru after leaving Mercedes in our past. We have found reliablity and safety of the Subaru never disappointing.The car handled well in deep snow and slush on the highway. The dash is well designed and everything works well all the time.No paint problems,no engine problems, just no complaints. The price is right for a great car.
Hypermiling My Subaru Outback
Greg Gorgeous, 05/10/2009
2002 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I first test drove a 1997 Subaru Outback Wagon and found the smooth ride uncanny since we also owned a Lexus LS 400. I finally purchased a 2002 Outback Loaded. The Automatic Transmission is smooth and lends itself to Hypermiling... use of Neutral position when coasting when approaching Lights, on Descending Grades etc. Re-engages Drive effortlessly and smoothly. Attained approx 35.8 MPG with room for lots of improvement. The Ride is excellent and Acceleration is brisk. My next Outback will probably be Turbo Charged or Hybrid when avail.
2002 Subaru Outback for sale near you
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- Base WagonMSRP: $5,750404 mi away
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Scooby Bean
dude, 02/26/2002
2002 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great handling and very smooth engine. Very fun to power around corners. Subarus don't seem to mind being driven hard.
Very disappointing
New England Resident , 01/17/2018
2002 Subaru Outback Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
5 of 11 people found this review helpful
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
Road Noise
Carter, 02/15/2010
2002 Subaru Outback AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
First wind, then engine noise make this car a problem on the highway. The wind noise can be fixed with a fairly simple repair (the frameless windows are at fault). The engine noise, however, is a result of the manual gearbox. The fifth gear has to rev high to allow the cruise control to pull the car uphill. As a result the car revs at 3-4000 rpm at highway speeds and makes a real racket. The raspy, unrefined 4 cyl. doesn't help. It is a deal killer. Other than that, pretty good car. Secure on dirt roads and in snow and fun to drive on both. The exterior is distinctive Subaru and the interior is well executed.