2004 Subaru Outback Review
Price Estimate:Â $1,053 - $1,640

Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Standard all-wheel drive, comfortable ride on pavement, capable performance on dirt, well-appointed interior.
Cons
- Not as capable as an SUV in terms of pure off-road capability or interior volume, four-cylinder models lack power, upscale models are expensive.
What’s new
Subaru commemorates 35 years of selling cars in the U.S. by offering a 35th anniversary special edition of the Outback H6-3.0 wagon, though this amounts to little more than a new alloy wheel design and a fender-mounted badge. Red Burl interior trim is new for the Outback this year, and six-cylinder models get restyled 16-inch wheels. L.L. Bean and Limited models get a new brown leather covering on the shifter handle, brake handle and steering wheel.
Edmunds says
A versatile alternative to mainstream wagons and crossover SUVs.
For sale nearby
30 listings
- 119,593 miles
- No accidents, 5 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- Spitzer Ford St. Marys (244 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Heated seats
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Saint Marys, PA
2004 Subaru Outback 4D Station Wagon 2.5 Limited AWD Clean CARFAX.Take A Look At This 2004 Subaru Outback 2.5. Has A Clean Carfax Report With No Accid...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S3BH686X47601328
Stock: 915SJ
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-25-2025- $7,495fair price$143 below market
- 112,192 miles
- 1 accident, 3 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl automatic
- Linville Creek Auto Sales (266 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Power Driver Seat
- Rear Bench Seats
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Zionville, NC
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S3BH675147630578
Stock: 630578
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-21-2023
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Subaru Outback Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(64%)
4(24%)
3(8%)
2(4%)
1(0%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
6 Years Old and 125k miles
4.75 out of 5 starsCT Dave, 05/04/2010
2004 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 L.L. Bean Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
This car has been a workhorse, grocery getter, commuter car, and family truckster for us. It still runs great and we hope to get 200k out of it. The exterior has held up well. The car has been dependable.
Mountain lion/Battle tank
4.88 out of 5 starsAshwin, 03/20/2009
2004 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 35th Anniversary Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
This is the best AWD money can buy, I am so used to it now whenever I drive any other car it is always a comparison to an outback and everything else is disappointing, I specially like the solidly build chassis and suspension, wish there was little less body roll, I drove this car uphill in 1.5 feet of snow and it was like driving a battle tank, I love the sure footed handling, I tried a … 4 wheel drive Passat and Volvo, BMW, Jeep, etc and nothing performs like it, I drove it in the mountains in Catskill all winter, I found many jeep 4x4 stuck in the same tracks as mine, love the robust engine. Cross country trip was so comfortable, no problems so far, I am at 100000 miles, VDC should be standard.
Won over!
5 out of 5 starsBrad, 08/15/2015
2004 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 VDC AWD 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
I have owned and driven many different makes of cars and trucks and non of them new, and this one has won me over to Subaru. It has its quirks that many people have listed as major problems, but if you are buying a used car or any car there are the ups and downs. With this one, there are a few, in the gearing there is a lurching at a low speed if you don't feather the clutch right, I am … a larger fellow and it can be difficult to get in and out of and in winter with a coat it is annoying, there is a flaw in the design of the fender panels that leads to a rotting problem in the steel, and for the life of me I don't know why they don't give the wheels more clearance it packs snow like crazy! However with all of that I must say the thing performs! I have climbed hills where other AWD and 4x4 vehicles ended up in the ditch, any problem I have had with it is nothing I haven't seen worse in other used vehicles and most of the time come's down to general maintenance, any company produces its lemons, and I must say I haven't had cause to deal with a Subaru customer service, never owning a car new enough to be under any warranty, but I trust this vehicle to get me to where I need to go no matter the obstruction.
4 vs 6
4.38 out of 5 starsweldonm, 09/08/2003
2004 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 35th Anniversary Edition AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
If you think the 2.5 is what you want,
don't drive the H6-3.0. We drove both,
no doubt about it, the H6-3.0 is heads
and shoulders above the 2.5. The
Special edition is very well equipped
and has plenty of spunk. The vehicle
is solid and handles as well as any
I've tried. We are very pleased with
the quality and we look forward to
snowy weather.
2004 Outback Highlights
Sedan
Limited
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $26,720 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $171/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.4 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | all wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Outback include:
- Alarm
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
People who viewed this also viewed
4.5 average Rating out of 35 reviews. |
Starting at $29,995 |
4.3 average Rating out of 110 reviews. |
Starting at $30,100 |
4.0 average Rating out of 9 reviews. |
Starting at $25,810 |
Related Used 2004 Subaru Outback info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Hyundai Ioniq Plug In Hybrid 2020 Review
- GMC Savana Cargo 2021 Review
- Audi A4 Allroad 2020 Review
- Rolls Royce Cullinan 2020 Review
- Nissan NV Cargo 2021 Review
Shop similar models
- Used Mitsubishi Outlander-sport 2025
- Used Subaru Forester 2025
- Used Subaru Crosstrek 2025
- Used Kia Seltos 2025
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Subaru Outback 2010
- Used Subaru Outback 2011
- Used Subaru Outback 2012
- Used Subaru Outback 2013
- Used Subaru Outback 2014
- Used Subaru Outback 2015
- Used Subaru Outback 2016
- Used Subaru Outback 2017 For Sale
- Used Subaru Outback 2018
- Used Subaru Outback 2019
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2026 INFINITI QX60 News
- New Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- 2024 Escalade
- New Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA News
- 2024 G-Class
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz G-Class News
- 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L
- 2024 Toyota Tundra
- 2024 Ford Maverick
Research other models of Subaru
- New Subaru Forester
- 2025 Subaru Outback
- New Subaru XV Crosstrek
- 2025 Crosstrek
- 2025 Subaru BRZ
- New Subaru Ascent
- 2024 Subaru Outback
- New Subaru Legacy
Research similar vehicles
Other models
- New Nissan Titan for Sale in Mooresville, NC
- Used Pontiac Firebird in Hayward, CA 2002
- New Toyota Rav4-Prime for Sale in Eugene, OR
- Used Lexus LX-600 in Nazareth, PA 2023
- New Lexus Is for Sale in Indian Trail, NC
- Used Hyundai Santa-Fe in Candler, NC 2025
- Used Mazda B-Series-Truck in Shirley, NY 2009
- Used Audi SQ5 in Lancaster, CA 2025
- New Volkswagen Golf-Gti for Sale in South Ozone Park, NY
- Used Cadillac Escalade-Hybrid in Galax, VA 2013