Used 2005 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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Constant problems
Mike Howard, 04/05/2016
2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
9 of 20 people found this review helpful
Had nothing but problems since the warranty ran out. The brakes and struts need to replaced way too often, I've had to replace all 4 bearings at least once and I've got another making noise already. The engine leaks oil and it's a head gasket leak so too expensive to repair. Also had to replace both front half-shafts. Headlights burn out after about 9 months at best. Car is not overly comfortable on long drives, and there is no place to rest your right foot when using cruise control. The back seat is tight. Will never buy another Subaru again.
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2005 Subaru Outback Turbo Wagon
Andy, 11/11/2018
updated 11/18/2024
2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is my third Subaru which I purchased new in 2005 after moving back to Denver from Atlanta. I had a 2002 Outback which I was very pleased with, but wanted a turbo for all the mountain driving I do. The added performance of the 2005 made a huge difference. The car's traction in snow and handling in all conditions have been excellent. I have over 170,000 miles on the car and have recently had to replace wheel bearings and struts, but overall reliability has been very good. I dread having to replace the vehicle if maintenance costs continue to rise because the turbo charged engine and standard transmission are no longer available in the Outback model. I no longer own this vehicle as I traded it in on a 2019 Outback 3.6R.
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2005 Subaru Outback for sale near you
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- 2.5i Limited WagonMSRP: $5,2953 mi away
- 2.5i WagonMSRP: $5,800194 mi away
- 2.5 XT Limited WagonMSRP: $5,100194 mi away
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3,0R VDC is great!
KarlB, 08/05/2004
2005 Subaru Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 5A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I've been super impressed with the Outback, it has fantastic build quality and drives like a sports car, yet can go offroad most places a large SUV can. Power is great with the 3.0R being one of the most powerful 3.0liter engines in a production car in the world. The all wheel drive system works amazingly well, there is never even the slightest hesitation, no delay engaging as in other cars without permanent AWD.
Don’t share the same love for this car as my wrx
Steve Winnie, 04/02/2019
updated 10/07/2021
2005 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
I fell in love with Subaru’s after I owned an 02 wrx wagon. I sold it with 275,000+ miles! It was an amazing car. It was very reliable and fun and never let me down. But rust got the best of it :( So I bought this 05 outback XT thinking I would love it just as much. But I was WRONG. Now I was a little jaded because the previous owner modified the car quite a bit and the work that was done was cobbed and not up to the standards I liked. The car also had 182,000 miles on everything except the engine which was rebuilt before I got it. Here are the good aspects: the car is AMAZING in the snow, it’s comfortable on the highway, there is plenty of storage in the back, and it’s a fun little sleeper ( no one expects a station wagon to have over 250 HP under the hood!). BUT gas mileage is not the greatest (if you stay out of boost and cruise along on the highway you can get about 25mpg. The best I’ve ever done was about that) parts are expensive (you should always use OEM Subaru parts or an upgraded aftermarket part otherwise you will have issues), gas is expensive (premium only) and oem braking is horrible (I up graded the brakes with ceramic pads and drilled and slotted rotors, they stop well and look awesome). I spent $3000+ in parts in the first 4 months I owned this car (I did all the work myself since I work on cars for a living). But now that everything has been fixed properly, I really enjoy owning and driving this car. Lately I’ve only had to do oil changes and tire rotations. My tip to you is If you don’t work on cars, do not buy one of these unless you have some money saved up or you know someone who can work on these cars for a reasonable price. The money I spent in parts would have easily been doubled if i had to bring it to a shop.
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Never Again
Keith, 02/03/2006
2005 Subaru Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited AWD 4dr Wagon (3.0L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
I dislike this Subaru more than any car I have ever owned. I avoid driving this car rather than deal with the car's quirky and dangerous characteristics. Examples: Climbing a hill at highway speeds the car shifts between 4th & 5th gears every 4 seconds on average. The car responds to quick acceleration maneuvers with a 2-3 second delay before accelerating; not a good thing on busy Southern California freeways. The car has only 8K miles. After nine months as a Subaru owner I am ready to visit my Toyota dealer and eat the trade-in costs. I hate this car!