Used 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
Still fun to drive
Great Car!, 08/08/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
I was worried when I read on Edmunds that the "increase in size removed much of the responsive and fun-to- drive nature". Do not believe it. We've owned ten Subarus, including a 2008 Tribeca. This 2011 Outback 3.6 is far more similar to our 2006 Outback than it is the Tribeca when it comes to handling and responsiveness. I don't know where the Edmunds editors got the idea the 2011 … Outback was going to feel like the Tribeca, it is not. But as for interior room, it is so close to the Tribeca it is silly. The 2011 is the best Subaru we have owned out of ten, bar none. Already getting 25 mpg on the highway with only 1500 miles on it. Best we ever got with the Tribeca was 24 at 30,000 miles.
The New Outback is Fantastic
rlj-Seattle, 11/20/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
This is our first Subaru and we could not be happier. This is the perfect trip car. The highway ride is smooth, quiet and the interior is very spacious. We tried both the 2.5 and 3.6R and went with the bigger engine that is more powerful and refined. It still gets great gas mileage for a vehicle this size. The Hardon Kardon stereo is definitely worth the money for both the sound and … bluetooth phone. I drive an Audi A4 quattro so I was very happy to get this excellent all- wheel vehicle for my wife. She hasn't driven in the snow yet so she is in for a treat! She loves her new car.
Nice Rig......BUT!!! Update
Elliott Steele, Reno, NV, 07/18/2016
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
I bought a 2011 Outback 3.6R with 24K miles on the tout of Consumer Reports, and the fact my nephew has been driving a used 2006 for years while going to college. The only negative feedback I found was from a friend who owned a Legacy. She loved the vehicle, however it developed the problem of everything stopping periodically for no apparent reason and Subaru could never resolve the … problem. I should have leaned more to her experience for my choice! At about 42K miles, periodically, my Outback wouldn't shift out of 2nd gear when in auto mode requiring me to go to manual mode to shift out of 2nd. This problem progressively got worse to the point I took it to the dealer. That was nearly three months ago, April 19, 2016. Luckily, the problem repeated when the technician took it for a test!! Supposedly the transmission has been replaced THREE times, the last a brand new one after two factory rebuilds. Most or all control modules have also supposedly been replaced. Even the factory engineer was called out, and the problem even stumped him. The last I heard over a week ago, the main computer was to be cleared and reprogrammed. To date 7/17/16, I haven't heard from the service manager, so I am assuming that didn't work either. I have to say the dealership has treated me well by providing a new Legacy loaner. The only other negative points are the moon roof is too noisy when open, with or without the deflector and it pulls to the right after installing new tires which I was told by dealer is a design by Subaru, even though it didn't do so prior to new tires and the Legacy I'm driving doesn't pull either??? Otherwise, as a hiker, gold panner, and hunter, I think the Outback is a nice rig, but even if it is fixed, can I trust it???
Well, after nearly 7 months and $10K (on extended warranty so dealer ate it), the problem ended up being that Discount Tire installed 235/65R/17 on left side and 235/60R/17 on right side! This was supposedly found by one of the engineers asking if tire size had checked.
When I bought the car, the rotors were required to be turned (something I forgot to mention on original review) which the dealer (Subaru of Las Vegas, NV) did at no cost to me. When I got the Outback back after shifting problem, it again had pulsations when applying the brakes. This time the dealer (Hohl Subaru in Carson City, NV) charged me $182.00 to inspect and troubleshoot, and of course the rotors needed to be replaced.
I had Discount Tire replace all four tires (after them trying to change only one side & me having to make a scene) immediately on getting Outback returned. Then, after getting quote from brake shop to fix the front rotors, I took the Outback to the local Toyota dealer and traded it in on a Tacoma quad cab TRD Off Road. What a great rig! The Outback's off roading capabilities are limited.
Failed Transmission
Melinda Hoffman, Cayce, SC, 09/22/2021
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
I purchased my 2011 Outback February 4, 2021. After my mechanic looked it over & found no issues. It had 142,000 miles . In July I started having transmission issues right at 150,000 miles. My mechanic found a low mileage transmission which I had to take a personal loan out to pay. I have recently found out from another mechanic that has worked on many older Subaru’s that the entire … transmission does not need to be replaced. Just a part within the transmission called a Valve Body that cost about $1,300. He was surprised that I made it to 150,000 because usually there’s issues between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. I don’t plan on ever having another Subaru after I get this personal loan paid. After job loss due to COVID & having surgery, I purchased a vehicle that I could afford. Just didn’t realize that I’d have to take out a loan to purchase used transmission. I complained to Subarau Corp & there was nothing they could do. They did tell me about recall for passenger airbag. There should be a recall on the valve body part within transmission. I don’t plan on ever purchasing another Subaru. What a disappointment!!!
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium SUV
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Spacious interior, excellent outward visibility, crossover-besting cargo space, comfortable ride, perfect crash scores, commendable off-road performance for a wagon, simple controls on lower trims.
- Con:Lacks agility, numb-on-center steering, poor base stereo, fussy controls on upper trims.
Full Edmunds Review: 2011 Subaru Outback SUV
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2011 Subaru Outback in Ohio is:
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