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Used 2011 Subaru Outback SUV Consumer Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
177 reviews

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

my best vehicle yet

go playOutside, 10/26/2016
2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful

I've had mine for 3 years now, bought it when it was 2 years old. I haven't had any issues. I can load it up and go on vacation and get 32 mpg on the hwy. Love my navigation, very helpful. I have helped a friend move and they couldn't believe how much I can fit in the car. Plus I never slip or slide when I leave work during a storm, as I watch others who cant make it up the hills. love this car

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.5 out of 5 stars

My third Subie in three years

2005graypwrstk, 03/27/2011
2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful

We have an '08 Impreza OBS and an '09 WRX with lottsa mods. Both great cars. I needed a comfy adult vehicle to replace my just sold F250 pwrstroke diesel. I opted for the mileage and utility of the Outback Limited,moon, HK,Sat,camera. With 1400 miles and just returning from a ski trip where I average just under 30 mpg over the Cascades, I am very happy. I questioned my not buying the 3.6 for the first 1k miles until the 2.5i loosened up a bit. From experience I know the Subies don't really break in until close to 5k miles. This car is tight, very comfortable, and actually handles decently now that I'm getting used to how to toss it. Only gripe..hard plastic dash.

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3.88 out of 5 stars

The Worst Phone System

Thomas, 09/21/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful

I still can't believe how many steps I have to take to make a simple call. Even after that the computer usually says it doesn't recognize that name anyway and quits. Its dreadful and its clear to me now whey the salesman didn't demonstrate it. 3 different buttons for the phone on the wheel and not 1 to turn the stereo on. Still got to go the old fashioned way. The doors don't auto lock after the car is in drive. Even the Yaris does that. The lift gate does not open automatically. A low end Camry its standard. The so called 8 cup holders are a joke, 4 are on the doors so you can't put cups in them and the others are so big that even large water bottles tip over. Tiny sun roof.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

WAY better than last generation

DC Person, 10/26/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

My wife and I used to hate Outbacks. (We have driven in one on several occasions for approximately 400 miles on at least 5 occasions). In fact, we refused to test drive this one for a while until I convinced her to give it a try. Instead, we were looking at the 2010 Passat Wagon and liked how that one handled and felt the engine had enough power. I also disagree with Edmunds; the ride is not "doughy" at all. I have never been in a wagon at this price point that has performed this well on the road. The V6 is quite zippy and I routinely dodge around "sportier" vehicles downtown with just myself in tow. The interior is much improved over the last generation and is far more comfortable.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Grandma's new ride

bruceb, 10/28/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Traded old Vo XC-70 for this top of line Outback. Safety, value and fun ride were criteria, not to mention high Consumer Rating (thanks CR and Edmunds). Read all 200+ reviews before deciding on 3.6R Limited (thank you all, especially 3.6R people who were right on the mark). The 3.6R has great get up and go. Looking forward to driving in New England this winter. Care drives like a luxury SUV, nimble and elegant, that is when grandma lets her old man (not yet 60) take "Stormy" for a ride (took delivery day Hurricane Earl hit Cape Cod).

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3 out of 5 stars

Nice Rig......BUT!!! Update

Elliott Steele, 07/18/2016
updated 01/26/2017
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Great First Impression

NJP, 08/23/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

This is our first Subaru, and we've only had it for 3 days now (so take the Reliability rating with a grain of salt - but we hope it stays a 10). Other than a few minor interior fit & finish items that our dealer is taking care of, the 2011 Outback really seems to be a wonderful vehicle. Well thought-out and very comfortable. Great power to MPG compromise on the 4-cyl. We thought we were going out to get a small SUV (CR-V, Rav4, CX7, Sorento, etc.) and instead came home with an Outback. Only negatives so far are placement of A/C vent right by your right hand and very distinct top cutoff of low-beams. That's really not a lot to complain about though. Great features/comfort for the price.

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5 out of 5 stars

Traded in 2007 Outback XT Limited

Chassol, 07/07/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Going from the 2007 2.5 turbo to the 2011 3.6R was a great deal. The turbo was fun and got good mileage (avg 22 mpg). Nice to go from Super unleaded to regular, saves $.30 a gallon. At just over 800 miles avg mpg for the 3.6R is just over 23. Great for regular gas. Don't be fooled the 3.6R (256 hp) has guts equal to the turbo (243 hp). Also no timing belt in the 3.6R to replace at 105,000, as it is chain driven cam. Subaru has done amazing changes in 4 years time with everything - styling, trim, materials - everything. We plan on keeping this Subaru for probably, at least 6-7 years. Look at Subaru they are fantastic vehicles.

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5 out of 5 stars

The New Outback is Fantastic

rlj-Seattle, 11/20/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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.

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Yep!

Bill M, 07/17/2010
2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful

So far, so good. Car feels solid, ride is smooth and quiet. Fast? nope, but not underpowered as some will say, and hey, it's a wagon after all. The car will get you there quick enough. Instrument panel and dash are clean and efficient without being overly spartan. Significantly more leg room than the '00 OB I traded in (yes, loyal). HK sound system probably won't impress die-hard audiophiles, but Stevie Ray Vaughan sounds perfectly crisp to me! Summertime now, but I expect the AWD to treat me the same way it did in my '00 when the snow flies and that is the real reason why I buy these cars in the first place. Good car, go ahead.

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