Used 2014 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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3 years old now and still love it
Steve S, 10/23/2015
updated 04/26/2017
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
100 of 103 people found this review helpful
I bought my OB in January 2014. I originally wanted a Forester, but later decided on the Outback for a better ride, more room and its availability, being that it was manufactured close to home here in the US. The Forester is mfg in Japan and was hard to find what I wanted. For what I wanted the price seemed reasonable. I got the base model with a special appearance package. I also bought one of their extended warranties, as I wasn't 100% sold on the CVT and heard some rumblings from other owners about oil leaks, but I suspect that is from the older engine Gen 2/3. This car is FAR FROM PERFECT. In fact there are some items that are downright annoying to me. However, I still love the car. Comfortable for long road trips, so far very reliable, great gas mileage (32 highway, around 28 around home/work, and winter months about 25 with the change in gas formulation we have here in Illinois). *Acceleration: well, it's a four cylinder with CVT. I'm in no hurry nearly 100% of the time, and in the few times I get frustrated stuck behind a slower RV, I have plenty of passing power -- for a few seconds of 4000 rpm plus revving to get speed, I think the trade off is worth it. *One winter during a snow storm, I had full traction on the snowy roads, while all the other cars (and even big SUVs) around me just had a hell of a time moving up a slight slope at the stop light! *Braking has been good, but sometimes on hard or long braking, it might get spongy. One reviewer had issue in his review. I think he's just a pedal jammer and drives too hard for car of this type. He's right, this car wasn't for him. *The 2015 reportedly is quieter than the 2014, but I'm satisfied. Hey! This is not a high dollar car! The only annoying sound I usually get is the higher revs with the CVT, but it's 95% of the time due to acceleration from a stop and only lasts a few seconds before all's quiet again. *Bluetooth: works well. The first few times it would drop my smart phone and I had to remember how to reprogram it, but it's held firm since then. The voice recognition used for making calls by name, I never use, as it's way too picky and difficult to deal with. *On my 2.5i base model, there is an "MPG" indicator which fluctuates up and down based on how much gas I'm giving and the speed and resistance of the vehicle. This is annoying to me, as it's a constant distraction. However, in the couple years I've had it, it has grown on me and I use it as a reminder to ease off the gas when I can. If you don't pay attention, you can unnecessarily apply more gas with no end result, especially with the CVT and its rubber band effect. In fact, on a start, for example, the engine expectedly revs up and I then ease off a tad -- the revs decrease, but the car still accelerates. *Headlights -- average. A distinct cut off at the top; this can be annoying to some. However, it's adequate and illuminates the road well. *AWD -- need I say anything on this? It's great! *Climate control is good and had good heat/cool distribution. My unit does not have individual/dual controls like other models might have. This is OK, as I usual drive alone. *So far, NO reliability issues. *Last summer 2016, my engine started making some knocking/pinging sounds. I couldn't quite place it, but it sounded like valve knocking. Oil? Actually, no. It was the serpentine belt which wore out prematurely. Thankfully, the repair was only $150 (appx). Warranty did not cover it, under normal wear and tear. This car is great for hauling cargo in, has a modest tow capability, practical, roomy, and drives well. It's not perfect by any means; you have to pay for perfection, if you can get it. It's not a rocket ship. As I mentioned before, I'm in no hurry and the few times I really need to get past a slow moving car, or a merge onto a highway, or dealing with a semi-truck, the four banger does have the power, you just need to feed it the gas and put up with the high revs for a few seconds. Normally, I typically don't exceed 2700 rpm in normal driving. ***4/25/16 update on noise. I replaced the four Continental ProContact tires that came with the vehicle; only 45000 miles. One tire was damaged. I decided to go with four new tires at a local tire shop and used Consumer Reports' recommendation of Michelin Defenders. Here's the update: my car I would estimate is about 25% quieter on tire noise. ***4/16/17 60K check. The dealership found my rear brake pads were at 0%. They thought they might have to replace the rotors and the cost would be much higher. Thankfully, they were able to smooth them off and just put on new pads.
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Subaru Transmission goes bad
Bneu, 03/29/2018
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
65 of 67 people found this review helpful
We had a brand new 2014 Subaru Outback and after 4 years and just over 110,000 miles and the transmission blew. There were many previous complaints about the transmission so instead of recalling the transmissions, they extended the warranty. Subaru will not replace and it is shocking that after only 4 years a Subaru, which is supposed to be good quality and reliable.
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Great for families (my intended purpose)
marbs34, 12/02/2013
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
38 of 39 people found this review helpful
I really like this car, I've been looking into it for the last couple of years. All of the merits fit what I've wanted it for. Lots of room, reasonable gas mileage, car-like handling, off-pavement ability... This car gets it done, after the first couple of weeks getting adjusted to sitting up higher than what i traded in, (2013 Buick Regal GS) I took it on a road trip 400 miles each direction and was very happy with it's comfort for the trip. The seats are great,supportive yet soft while not creating circulation hot spots over long periods, the driver lumbar support is actually very, very good as well.
unique wagon
zimboy, 12/15/2013
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
85 of 90 people found this review helpful
i did lots of research looking for a car that combined practical space, versatile in all weather conditions, cross-over aspects, a sense of adventure but confidence....something different from the hundreds of dreary over-sized SUV's out there. always knew Subaru were renowned in the AWD adventure/sport category but was surprised by how versatile the Outback is.
Luxury Swiss Army Knife
jg63, 06/12/2014
2014 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
56 of 59 people found this review helpful
Sold my BMW 330xi and got my new Outback 3.6R Limited. I've gone from the "ultimate driving machine" (which drove great, but didn't have a lot of room for people and stuff, didn't have a lot of ground clearance, and was getting very expensive to maintain) to the "ultimate do absolutely everything pretty well" machine. Tons of room for its exterior size. Plenty of power. Nice ride. Great value. Well built. Amenities are pretty good for this price point. While I miss a bit of how the old car drives when pushed hard on a curvy road, on all other points, I prefer the Subaru.
Grinding noises and burns oil
Breana, 08/03/2015
updated 08/02/2016
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
I'm a huge fan of the Outback. After my 2011 was totaled I went straight to Subaru and bought the 2014. But I've had some pretty obnoxious issues, the first being it burns oil. Like other have mentioned my car burns a quart of oil every 2200 miles. Additionally, when keeping the car right around 30-40 miles slowly accelerating to keep the speed I notice a grinding noive coming from the front of the car. No one seems to be able to explain it to me which is pretty lame.
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Rust its what makes a subaru
coffeelude, 03/21/2015
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
Got a brand new 2014 Subaru 15 months ago, mostly satisfied initially with the ride. Have about 12000 miles on it so far. Some minor issues include uneven acceleration in the morning and weird jerking when changing from reverse to drive. A few months after I bought the car I noticed that the bottom exterior of the car was rusting. A few searches online and seems like we were not alone. Neither the dealer or Subaru customer service were interested in acknowledging the problem. They claim that it is normal for a 5 month old car to start rusting. I live in the Washington dc metro area where the winters are not extreme.
Happy to Join the Subaru Family
cornpuff, 10/31/2013
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
Shopped around a lot, but was won over by the Outback's push-button park brake (wife has physical issues with pull-ups), its interior refinement, its reputation for reliability, its snow-handling prowess (BIG plus). Dealer couldn't have been happier to give a great trade in value and shave 2,500 off MSRP. It has SUV abilities, but drives like a car, and does not jiggle like a tall SUV. We are an empty nest couple in our 60s, who live on a farm in PA, and we need the perfect blend of on-road manners with the guts to get up and down a challenging driveway. It is a relief to find such a vehicle after fighting the SUV wars for decades. Should've done this years ago.
Love this car
jons2, 04/09/2014
updated 04/11/2016
2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
36 of 39 people found this review helpful
I traded in my 04 Highlander for the Outback, primarily because I needed a small SUV type vehicle that would get better gas mileage, and be comfortable on trips etc. This Outback met all my expectations. The seats are very comfortable, gas mileage is better now that the engine is broken in and the Chicago weather is warming. I get about 27MPG in mixed suburban/highway driving with the 2.5 engine. I noticed that the mileage suffers when the engine is cold (runs richer) and can take some time to warm up on real cold days. Constant short trips will kill gas mileage, fyi. Engine has plenty of pep which was an initial concern and I was impressed on how quiet and refined it is. After 2 yrs and 15000 miles, I still love this car. No issues with anything mechanical or electrical up till now, granted 15000 miles is not a great test of time. Mileage is better in the warmer months than in the winter as it takes a while for it to warm up. I drive mostly short distances so that kills the mileage. I did take it on my first road trip last summer around lake Michigan which encompassed a multitude of 2 lane highway roads. The eyesight technology on the cruise control really proved its worth. The Outback kept a safe distance to the car in front and even stopped when the car in front of me stopped. Has great traction in snow and I love the CVT! FYI, I did have my unlock touch sensor re-programmed by the dealer to include all doors to be unlocked at the touch of the drivers door. Found it more convenient than just having the drivers side unlock. I believe however that if Subaru adapted direct injection on the cylinders it would greatly improve the performance and MPG on this engine. Also, the logic on the steering wheel switch for radio presets is backwards. If station number 1 is visibly located at the top of the screen and station 6 is at the bottom, would it not make sense to coordinate the steering wheel up down button to the visible location instead of what they have which is a numerical logic order of 1 being at the bottom and 6 at the top? It drives me crazy that I have to consciously think that up is down every time I want to change stations. I hope they fixed that on newer versions. Great car otherwise!
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My Third Subaru
Dan Watson, 04/01/2015
updated 10/12/2021
2014 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 5A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I bought a '10 Forester when we moved to a ski resort. Loved it, but traded for an '11 Outback because I wanted a bigger vehicle. Loved that one too. After 3 years and 80,000 miles, traded it in on an identical '14 3.6 Outback. I prefer a traditional auto trans instead of a CTV, I got one of the last '14s. Love this one too. It has 16,000 miles with no problems. Gets 24 mpg with mixed driving. When I bought the Forester, I asked the salesman why Subaru doesn't advertise much (they do more now). He said that once someone becomes a Subaru owner, they tend to come back again. I guess I'm proof of that. We've had the Outback for almost 3 years and 40,000 miles and are still very pleased about it. No problems with it at all. An odd observation. My 2011 Outback often needed a quart of oil added between scheduled oil changes every 3,750 miles. I was told that's not unusual. My 2014 Outback, with the same engine, doesn't go through oil at all. The frequency of the recommended oil changes is shorter than most cars, but I've figured it's cheap insurance. I've been very satisfied with all three Subarus I've owned. The Outback just turned 50,000 miles and still runs great. I drove it from Southern California to Atlanta by way of Northeast Tennessee and back in June. 5,300 miles over 2 weeks. The only problems was a cracked windshield from a rock. The car ran great, got about 26 mpg, was comfortable for long periods of time. We now have over 75,000 miles of trouble free driving. The car still runs well. Have only had to spend on routine maintenance. There have been no mechanical problems at all. The Outback is now over 5 years old and nearly 90,000 miles. It still runs well and there have been no mechanical problems except for having to replace a broken rear differential mount. While the mechanicals are strong, the body is starting to show it's age with a few squeaks and rattles. Nothing serious or surprising considering its age and mileage. My wife is the primary driver and she loves the car. I sold our Outback in October 2019 when it had about 103,000 nearly trouble free miles. It was a great car but time to replace it with something new so I wouldn't have to worry about it breaking down on a long road trip or while my wife was driving out of town. After Subarus, a Forrester and two Outbacks, all of which were very reliable, we switched to a Grand Cherokee. I would have considered another Outback but I really don't like CVT transmissions and all Subaru's now have that as the only choice. Too bad or I would have stayed with another Subaru.
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