Used 2015 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
Used Outback for sale
Excellent car
frank_, 03/17/2015
updated 10/11/2016
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
Love the car! Good mpg. I used to drive manual transmission and was always able to achieve better mpg than advertised, but not wtih this CVT. I average 28.5 with 100% city driving, just as advertised. I cannot understand how people get mpg's much lower than mine, must has to do with driving style. update Oct 2016, a year after my original review: When I had a summer trip in 2016 to Canada, I average 42 miles/gallon. I thought the car's calculator malfunctioned. Turns out it did not, I calculated manually, and it is 41 miles/gallon. Unbelievable! But when I'm back in the States doing mostly highway driving, the MPG came down to about 35. (In the winter, it lowers to about 30 with mixed city/highway driving.) Not sure why Canada's gas is so much better than that of the US--that is my only explanation for the exceptional MPG in Canada.
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Never owned a Subaru before
Dick, 04/10/2016
updated 11/04/2024
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I'm finding the basic car a great value. I drive mountains a lot and the 3.6L motor just purrs along. OK mileage (23mpg for first 2K miles. Long trips about 28 mpg) but have to expect that with the typical driving I do and AWD. Entry and exit are superb. Seats are comfortable. The flat panel display is somewhat of a pain but at least there are steering wheel control for much of it. And, at least, there are a couple dials to use instead of the very stupid Honda approach. Blue tooth is excellent. The backup camera is very good...especially at night. There isn't a convenient place to hold a cell phone except for a rectangular hole which precludes attaching a charging cord. The remote key needs work (have to press the lock button three time to get a confirmation beep and can't unlock all doors at the same time with the option package that came with it). Great visibility from inside the car after I added a pair of $2.99 convex mirrors the exterior mirrors to improve close in visibility. Overall I'd say I've found the car quirky in the good sense of the word that will take some getting used to. Update after 6 months and 11000 miles. Still have a great impression of the car. Very comfortable on road trips and always a pleasure to drive. The 6 cylinder motor is wonderful. Two minor irksome things 1) Have to press the remote key three times to get a confirming chirp 2) Can't lock or unlock all doors with one click on the remote key. No rattles or squeaks in car. One potential safety thing...on cold starts in reverse, when coming to a stop the engine increases 300 RPM. When I visited with the dealer they said they would need the car overnight to verify the problem. And that they may need to adjust the bands in the CVT. With the computer technology available nowadays, this seems very primitive. Why not look at the on board log and/or use an "inflight" computer monitor which provides all the various readings at the same time. This was available in 1986 for a Pontiac I was having problems with...why not now? Finally, the gauge package, while attractive, is not well done ergonomically. One has to look down to check the time or outside temperature. And the backlighting is different on the time/temperature readouts than on the dash. In my humble opinion, time and temperature ought to be at eye level on the instrument panel. And the cylinders surrounding the clusters are non-functional and not needed. Would I buy the car again? In a heartbeat. These criticisms are minor, but irritating, in nature but would not impact my buying decision. One year update: Now have 17000 miles. Driving mountain passes is a breeze with the 6 cyl. engine. Enjoy the feel of the vehicle very much. Had some mild snow to deal with...no problem. Also had a very icy morning and had to slow considerably to maintain directional control. The feeling I had was that the AWD had no impact during that icy morning trip. The most irritating thing remains the instrument cluster. To have designed the outside temperature and clock displays in such a way that the driver has to turn his/her head and lower their eyes in a field of similar digital readouts is an egregious error resulting in a safety hazard. Nevertheless, I would buy the car again. In fact, I love the Outback which is why the unsafe time and temperature readout is something I have trained myself on workarounds. 40,000 mile update. I still like the car but now have reservations because of electrical system. Had significant battery problems. The original battery had a bad cell and had to be replaced at about 30,000 miles. The replacement battery lasted less than a year. It turns out the small original battery size makes it prone to rapid discharge (read other comments on this issue). Replaced it with a larger size non-Subaru battery and so far all is fine. The battery tray was large enough to take the aftermarket increased size battery (Hmmmm). Why Subaru used a smaller capacity battery is befuddling. Additionally, the instrument panel doesn't have a gauge to check charging and discharging. There is significant battery usage even after the car is turned off! Subaru's decision to use a small battery is a terrible error. After a year the second factory battery failed to retain sufficient charge even for a week. Think about leaving your car at the airport and returning late on a rainy night after a two week trip and the Subaru is dead because of the low capacity battery. Even the remote won't work. There are lots of unpleasant scenarios in this situation.
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Lots of research paid off. Very impressed
flfoofighter, 10/25/2014
updated 10/25/2017
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Before I ever saw the 2015 Outback in person, it was at the top of my list when comparing all the features for the price. The model had a history of safety, reliability, good resale value, amongst the most room, best gas mileage, and best all-wheel drive system. In most comparisons, it was actually the best price too. The ground clearance was also the highest. When I went in for a test drive, the first thing that struck me was the quality inside and outside and the attention to detail. It could easily be confused for something more expensive than a luxury Acura. It drives very much like a car and only when fully loaded with friends do you notice its size. Very happy with this purchase. Update after 2 years: Love the car still. I do get zapped when getting out of the car and touching the outside but that apparently is normal according to the dealer. Gas mileage is phenomenal. In the Florida heat with A/C on, I consistently see the MPG stay above 50 when driving 45-50MPH. I think for what was paid for the car, it is an incredible deal. No other issues other than the rear hatch needed to be adjusted by the dealer. Update after 3 years: Still running great. Drove up and down some of the very steepest hills and mountains in Georgia , NC, and Tennessee and finally got to try out it's 4WD prowess when climbing up at 30 degrees on loose gravel driveway about 200 feet in length. Very confidence inspiring with X-Mode and Hill Descent mode. Really couldn't imagine trying the same drive in a non-all-wheel-drive car. I never lost traction which made the experience pretty fun despite the awkward sitting angles when climbing and descending. Engine wasn't screaming either which worried me since I have the 2.5 4-cylinder engine. Quietly hummed along at the normal 2000 rpm range.
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I like it...but
GK, 10/07/2016
updated 04/10/2020
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
A fuddy duddy's complaints: lift struts, not a prop rod for the hood. Electronic parking brake -- lose the battery and you can't disengage the brakes. No way to open the rear hatch from the outside without electricity -- dead battery and you're going to have to crawl into the back and remove a panel on the inside of the hatch. This would be a major pain if the rear was filled with suitcases and gear and you needed to get to the jumper cables that were stored down with the spare tire. And it's not a full-size spare tire. And there's not much storage space for tools -- yes the tray above the spare tire and below the rear area's floor has some room to lay things flat, and that is working for me, but forget trying to store a decent-sized tool box anywhere. That's the ugly, now for the good. The car's handling is much better than I expected. I LOVE the AWD. My previous Saturn Vue (FWD) had problems getting up a nearby hill when the road was wet. The Outback charges up snow-covered hills like "What's the problem? Did you think there was going to be a problem? I don't see a problem. It's just a little ol' hill with a little bit of snow. What's the big deal?" The gas mileage is out of sight. On road trips I'm getting 33 MPG and more. Even driving though mountainous Colorado I got 33 MPG. I love the paddle shifters! There's always a "gear" available to maintain the speed I want when going downhill. Dropping down the 3000 or so feet from Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs was no sweat and didn't require ANY brake-riding. Coming down Pike's Peak was easy as cake. (This is the main reason I bought the Outback instead of the Forester: nothing but LOW and DRIVE on the Forester the year I bought my Outback. I wanted some more choices.) The engine is adequate. I'll admit that I would have liked to have tried the six-cylinder version, but the dealer didn't have any, and the salesman said (what a surprise -- he was a salesman), "You don't need a six-cylinder." And he was right. The four has definitely been adequate. I can take on snowy hills with ease, but it would be pretty embarrassing if I were to try to take on a Camaro or Mustang...or, okay, almost any vehicle with a six- or more cylinder engine. I've made three many-thousand mile trips in the Outback. Last year I took a 4000 mile trip through the western United States -- lots of twisty, mountainous, high-altitude driving. The car performed flawlessly. I never felt the need for more power, so, considering the fantastic gas mileage, I'm glad I didn't get the six-cylinder engine. Update 2018: Still love the car. Not happy about the cost of updating the built-in navigation system -- haven't done it, and won't do it unless I take it on another long road trip . . . which, by the way I didn't do last year. The car is now being used more for short city trips, so the gas mileage has gone down. Still not comfortable with the only way to open the rear hatch without electricity is to do so from the inside, after removing a panel. Wish the hood had a prop rod instead of the lift struts. Found out that the heated seats don't reset to OFF when you turn the engine off. The heated seat function doesn't stay on with the car turned off, but the next time you turn the car on, if the seat heat was previously on, it's going to be on again. I don't like heated seats, so I never use them, but my wife does, and she doesn't remember to turn the heat off when she gets out. I've finally gotten used to locking the doors before I put the car in gear. All of my recent GM vehicles automatically locked the doors when you started moving, and, though I'll admit that I generally don't like too much automation, I did like that feature on my GM cars. Oh, and now that the free maintenance is up, I'm changing the oil and filters myself. Much easier than taking it to the dealer...at least for me. (I ordered drain plug washers from Amazon and I put on a new one at each oil change.) Changing the cabin air filter is a bit of a pain, since you have to remove the glove box, but all in all, this car is SOOOoooo much easier to work on than other cars I've had. The oil filter, as an example, is "right there" when you open the hood. Update 2020: I really love this car. I bought a Chevy Colorado Z71 4x4 pickup several months ago (to replace two other vehicles that I owned), and while the pickup is supposed to be a big-dog, take on anything vehicle, I've got to admit that I feel more confident in the Subaru Outback when taking on slippery, steep, and rocky trails. I LOVE the paddle shifters on the Subaru Outback. And I love how smooth the CVT transmission is. It wasn't until I bought and spent time driving the Z71 Colorado that I realized how much I like the handling of the Subaru Outback. The steering wheel feel is "just right" in the Subaru. I'm telling you, I love this car. Note: There is a service bulletin for the accordion-shaped exhaust pipe. Need to do that.
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I LIKE IT, WIFE LOVES IT!
Rick, 07/13/2015
updated 08/02/2016
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
We traded in our 2011 3.6R Outback wagon for the 2015 3.6R Outback wagon and are both impressed with the many design improvements, particularly the new technology features. Our favorites we didn't have in the 2011 are: - Eyesight Driver Assist - Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-traffic Alert - High Definition Back-up Camera - Pushbutton start - Rear seat heaters and A/C vents and controls - Two-position driver's seat memory - Power opening rear gate with remote feature. Interior comfort is greatly improved all-around with more room and reduced road noise at freeway speeds. Utility is greatly enhanced by the ability to lower and flatten the rear seat backs with release levers in the rear cargo compartment, and the addition of tie-down lugs integrated into the roof rack system. The exterior redesign gives the vehicle a much-less-boxy look compared to our 2011, and we appreciate the better visibility provided by relocating the side mirrors further back along the front doors. However it's not perfect and here's what needs to be improved: - The new CVT (transmission) still needs work. After the first start of the day in the garage when backing out, the CVT seems to search for the right gear ratio. That results in repeated drops of about 200 RPM that jerk and almost stop the car. This behavior seems to be related to using the brake pedal to control backup speed, and it doesn't behave this way on subsequent back-ups after the engine and transmission have warmed up. We've had the car to the dealer and they couldn't find any indication of what might be causing it. I've reported it to Subaru and they said it was the first they've heard of the problem. Since almost everything else in the vehicle is software driven, we're hoping for some sort of software update to address this annoying issue. - Front passenger seat needs height adjustment capability. Why not just give that seat the same adjustments as the driver's seat? Come on Subaru, why not?? - While I personally love the Starlink Infotainment system, it has so many features many owners will never take the time to figure out how to use them. The interface needs to be redesigned and simplified so "non-techies" can feel more comfortable with it and will be able to enjoy all it has to offer, which is a lot - Blind Spot Detection should have an audible alert in addition to the indicator light on the outside mirrors. Overall, we feel the engineers at Subaru have done a masterful job redesigning the vehicle and then implementing the many new features into the Outback wagon for 2015. And, it seems they've not stopped; the Summer 2015 issue of Drive, the magazine for Subaru owners, talks about several safety and security features coming to the Starlink system for "select 2016" models. They are: - SOS Emergency Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance. These will come in the form of new buttons on the overhead console panel that will connect the driver with a Subaru Starlink advisor who can dispatch help based on the GPS position of the vehicle. Sounds a lot like GM's OnStar system. - Monthly vehicle health report and diagnostics with notification via email of detected problems. - Stolen Vehicle Recovery allowing a Starlink advisor to work directly with police to help find and recover a stolen vehicle. - Remote Services via Starlink to help locate and unlock the vehicle, activate its horn and lights, and help find a lost key fob. These features can be activated from a PC or mobile device. Looks to me we have lots more to love about a new Subaru. Now, I wish we had waited for the 16's! Happy driving!!
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The great and the not so great
Scott, 04/26/2016
updated 08/02/2016
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
We have leased our Outback 3.6R for 16 months and are overall very satisfied with the car. Previous car was a Toyota Sienna minivan and a Dodge Grand Caravan before that. In regard to the Subaru, I should mention that we had an unfortunate encounter with a deer who tried to become our hood ornament, nine months into the process, but after $14K of repairs (thank you insurance company) the car seems like it was before the accident. The deer... not so much. Having our first experience with the airbag system was spooky when it happened but reassuring after the fact. It's nice to know the system works so quickly and really keeps you cushioned during a collision. On the plus side, the 3.6R is a joy to drive - super easy to get on the highway and able to accelerate quickly even at high speed to pass cars etc. It's a quiet engine, but you do get just enough of that nice throaty rumble when accelerating, a reminder of the VW GTI I had when I was in college. The automatic setting shifts at the right time to make accelerating smooth and easy unless you really jam the pedal down in which case the car can make you feel a little like you're getting shot out of a cannon - not something you often feel in a wagon. I love the handling and the seats and cockpit are pretty comfortable. The instrumentation is attractive, well thought out and placed and the car is very easy to see out of, with few blindspots. Even those are helped by the digital warning system and the rearview camera provides a nice hi def image. On the negative side, gas mileage is not good - much lower than what was promised by Subaru - but I've never owned a car that has matched the MPG number on the sticker price. We do A LOT of local driving in Brooklyn, NY traffic, so we don't expect much, but during a year and a half driving this car we have averaged just over 16 MPG for our entire usage. That's the average for both local and highway driving. On long highway trips we are in the low 20s. That is disappointing but not surprising for the size of the engine and weight of the car (not to mention my heavy foot on the gas pedal). One other design flaw, at least in our car, the safety belt does a poor job of retracting when you unbuckle it, so I've slammed the door on the belt more times than I can count. All things considered we really love this car and will probably re-up after the 36 month lease is up unless something comes along that suits our needs while offering better gas mileage. I like the convenience of a wagon and the 3.6R allows me to have the performance of a sportier sedan. I guess I'm willing to put up with the poor gas mileage trade off. I suppose I should feel guilty about that, but after twelve years of minivans (the mileage is about the same) I get to enjoy driving again for the last few years we have kids in the house, while still transporting them in a comfortable and convenient way.
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WoW, Wow, Wow!!
Nostalgia, 11/07/2015
updated 08/02/2016
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
I usually don't write reviews but I felt I had to write a review about this car. It is awesome. I recently purchased the 3.6 R (6 cylinder). I am so glad I did. The car drives smooth and acceleration is wonderful. The engine is super quiet and you can hardly hear the engine when you drive the car. The ride is very comfortable and the leather seats make you feel like you are sitting in a leather recliner (firm yet comfortable). The interior layout is nice and easy to read. Cargo space is more than adequate. This car feels solid and "sure footed" in all types of conditions. I drove my outback in very muddy conditions and it rolled through the mud without one tire slipping. Others vehicles got stuck in the mud but not the outback. Acceleration onto the the interstate while merging into traffic was a breeze. The outback 3.6R performed extremely well. Others talk out the lower MPG for the 3.6 compared to the 2.5. My mileage was 23 city and 29 Highway. I don't think it was bad especially for a 6 cylinder. Overall I am extremely happy with my purchase. If you can afford to get the 3.6R, I would urge you to get it. You will not be disappointed.
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Fantastic car
budrew, 08/27/2014
updated 02/28/2017
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
23 of 25 people found this review helpful
I have previously owned Outbacks: Gen 1, 2, 3 (turbo). I skipped Gen 4 as I did not like the styling at all. In the interim I leased a VW GTI, a very different (fun) car. However, it did not fit our lifestyle and made my family car sick, so I longed for a return to the Outback. The 2015 Outback is simply amazing - it seems to surpass all previous Outbacks in most every way. The styling is vastly improved, sharp in fact. It is a very comfortable car with a great ride. Acceleration is perfectly fine, steering is nice and tight, CVT is better than expected. Audio is very good if not fantastic, nav and other "tech" work great. Twilight Blue Metallic with dark interior - super sweet! UPDATE February 2017 - The car still impresses me! I love it. All kinds of weather, it can handle anything. A true family and outdoor person's car. The electronic steering does not feel electronic at all and the acceleration/transmission feels very natural. Niggles: I just replaced the stock tires and I wish I had done that earlier. The new ones, Continentals, drive much better. The automatic hatch is slow but fine. However, in cold weather in the mountains it is finicky - it will start to open then close again or not open at all. Supposedly, they fixed this for me in the past, but apparently not. Gas mileage is poor, but I live around hills, which will impact it.
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Made the Right Decision
mstrongin, 03/18/2015
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Test drove many cars before trying out the Outback. Last Subaru I had was a 1992 Loyale (predecessor to the Outback) stickshift. Was a great vehicle, though I think it only had 100 hp. Really liked the new design and all the technology. Also very comfortable front and rear seats, as well as generous cargo space in the rear. Was pretty sure I would get the 3.6, but tried both and while the 3.6 was definitely faster/quicker, it was not sufficiently so and I opted for the lower price and better gas mileage. I'd say for 90 to 95 % of my driving, the 2.5 is either great or fine. Very happy with my decision.
Great Value - Wondeful Handling
jillgirl, 03/03/2015
updated 09/05/2017
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
We LOVE our new 2015 Subrau Limited Outback ..... This car is very well thought out and the handling and comfort are the best money can buy in this price range or any as far as the handling on snowy roads goes the best in any price range .... You get use to driving certain roads in different cars / trucks / suv and this car handles and takes those turns like no other and we've had several jeeps, cr-v, 4x4 trucks, pickups and a couple front wheel drive grocery getters .... The Outback out corners all of them and the grip on icy roads is unbelievable, finally I feel wife is safe driving ..... Color us SOLD! 20,000 mile update, WE LOVE IT - Mileage is a remarkable 29.3 mpg lifetime for our 20,000 miles that is 80 percent suburban driving and 15 percent highway! Eyesight technology works, stopped car before we hit car running red light.
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