Used 2015 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) Consumer Reviews
Used Outback for sale
4wd Swiss Army Knife
Ed Fry, Yorktown Heights, NY, 10/03/2015
updated 06/29/2020
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
126 of 129 people found this review helpful
Note: I rarely give something 5 stars. For me, 4 is high praise and I quibble about the three choices of poor, OK and great. If I didn't rate something 'great', it's because it was less but certainly more than just OK. That said, I've owned this car for 7 months. I've had to adjust to it rather than the vehicle adjusting to me. But taking the Outback on its own terms, this is what I'd say to prospective buyers: It's been a very competent car. Road handling in all weather, except wind, has been excellent. Because of it's 8.5" ground clearance which is great for loading and unloading, entering and exiting, it can be a handful on windy highways. And while it's notable, it's minor. Electric steering is responsive, making navigating city streets and parking lots easy. Turning radius is excellent. Braking is good. Acceleration is modest in the 4 cyl. Beware. It's fine around town. On the highway, and with people and luggage, it's another story. But once you learn it and adapt, it is fine. Gas mileage started soft but has gotten better and averages around 26, city and town. Highway averages 31 which I think is outstanding for a 'station wagon-y' vehicle with roof rack and 4wd. It's a joy to buy regular gas. Cabin is comfortable, attractive and uncluttered. We like it. Leather seats are quite comfortable on short or long trips. Rear seats have plenty of room. The seat backs adjust, a big comfort plus. And folding the seats down, a 60/40 split, is a breeze - from inside the car or from the tailgate. The tailgate on our car can auto open. It is a bit fussy, a love/hate feature on the car. Visibility is very good. Backup camera is essential and works very well in handling tight spaces. I give it a solid A. Cross traffic warning is a good option. Blind spot detection is OK but the side mirror warning light, no sound signal, is weak, especially in daylight. That's a big negative. Gauges are OK. Lighting is bright and distinct. Time and temp are tiny. Bizarre. Lots of radio and music options. We have iPhones. They work beautifully and are very easy to connect. The technology is definitely better than ever. That said, not all tech is the same. While the interface works, the voice prompt is clumsy with rigid prompts and responses. I find that disappointing but I can easily get over it. The sound/phone system works seamlessly and the sound quality of phone calls to and from the car is quite good. That's basic to the tech and important that it works as well as it does. The touch screen is large, easy to navigate and easy to read, even in bright sunlight. Remote start is really handy in winter but it takes some practice making it work from the key fob. The suspension was VERY stiff when we first got it. It was on the verge of being a deal breaker. I've seen that comment from others, too. But it has softened. It is firm and comfortable and not at all rigid. Road noise is quite modest. Heating and cooling work well, front and rear. Front and back wipers are solid. Best option: dimming side mirrors. I did not get adaptive cruise control and emergency stop. I'm sorry I didn't. I rode in an Outback with that option and thought it was outstanding. Oddity: no heated steering wheel which I miss a lot! Another oddity and major mistake: doors do not self lock above a certain speed. If you don't remember to do it yourself, your doors remain unlocked while you drive. Even our 2003 Passat had self-locking doors. It never occurred to me that Suburu would sell a car without them. Lastly, the most important aspect of any car is its safety - all the things about a car you don't see or care about until you absolutely need them. We were recently rear-ended on a highway while going 50 MPH. The pickup was doing 65. My young son was in the back seat. That could have been a very bad accident. The car performed flawlessly, stayed on center and steered to a perfect stop. Another car could have lost control, hit other cars to the side and caused a deadly pile up. The back is badly bashed in, of course. But despite the damage, all rear lights on the car still worked. Even the back up camera still worked! My appreciation and trust of this car took a big leap. This is not an exciting vehicle to drive. It drives you. If you can adjust to that, this is, as my son says, a "beast" of a car, in the best sense of the word. I like "Ranger". UPDATE: the original tires, Bridgestone Duelers, were very poor. 29,000 and done. Shocking. Advice: on a new Outback, sell them immediately and buy real tires. Shame on Subaru for marring an otherwise solid desi UPDATE 12/18: My appreciation has grown. Added a value star. Reliable car - comfortable, safe, good in all conditions. We've since bought a Lexus, too. In terms of equipment and design, it stands up well, even surpasses the Lexus in some areas. No mechanical failures. UPDATE 6/20: same as 12/18. Love this car.
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- Value
Loving this vehicle!
dlw2001, Jefferson, MD, 07/21/2014
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
50 of 52 people found this review helpful
This is an early review because i just got my '15 Outback Limited. Have only about 200 miles on it. The car is fantastic. I was afraid of choosing the 4 over the 6, thought i would want more power since i've never driven a car with less than 220 horses or a turbo. Maybe i'm getting old but the power seems just fine, like I don't know when I will really need more, and most of the time one doesn't. On the other hand the gas mileage is what really makes me glad I got the 4. So far just driving the heck out of it including a very long bumpy and hilly dirt road it just keeps creeping upward, now to 26 mpgs... all around the town. It has a pleasant manner and is very quiet. Love the interior.
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So happy.
amanda9822, Boulder, CO, 11/19/2014
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
16 of 16 people found this review helpful
I've had my Outback Limited for almost a month and I am super happy with it. I was looking at a ton of different cars, the Mazda 3 5-door, Honda Fit, Honda CRV, and the Subaru Impreza 5-door. I really wasn't looking at the Outback at all until I decided the Impreza was going to be too small for my aging dog. I couldn't have made a better choice. The Outback is roomy and feels like it was made just for me, it's so comfortable. I love all of the electronics and the sound system is pretty darn great. It could use a iittle more pep on acceleration, but I guess that helps the gas milage. I highly recommend this car-it will suit all of my possible future needs: kids, big dogs, stuff...anything.
I traded it in
dismi, Pulaski, NY, 06/29/2015
updated 07/05/2017
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
22 of 23 people found this review helpful
I traded my outback as I had brought it in twice for a leaking moon roof at the carwash. They ordered and installed a new moon roof and it still leaked. also me left leg was freezing as I had air coming in at the bottom. I had to wrap something on my leg when I drove. For those reasons I was fed up and traded it in. I was considering a crosstrek, but after that experience I went with a different make.
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Best car in class for the value
aemadian, San Diego, CA, 05/27/2015
updated 08/02/2016
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I decided to buy a new outback after checking out Toyota 4runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer. You will not find any cheap rattling hard parts on the inside unlike toyota, jeep and ford. I was disgusted by the interior quality of Toyota 4runner, all hard plastic. Jeep Cherokees interior felt like everything was already going to fall apart. The interior of outback is all soft touch and solid. The gas milage is quit impressive for a huge AWD, unless you drive it very hard. The engine is solid and proven to be reliable. Lots of options and features included that other brands charge for. good looking car which won't go out of style anytime soon. lots of space inside for a big family. Update I love the car so much that I bought an older outback too. I loved the older one also.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability