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Used 2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
54 reviews

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4 out of 5 stars

Moving up to the 2016 Outback Limited

S D Miller, Spring, TX, 01/05/2016
updated 08/01/2016
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful

I looked at several other vehicles including the Forester, Hyundai Sport, Volvo X60, VW Tiguan and the Audi Q5. In the end the Outback seemed a much more logical choice for the money. The Outback rode a little better than the Forester and Tiguan, but the Audi Q5 was indeed a nicer vehicle, but at a much greater cost. The Subaru Outback Limited was a loaded vehicle and really liked the latest safety equipment provided. We immediately drove the vehicle from Houston to KC and hit some of the worst rainstorms we'd ever been in. There were even tornado's. The vehicle handled marvelously and was always sure-footed. The front and back seats were both very comfortable for four adults and handled all of our luggage. The HID lighting was not available, but I will get after-market which is a nice option when driving on old blacktop roads. The only other item not available was a front passenger seat memory & height adjustment. It can be difficult for over 6 ft people when the seat can't be lowered. The engine is very smooth with the transmission, but definitely could use a few more ponies under the hood. However, the trade-off with the 6 cylinder didn't really work for us. There wasn't a big difference in power in the lower range and the mileage dropped quite a bit - as do most larger engines. The Turbo 4 cylinder as in the Forester would be a welcomed option indeed. We did end up getting an extended warranty due to all the electronic equipment on this model. (not shown in total price)

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 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
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

I love, no LOVE my Subaru

SCM, Fort Worth, TX, 04/30/2016
updated 05/05/2021
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful

I have generally thought that Subaru's were good cars but if I'm honest they have been at best just ok to look at and more often than not kind of ugly. Growing up in a ski resort many people drove Subaru's because they are good in the snow and affordable. I was needing a car that would allow me to haul around dog crates and signs I use in my Real Estate business. I looked at many SUVs and found that most of them were just OK. I didn't even look at Subaru because of my perception of the looks of the car. Then I saw the new Outback and thought "It still looks like a Subaru but it is much nicer looking". It was like knowing a girl who is plain and then meeting her sister who has the family resemblance but is a knock out. I did a great deal of research on this car and in terms of safety, reliability and performance it looked like it could not be beat. I then went for a test drive and was expecting the car to be a bit sluggish but to my surprise I was happy with the acceleration. I drove the 6 cylinder and although acceleration was better you took a big hit in the MPG. The interior fit and finish of this car is top notch with leather and soft to the touch finishes everywhere. Most of the other cars I looked at looked like Tupperware had done the interiors with all the hard plastic everywhere. The eyesight system ROCKS! This car will keep you in your lane, apply braking in an emergency and has adaptive cruse control. The car is quite with a bit of a stiff ride which gives you the ability to use the car off road. I really like that the car sits up high so it is easy to get in and out of. The mileage is amazing being that the car is large and four wheel drive. I am getting about 29 in town and 34 on the highway. Not bad as it is rated at 26/33. Absolutely everything about this car functions well. rear seats fold easily, rear hatch opens electronically. seat comfortable and adjustable. Really good infotainment center as well. To be fair there are a few minor things I would change. I wish the doors would lock when the car is put in gear and I wish the passenger seat had a height adjustment but if that is the extent of my wish list for a car I think that is pretty short. In my work, I often have people in my car. I get lots of comment's like "What kind of car is this" and "This is nicer than I thought Subaru's were." I showed this car to my mother who liked it so much that she bought the identical car a month later. I think what sold her is that were she lives they had a snow storm that was the biggest in something like a hundred years. They did not have enough snow plows to do the streets and even people with four wheel drive trucks were having difficulty getting around. My Subaru did so well that I ended up driving her neighbors to the grocery store as none of them could get out of their drive way. If something happened to this car I would go out and buy it all over again. My research tell me that I'm not alone in this. The car is #1 in brand loyalty, Owners keep their Subaru's longer than any other brand and they have the highest resale value as well. I guess we all love our Subaru's This is my favorite car I have ever owned. UPDATE: I have now owned the car over a year and put 26k miles on it and I'm happy to say I still LOVE this car Update II I have had the car two years and it is still the best car I have ever owned update III 56000 miles and still the best car I have ever owned Update IV I’m still in love. At 65000 miles some of the maintenance items are starting to be needed but I have still yet to have any kind of breakdown. Update V: 75000 miles and only scheduled maintenance. I still LOVE this car Update VI 98000 miles. It’s no scheduled maintenance, I had to replace the clock spring in the steering wheel. A little over 200 bucks but it hasn’t changed the fact that I LOVE this car

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 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 out of 5 stars

Great Car, couple minor shortfalls

Luther Meitzner, Cedarville, OH, 11/05/2015
updated 08/01/2016
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
23 of 24 people found this review helpful

I've only driven the car for 1500 miles, but 1000 of that was in a single trip. The more I drive the car the more I like it. It's comfortable, smooth, solid and enjoyable. The nav system is excellent, the eyesight system is very functional, and the cruise control system is amazing. The only drawbacks are well known, often written about, and fairly minor. There is more wind noise above 70 MPH than in my 2011 Outback. I think this comes from the rack, but can't be sure - it's a rumble and not from the wing window that apparently was a problem on the 2015 models. It's not bad, just a little irritating. When shifting from reverse to drive there is a longer pause than seems appropriate. This isn't really bad either, but is something I've had to get accustomed to when backing into traffic. For about 1 or 2 seconds, you aren't going anywhere. The last slight irritation is the 2.5L motor. In most instances it has sufficient get-up-and-go. When trying to accelerate quickly on the freeway or on a busy city street it can be a bit of a dog. Nothing huge though and only slightly worse than my 2011. All in all, I love the car and hope to keep it for ever.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 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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5 out of 5 stars

First Impressions

awm, Elkton, MD, 08/27/2015
updated 08/01/2016
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful

WOW...Amazing! We just purchased the 2016 Outback Limited with EyeSight. It's basically fully loaded. This is our 3rd Subaru. We started with a 2012 Impreza (which we traded in) and then a 2013 Crosstrek. As I'm ready to retire, I was looking for a new vehicle that included the latest safety features. As I learned about the EyeSight system, I was intrigued. Simply put, it's totally amazing. Everything seems to work as advertised. The display when one engages the adaptive cruise control shows the vehicle icon and the vehicle in front of it. The lanes will blink if one is crossing lanes without using the turn signal. The lane assist is amazing. When engaged, it gently but firmly steers the vehicle back in its lane, but is inactive if you mean to cross lanes and use the turn signals. The display even shows when the vehicle is braking. The vehicle will brake on its own when EyeSight is engaged and you keep your foot off the brake pedal. We're still learning how all of the safety features work. The 12 Harman-Kardon speakers are great, and the Infotainment system looks impressive, but I have to learn all of its features. The Outback feels very luxurious inside. We like our Venetian Red Pearl exterior. The alloy wheels are sharp-looking. The car has a solid feel to it and the ride is smooth, but not too smooth so that you lose the feel for the road. The Outback definitely has better acceleration than either the Impreza or the Crosstrek. It's amazing that the stated fuel economy is exactly the same for the 2016 Outback and 2013 Crosstrek. The side mirrors do indicate when there is a vehicle in the blind spot. All in all, a very impressive technological tour de force. But, it is still an Outback, with lots of "for people on-the-go" features and great interior human and storage space. Over the years I have observed that many people who retire buy a new Cadillac or Lexus (or similar). The Outback is meant for active people of all ages, including those that are retiring. Can't wait to use it in the snow. In short, the Outback is the "let's go and enjoy the outdoors" vehicle that we all expect, and much more in terms of quality, features, performance, and safety. Great job Subaru! <br><br> Additional Review After 6 months of ownership- <br><br> Our overall impression is still very positive. The EyeSight system is amazing, and appears to be working very well. I especially like the alarms that tell you if something is coming your way when backing up. This works well even for children walking along the curb to a school bus stop. Very useful feature. Having seen some specific negative comments from others, I can address them from our experience- - Wind noise. Yes, there is some, when driving on the Interstate. However, it's very similar to all of our other vehicles, so it's really not an issue. - The heater works very well and quickly, including the seat warmers. - The leather seats are of high quality. Very attractive. - Yes, the clock is not in the best spot. You have to teach yourself where to look. - Now that it's wintertime in the East Coast, we did notice that the 2.5i engine is a bit noisy during a cold start. But the noise dissipates as the engine warms up. - We do have a small dog, and we put her crate in the back on occasion. The crate fits easily, thanks to the generous space. In short, we're looking forward to warmer weather to take the Outback out for longer drives.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 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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5 out of 5 stars

Officially an Outback addict

J. Margeson, Lindside, WV, 06/25/2016
updated 08/01/2016
Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

I have been through a number of cars in my life...from little Mercedes convertible roadster to big Jeep Wrangler and everything in between. The Outback without a doubt is proving to be my favorite all-rounder. It handles much better than one might think so you get a real drivers experience. It's true that with the 4 cylinder you are not going to win any drag races BUT it has more than enough power to get me moving along at a good clip. The trade off is great mileage for my long commute! This is the first car that I've been able to sit in comfortably for hours on end due to the seating, and during Snowmaggedon this vehicle was simply worth its weight in gold. I dare say the Outback performed better on the snow covered roads than my Jeep, and definitely better on wet roads. It has a TON of room in it, both for passengers and cargo. I'm 6' 3" with room to spare in the front and back seats. Interior is quiet and comfortable. And from what my research shows, this car is going to have a great resale value when I decide to get my next Outback!

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
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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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