Used 2016 Subaru Outback SUV Consumer Reviews
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Great Safety Features
David, 06/26/2016
updated 09/11/2017
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Purchased the 2016 Outback Premium 4-cyl in Jan. Very impressed with the safety features (have Eyesight). Talked with about 5 Subaru owners before purchase...all were very pleased. The vehicle is great in almost every way . Had difficulty with drivers seat for a while.... Found the drivers seat more comfortable when moved my shoulders as far back as possible. Had a 1550 mile round trip and did ok. Believe the Outback is a very good value for the $$$.
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I really wanted to love this car, but....
Javous Costeareaux, 08/22/2017
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
At speeds between 58 and 62 miles per hour, the various components and parts that make up the car we know as the Outback produced harmonized to create a low frequency pulsation that never went away. It was not a tire issue, nor was it an airflow issue; this was, simply, an Outback that reacted like a tuning fork at certain speeds. My service center could not isolate or identify the source, and not all drivers were sensitive to the frequency. However, after experiencing throbbing headaches as a result of driving this vehicle, I had to walk away from it after only 4,000 miles.
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2016 Subaru Outback for sale near you
Showing 3 of 44 listings
- 3.6R Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $19,9904 mi away
- 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUVMSRP: $9,99924 mi away
- 2.5i Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,99513 mi away
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Nice Vehicle
Bobart, 03/10/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Storage for things like jumper cables and other bulky items cannot be placed out of site.
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New 2016 Subaru Outback. DON'T BUY ONE!!!!!
TH, 01/08/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
52 of 133 people found this review helpful
I ordered a new Subaru Outback 2016 fully loaded with everything! I have had it for two weeks and it has already been back into the dealership here in NW Montana several times. Here are my complaints. It is a VERY VERY VERY COLD car to drive in the winter! Heated seats are lukewarm even on full for hours. Cold air leaks through every crack it can find in the dash and door. My feet freeze as there is no heat in the floor vent if the floor and dash vents are on. And VERY little lukewarm heat if just the floor vents are on. The dealership's response and their service dept's response after several trips in is that I have to drive this car 6000 miles before the heat and heated seats will work. Whaaattttt!!!! This is a bunch of crap! Also, the light colored leather seats look like they were done on a late Friday night in a drunken stupor! Lots of wrinkles and folds and gaps in the seams. Punctures too. Again, I was told that light leather was harder to work with and that it wouldn't be any different in any of the other Subarus. All our vehicles have had leather seats and I have never seen such poor workmanship before! On top of everything else, when I ordered the car we had reached a price. However, when the Subaru arrived hundreds and hundreds of dollars were added to the cost. I was told it was absolutely nonnegotiable. Theses hundreds of dollars that were added were to pay the dealership's secretaries. Again, unbelievable!!! Pay the dealership's secretaries??? The bottom line is that this brand new 2016 fully loaded Subaru Outback is the WORST car for this skier in NW MONTANA! It is one hell of a VERY COLD car!! I plan to sell it and take the loss. Ford and Chevy here I come!! Loved my well heated and fully loaded with leather seats Tahoe!!! NEVER WILL I EVER BUY A SUBARU AGAIN! Technology on car is HORRIBLE!! Dealer even admitted. Does not work with IPhone! BEWARE! Not heat or cooling to the back seats. Passenger seat in front does not adjust at all. VERY VERY uncomfortable to ride in the passenger seat! Tires had to be replaced after two months!!! After 6 months, I can confirm that I would NEVER EVER EVER buy a Subaru Outback again!!!! Even when mine is fully loaded. HATE THIS CAR!!! I drive it as little as possible! Getting rid of it soon!
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Nice car wrapped around stinky infotainment
Ken, 06/13/2016
updated 07/05/2023
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 22 people found this review helpful
Nowadays, the infotainment system is a key part of the car. I've got the latest generation (2016 Outback - Limited) system. It reeks of promise and delivers none. In fact, IT IS A ROAD HAZARD. Fiddling with the phone and the infotainment system will definitely cause frustration and I predict accidents. You can see glimmers of hardware capability. For instance, the AM radio has dynamic IF bandwidth control. (If the signal is good, the audio bandwidth opens up and sound much better.) But then alas, the software overcompensates for ruining the experience. For instance:L 1. Bluetooth gets confused and does not properly function. 2. The "tone control is bass, mid and treble" (should have been a full equalizer) 3. The APPS are trite and not updated. There are only 6 of them. 4. Mirrorlink offered promise, but their offerings miss the mark. Certainly not lastly, a phone screen CANNOT be cast onto the infotainment screen. I complained to the President of Subaru. He pushed it off on to a lower management person, who, (accolades to him) called me on the phone to resolve the issues. After our discussion, he said the radio software would not achieve the things we discussed for 2 years. He explained that new apps would be released April 15, 2016. None did. I'd really like my money back. So, if you are looking for a car and infotainment is important. Shop elsewhere for the next 2 years. (I'd give it three, based on the tardiness of releasing simple apps.) 12/16 Car has not started twice - just cranks. Eventually does start. Very alarming. Infotainment firmware updated, but no better than before. Still hate the system. Still want my money back. 1/22 Still own this car. Long term problems. 1. Slow pickup 2. Eats tires even after alignment 3. CVT thumps at traffic lights. 4. I still hate the infotainment. 7/23 Still own the car. CVT axles needed replacement at 90K miles. Still hate infotainment.
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Okay Vehicle
Sue, 06/29/2016
updated 01/18/2023
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 26 people found this review helpful
We’ve owned our Outback for six years. The seats are very uncomfortable; however, this has been resolved with cushions. Several of our senior friends, 55 years+, have difficulty getting in & out of the car. The acceleration is slow & noisy, but the vehicle is pretty quiet once a steady speed is reached. It gets 21 mpg in the city & 23 mpg on the highway, which is disappointing. The rear side windows are TOO small & make it difficult to see other cars, especially in parking lots & also when changing lanes. The exterior mirror indicator lights & backup camera are vital, due to the poor view from narrow rear windows. We don’t like to drive the Outback in the winter, due to the choppy brakes when driving in the snow. A button to quickly check current mileage from point A to point B is needed in this car. We’d also appreciate WORDS instead of pictures on the instruments. We had to look up where several features were, including the emergency brake & flashers. On the positive side, we like the automatic trunk release button on the key fob, which is used daily. It’s extremely convenient to press the button from a distance & have the trunk already opened, so packages can be quickly placed inside. The back seat folds down so long items can be transported in the car. Overall, this car is okay.
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Ain't what they used to be
RMR, 02/13/2016
updated 02/21/2025
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 37 people found this review helpful
Overall ride is rather bumpy and stiff. Backing up is difficult even with the camera. Engine is under-powered and slow on acceleration. Takes a very long time before the interior warms up when you put the heater on. Earlier Subaru's had much better storage spaces. Rear window hard to keep clean (poor design). Electronics confusing and some difficult to operate. It is apparent that Subaru has gone from providing great value and instead has become greedy and cheap. I now have over 92,000 miles on my car and the gas mileage is way below what the company advertises. I am amazed how quickly it gets so cold in the cabin if I turn off the engine and park, especially on my feet and legs and, it seems to be very drafty (in the area) when I drive here in PA. This was my fifth Subaru but I think it will be my last.
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Never again
Bt, 10/06/2018
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Entertainment and navigation systems are very difficult to use. Salesperson did not understand it either. Should have known right then. Many problems —- side stripping fell off within a week. Mounding fell off within the first year. Battery dead 3 times, replaced. Again dead 3 times. Service is unacceptable. I make appointments for service to be turned away or am told, the part that I scheduled the appt. for was not ordered.
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Our dream car!
G B, 04/19/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
It's not HUGE.. feels like it though. Don't buy a Subaru if you must have fancy electronics or luxury. It's bare necessities just enough to make it a 2016 vehicle. Safety, reliability and value is why we got this. AWD, road control, off-road capability enhances the value from just being a commute car. I personally prefer Gen 4 design, but Subaru made the Gen 5 more polished and refined looking. We have had it only for 3-4 weeks but already took it to the mountains once.
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Very Noisy and Missing Key Feature
BigAl, 11/24/2015
updated 06/25/2018
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
25 of 72 people found this review helpful
Outback has proven to be fuel efficient and very reliable. No complaints. I would buy another one when the time is right.
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