Used 2016 Subaru Outback SUV Consumer Reviews
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I didn't want to love this car so much....
Diane, 03/26/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I had been driving a luxury wagon for 10+ years, and it was time to get something new. I always assumed I'd once again buy expensive and keep whatever I got for 10 years. We looked at wagons/SUVs from Volvo, Lexus, etc., and had the budget to buy any of their models. We didn't like the Volvos. The Lexus RX350 was nice, but seemed a little too fancy for our needs. Also didn't like the lack of visibility out the back window. When I walked into the Subaru dealership, I was just there to cross the Outback off my list. (And it was only on the list because I kept seeing them zipping around on the freeway and had been experiencing car envy, which was odd considering that I always thought Outbacks were boring). I walked in, saw the Outback model parked on the dealership floor, and fell in love. There was no turning back.....that was the car for me. We bought it fully loaded, paying less than I'd paid 10 years ago for my luxury car. It's been a couple of weeks now and I LOVE this car. I don't know if I will keep it 10 years. It's nice to know that I don't have to, because the price was much more affordable. The car drives like a dream and it has everything I wanted inside and out. I've read all the criticisms of this car, and can honestly say that I've not experienced any of them. The car has ample pick-up, although yes, I have to step on it a little harder than I did with the old car. Once I adjusted to that, it's been smooth sailing.
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Great Car, couple minor shortfalls
Luther Meitzner, 11/05/2015
updated 08/01/2016
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.
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This is one awesome car!
Mike A., 10/22/2015
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
23 of 24 people found this review helpful
My 2016 Outback 2.5 Limited now has 2600+ miles on it with 2000 put on during a round trip to St. Louis and back. I love this car already. It's very roomy and comfortable, handles well, has plenty of acceleration (especially considering it's a 2.5 liter four cylinder), gets 33+ mpg on the highway, and in every way so far, has exceeded my expectations. The sound system is plain awesome, and the safety features just outstanding. While traveling on an interstate doing about 65, a car suddenly switched lanes and cut in front of me. The Outback's Eye Sight system detected the treat and automatically applied the brakes and slowed me down. I can't speak to it's reliability yet, but expect it to be very good based on Subaru's history. I have several minor complaints...both the clock and the outside temperature display are on an information "strip" on the lower part of the dash, and are quite small and can be difficult to find quickly. The manual(s) have a ton of information in them, but can be tricky and a bit difficult to use 1) because of how they are organized, and 2) because the writer's first language was clearly not English. I think Subaru could have done better in both areas. Overall, the car is fantastic and I am very pleased that I opted for the Subaru. In my opinion, it offers great value, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone considering it.
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2016 Outback 3.6 Limited w/MRP/KAS/NAV/ES-CVT
Ron Tamulonis, 03/27/2016
updated 04/04/2017
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
32 of 34 people found this review helpful
I'm in my 70's and we hold onto our cars for 15+ years. I did a years research from talking to Subaru owners in my neighborhood and Mall parking lots plus reviewing owners comments for vehicles 2014 on that I could find on the internet. If folks had a complaint I looked to see if that complaint carried through on the latest dated reviews or did it disappear. I wanted the latest safety equipment that I could afford like: Adaptive Cruise Control; Eye Sight: Blind Spot Detection; Rear Cross Traffic Alert and found this vehicle had these plus additional safety features. We drove to Florida and loved the Adaptive Cruise Control that maintained a selected safe distance between us and the car in front from out 75 set speed to 45 mph slow downs and back to 75 without having to reset the cruise control speed. I loved the "Multi Information Display" in front of the steering wheel which I set to show the next route change without having to look at the large Navigation screen. I was disappointed in the navigation system in that it kept trying to take us off route 95 in what was completed Florida construction areas also it couldn't find the Motel address in Miami that the motel gave to us. However when we did a Custom search in the Accommodations category we found our Motel listed and hit Go and it took us directly to it. Both my wife and I have back problems and we didn't experience any pain or discomfort spending over 8 plus driving hours per day (an unexpected benefit). We didn't have any hesitation going from Reverse to Drive with the 3.6R engine that often found with the 4 cylinder engine. We didn't have slippage (wheel spinning) going on to a major highway from a side road in the rain. With the keyless ignition, I did find out how to listen to the radio picking up the grandsons with the engine off. My wife and I love the car and would highly recommend the 3.6 Limited 2016 Subaru Outback. Review #2 I'm lowering my review of the cargo/storage area to POOR because when I put in semi-full bags of leaves and push them forward, the last bags touch and turn on the cargo light switch in the roof. I didn't notice the light was on and had a dead battery the next day. This happened to me twice after going to the recycle center before I figured out that the cause of the dead battery was from pushing leaf bags in the cargo area that hit the cargo/storage light switch. I haven't had a dead battery since I check that the light is off after using the cargo/storage area. Review #3 I was driving in a very very heavy rainstorm and the eyesight stopped working and I didn't expect that to happen. So there are limits on the rainfall intensity for eye site to work and next time I'm driving and it's raining that hard I'm pulling off the road. That was the only time eyesight stopped working. I don't know if the back-up camera set-up is askew a little or it's me as the car is never perfectly positioned in the parking spot. Next time I bring the car in, I'll have them check that. We still love the Subaru.
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Great car-Bang for the buck!
Nick Manno, 11/13/2015
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
30 of 32 people found this review helpful
I've owned SUVs in the past ('97 Nissan Pathfinder and '05 Acura MDX) so I was a little nervous going to a wagon. But after thoroughly researching vehicles that fit my needs I kept coming back to the Outback. I opted to get the 2016 Outback 3.6R with Eyesight in the gold color. This car matches the ruggedness and utility of my Pathfinder and the classiness of my Acura with unrivaled safety equipment to boot. After waiting nearly 12 weeks for it, I am 100% glad that I went with this car. So far I've owned it for a several weeks and have logged several hundred miles. Most of the concerns that have been mentioned in blogs or forums (eg wind noise, transmission hesitation, weak engine) are a total non-issue now for me. I have not noticed and am not bothered by any of it and really have limited things that i could pick on. Maybe something that might be an area for improvement is the under storage compartment where the spare tire is. It really is minimal and not much room to put things in. The other item is the tow hitch, factory only offers a class 1 hitch instead of a larger 2" receiver hitch. Other than that I love this car. looking forward to the first snow fall. Really am hoping to be able to keep this car for at least 10yrs.
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Very Good Car
anotherORhipstaru, 05/28/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
The biggest draws to the Outback for me were the resale value, practicality and build quality. For the price, the materials and construction are very good. The options were great, near luxury.It's difficult to find them on a similar vehicle for the price. The interior is pleasant and logically laid out. The back storage is great. Not just the total cubic feet, but the dimensions allow flexibility in what can be stored. I have the 3.6R, and it was worth it. The ride is smooth and quiet, great for long trips. The acceleration responds quickly, but might not be pony-car-esque for some. The power is good for mountain passes and keeping the revs low. The clearance is high, so there can be occasional control challenges at high speeds with heavy crosswinds, but good control during normal driving. The gas milage depends on how it's driven. It can be either powerful or efficient. There's an instrument to help with that on the dash. Even though I've evaluated it in a rational way, please don't take that as "not fun". It's tons of fun feeling that I made the right choice, a year later, when making my car payments. When shopping, I test drove fun cars too. They were great to drive for a half hour test drive, but I bought something I could live with. The Outback was the right choice for me.
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> > > BETTER THAN EXPECTED < < <
A Casual Observer, 07/09/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
After carving my initials in 2 oak trees in a 415 HP Pontiac G8 GXP in heavy rain, my goal was to buy a "safe," comfortable vehicle with reasonable performance. The Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited was my choice. 4 months and nearly 8,000 miles later, the decision was one of the best I've ever made. My worst fears, excessive road/wind noise and poor acceleration, were unfounded. On ramps and overtaking slower vehicles on 2-lane roads are both effortless. Road/wind noise is insignificant, even wth 2 roof-mounted bicycles. This vehicle is a gem. I foresee 200,000+ miles on my Outback over the next 8-10 years.
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Outback 3.6R Limited
Juan Gomez, 04/17/2016
updated 10/20/2017
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
Update: After owning this vehicle for over a year, I can tell you that I love this car and have Zero regrets. it never disappoints. It continues to feel more luxurious and expensive than it was. Power of the 3.6R is excellent. Confort is great. As far as negatives, there are few. 1. Bluetooth connectivity in the 2016 model is a mess. Iphone struggles at times. 2. Front / Center vents are to high and hard to get the air to hit driver and passenger comfortably. Needed to be lower in console. 3. Misc wind noises due to high profile and roof racks. But nothing to really complain. Overall, I would buy this car again in a heartbeat. This is my second Outback. First one is 17 years old , 170k miles and counting. Plenty of technical reviews out there so I will keep it to personal view. Ourback 3.6R is everything I wanted. It gives me that awesome feeling that I know I am in a Subi. The engine is definitely not sport tunned, but coming from 4 cylinder it feels strong. CVT feels ok. Not a huge fan of it, but also, does not bother me at all. It just goes about doing it's job. As for the interior, This car feels more expensive that it was. I sat in many cars before deciding to buy another outback. Jeep GC felt big, yet cramped inside. Plus that V8 engine paired to that awful transmission felt like a caged gorilla fighting you at ever move. 4Runner, too bouncy. Audi Allroad, too small. No regular sized adult can fin in the back of those. Volvo wagon, was nice. Felt more upscale than the Subi, but surprisingly, the Outback feels better built. Heavy thump of the doors etc. I didn't expect that. At the end, the Outback reminds me of a farm donkey. Definitely not as sporty as thoroughbred A6 Avant, nor a robust as clydesdale Land Cruiser, but I know it will take me thru hell and high water, it is virtually indestructible, it will be cheap to maintain; and all of this while properly fitting 5 adults and boat loads of gear inside. There is a reason the Subaru Cult exist. These things just work. The ONLY negative I can give it is in regards to the driver side front seat. It is a tad too stiff for long rides for my taste. But then again, that is compared to the Honda Odyssey which we all know is more of a couch on wheels. This Outback is great. I look forward to many years of ownership.
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2016 OUTBACK...LUXURY REDEFINED FOR THE BEST MONEY
JP Robertson, 11/10/2015
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
This is my fourth Subaru, and my third Outback Limited. The new changes in the 2016 are very noticeable. I looked at the 2015s, and the 2016 drives so much better. Noticeable is the retuned steering, suspension. Other new additions are Starling SOS. What is so noticeable about the 2016 Outback Limited is how quiet the cabin is for a PZEV 4 cylinder. Acceleration is good, not great - 174hp. Fuel Economy is good average 21 mpg around city, and 35 mpg hwy. I wish the warranty would match that of Hyundai or Kia...but being a Subaru, there are hardly ever any problems. The leather is much improved from the 2014 old design, the dash is absolute luxury, and the harman kardon stereo is 10x better than the 2014 model. The touch key board is very user friendly and you really don't need the book to read on how to use it. Lane Assist Warning works like a dream, as does the blind monitoring...My favorite feature is when someone walk by behind you or drives behind you - you are warned immediately. A bigger moonroof, and my favorite fun toy - voice command (you can do anything from call phone, to change your speed on your fan)...and it is fast and responsive, and understands you. Unlike the 2014 model. Overall I love this car! a lot of car for the money, especially when you compare it to Audi Allroad $55,000 MSRP or Volvo XC60 $50,000 + when you add all the goodies the Subaru has. Why pay more? when you can get all the luxury, safety, and 4WD at such a great price $25,000 to 35,000 (limited loaded PZEV). I totally recommend this car, especially the new 2016 Outback. Its an amazing vehicle with all the upgrades!
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First Subaru and it's awesome
Jay, 02/17/2016
updated 08/19/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru after many years with Honda. Felt it was time for a change and absolutely love my Outback 3.6R. For my needs, it has everything I wanted. I do wish it had more horsepower but that's nit picking as the H6 is more than adequate for daily driving and trips with gear and passengers. I test drove the 2.5 and 3.6 back to back on several occasions and felt the 3.6 was smoother overall. The CVT with the H6 engine is a great combination. I actually forget it's a CVT. Subaru programmed in fake shift points but they weren't necessary. With that addition of the CVT fuel economy was improved and it's not that much lower than my 4 cyl Hondas. I've exceeded the estimated highway mpg many times on road trips. City driving can yield quite low mpg but I usually get the combined 22 mpg or better. Cargo space is more than enough for my needs. Seats are comfortable with the leather and it's nice that all seats, including back, are heated. In the 3.6 you get HID headlights which are great. Many times don't need my high beams as I used to need in previous cars. Although I don't take it off road often, when I do it handles great. I switched out the rear sway bar to a stiffer one because I felt that on pavement it had a bit more body roll than I liked. Once I put in a 19mm sway bar instead of the stock 16mm, road handling was dramatically improved. I could go on and on about the pros of my new Outback but best thing to do is test drive one. I highly doubt I'll be going to back to Honda or any other brand any time soon. I find myself coming up with reasons to go out just to drive my Outback. Update: It's been over a year now with my first Subaru and it's still a joy to drive. Have not has a single issue to date. Currently at 22k miles. Any regrets of switching from years of Honda's is but a distant memory.
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