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Used 2016 Subaru Outback SUV Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
251 reviews

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5 out of 5 stars

Very Nice!!

KTW, 04/03/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Great safety features but not all are standard features so you will need to pay extra for them. I have a young child and a lot of children in the neighborhood so the safety features & back-up camera were very important to me and well worth the cost. I previously owned a Volvo XC70. In comparison, the interior is a little roomier but the material is a little lower quality & not as luxurious. Visibility for me is much better and I like that the vehicle rides a little higher but not quite as high a SUV. I have had the car for a only month and so far I have had no maintenance issues. The car, at first, was a little "jerky" when starting for a stop and it just took a little time to get used to the "touch" on the accelerator. All in all I really like the car. The gas mileage isn't great with the 3.6 engine but it's still better than my Volvo.

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
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Update

Patrick, 03/25/2016
updated 09/26/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

I have now owned this 2016 3.6 loaded Subaru Outback 6 months. What I'm impressed with is the overall ride of the vehicle. Steering, suspension, quiet cabin, are all indications that the folks at Subaru have decided to make this more than just a quirky wagon. You can feel the grab of the all wheel drive system and it instills confidence for sure. My first long distance trip was seamless. The 6 cylinders clearly provide the passing power needed. The only issue I have is the radio reception. Compared to my last vehicle (2006 Acura MDX) the strength of the reception is noticeably weaker. Overall I just love the Outback!

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

Avoid light colored leather seats

Janet Preis, 01/13/2016
updated 07/31/2017
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful

Love, love, love my 2016 pzev 2.5 safety option loaded Limited Outback. The leather is as soft as butter. That is the only problem with my car. I chose the taupe colored leather and it's finish is so soft the part of the drivers seat cushion next to the door started showing that I wear jeans (blue was rubbing off on the cushion) after I had the car 3 months. Advise black leather. In case you're wondering: 1. I always wash new clothes before wearing them. 2. None of my jeans were even near new. The two-tone leather interior is gorgeous but they did the handle one grabs to close the door in taupe not black. That shows dirt quickly. My mpg is only 25 because I drive in cruise control but it's sooo worth it! Rubber exterior along bottom part of car rubs off on legs or pants in extremely hot weather when car has been in the sun for long periods.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 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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3 out of 5 stars

Very Disappointed for Many Reasons

Lisa Smith, 08/05/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
31 of 35 people found this review helpful

There are so many things that are disappointing to me with this car. Some off them include: after 6 different trips to 2 different dealers I learned that the random hesitation I was experiencing was due to a bad coil pack on a spark plug. The reason it took me more than 15 hours of drive time back and forth to the dealers is because the computer they have running the car randomly decides when it wants to save error codes. For my mechanical issue the engineers who created the computer felt it made sense for it to only hold my error code when the check engine light came on for the exact same reason in 2 consecutive ignitions. My cylinder 1 misfire was impossible to duplicate by the dealer until I made the 6th trip to dealer and I just got lucky because the engineers who created the computer felt it is not necessary to store my previous misfire error codes. Another disappointment is the hatchback. It will not release unless the vehicle is in park and all the doors are unlocked. So, I am guessing the engineers who created this have never dropped a child off at ball practice or been in a slow moving school pick up lane before. If they had they would know you never put your car in park and unlock the auto lock doors before your child jumps out to grab their bags from the back and you quickly get out of the way of the next family dropping off or picking up. I also absolutely hate the keyless FOB. it is my first time owning one and I will never purchase it again. You cannot lock the car with the FOB inside. As a human I should be able to decide when I want my car locked and when I don't regardless if I have a key inside or not. I could elaborate more on this but this may just be a personal preference thing versus an engineering mistake. It is ridiculous to me that this car does not have one dedicated USB for charging a phone when it is not running. Their is no possible way that 1 cell phone can draw enough power to damage a car battery if it is not running. The fuel mileage has been disappointing too. I have never averaged more than 25 mpg regardless if it is combined driving or not. Lastly, the dealership I bought my Subaru from was a joke. Lou Fusz in St. Louis could have cared less about my random misfire problem. They did nothing to help me troubleshoot my random glitch and poor performance and they eventually just blew me off as did Subaru themselves when I called them. They simple said it is covered under warranty but the caveat to that is that it is ONLY covered if they can get the problem to duplicate at the dealer. Finally the second dealership, Webster Groves Subaru in St. Louis helped me to say that I should go to an auto parts store and ask them to do a code reading on it when the check engine light came on given that the car does not store any of the information after I turn the engine off. Needless to say, I do not LOVE. my Subaru....

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Value
3 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Love The Features

Tim Satterfield, 11/26/2015
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful

I purchased a 2016 Outback Limited with all the bells and whistles. The car looks great inside and out. In fact, inside it is close to as nice as any luxury car I have owned (MB, BMW, Acura), with leather all around, a great sound system (HK, including sub), comfy seats, and excellent safety features. I am only 1,000 miles in, so can't comment on reliability, etc., but will say that the EyeSight system is awesome! I love that it detects anything behind or to the side of me, and alerts me when I am veering or getting to close to other traffic. It is easy to see all around this car, much better than the Toyotas and VWs we have recently owned. While it is a workmanlike car on the road, the comfort features in the cabin keep us happy.

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

My Outback continues to make me smile!

Larry, 04/28/2017
updated 11/18/2024
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
14 of 15 people found this review helpful

My 2016 Outback EATS batteries. The most I ever got was 2 years out of one battery. OEM tires (BRIDGESTONE) developed a belt separation@ 25,000 miles. I had to buy 4 new tires. @ 56,000 miles the right rear wheel bearing gave up the ghost. It cot me $992.00 to replace it. I'm told SUBARUs are NOTORIOUS for junk wheel bearings. Except for these problems, I've enjoyed owning my Outback. SUBARU need to address these issues or I'll never buy another OUTBACK. October 2017 - 150 mile trip through Western Maryland, got 29 mpg, and remember...it's a 3.6 liter 6 cylinder. I still love this vehicle!!! May 2, 2018 - Just an update.....My Subaru Outback CONTINUES to please me. I love driving this car. I can't imagine wanting or buying any other vehicle. I'm SOLD on Subaru, Eyesight, the 6 cylinder engine, and the host of "gee whiz" electronics. Yes, I DID install a pair of REAL horns. April 2019, factory installed battery CONTINUES to be problematic. Hot shots required on three occasions. Went to my local Subaru dealer. They replaced the original battery with a NEW 30 month battery. So I guess I'll be battery shopping two years from now. After asking around, I was presented with two different reasons why the battery doesn't want to hold a charge. 1. About half of those asked simply said Subaru elected to buy cheapo batteries, and replace the one's that come back within the warranty period. Apparently their bean-counters concluded that was the more economical route. Sad. 2. The other half said that all new cars have waaaaaay too much electronic "goodies" which batteries can't cope with. Personally, I poo-poo that reasoning simply because when the key (or button) is "off" the only power drain should be the security system. The radio has its own internal battery for holding information, so...In conclusion, I STILL LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY OUTBACK! I AM considering the purchase of an extended warranty...mainly because of all those "gee whiz" electronics, which are no doubt pricy to repair/replace. BTW, last fall we took a 4,000 mile driving vacation (Baltimore out to Omaha). The car performed FLAWLESSLY in every way. Mileage just a shade over 30 mpg WITH the SIX, two aboard and a TON of luggage. 3. November 2, 2019 - With 22,500 on the odometer I identified a tire problem. Specifically, I noticed a very mild "flapping" noise on smooth roads. During a routine oil change, my mechanic noticed moderate to severe cracking and separation of the tread on one tire. I contacted BRIDGESTONE, and after some annoying "back and forth" I finally got the "go ahead" to have a dealer evaluate the tire. He concurred and offered to mount a full set (all wheel drive requirement) of factory "blems" (they look perfect to me) for $400. I jumped on it! Probably just a fluke, as only one of four tires exhibited the cracking. Bridgestone did right by me.:-) Otherwise, the car CONTINUES to satisfy me. It truly is a quality vehicle and a pleasure to drive. May 6, 2020 - Current mileage is just a bit over 26,000 miles. I LOVE THIS VEHICLE! No problems to report. BTW, Subaru has taken the 3.6 six cylinder OUT of the lineup and replaced it with a tiny 4 banger with a turbo. Too bad, because I LOVE my 3.6. I have always believed there is NO substitute for CUBIC INCHES. November 6, 2020 - 29,000+ miles on the odometer and I'm still in love with my OUTBACK. It is a pleasure to drive. No issues to report. May 6, 2021 - 31,000 miles. Last month my radio began doing strange things. Steering wheel controls for radio quit working, and sporadic spooky beeping/events occurred. The dealer tried a computer "fix" but ended up having to replace the radio. Fortunately, I took an additional 3 year service policy so the $1,700 radio only cost me $100 out of pocket. I definitely recommend taking the extended warranty. Radio works fine now. Yes, I STILL love my OUTBACK! I've considered buying a new OUTBACK, but since they stopped making the 3.6L 6 in favor of the smaller block 4 with a blower, I think I'll soldier on with my 2016. I've always maintained that there's NO substitute for CUBIC INCHES. OCTOBER 2021 - Just completed a 6,178 mile trip from Baltimore to Saint George, Utah and return. My Outback performed flawlessly and the 3.6R six cylinder engine delivered 29.0 mpg overall. Didn't burn a DROP of motor oil! I CONTINUE to LOVE my Outback! Total odometer reading is just under 40,000 miles! MAY 8, 2023 - The odometer is currently showing a bit more than 50,000 miles, and everything continues to be spectacular. I would buy another Outback in a New York Second...if they STILL offered the 3.6R SIX BANGER! Seems the geniuses @ Subaru dumped the 256 hp normally aspirated 6 cylinder in favor of the 2.4 liter WITH A BLOWER. There continues to be no substitute for CUBIC INCHES, yet SUBARU insists on jamming that engine-killing turbo down the public's throats. Grrrr! I'll NEVER buy one. Not sure what I'll buy next time. I'll definitely look at Honda and Toyota, but NO EVs! May 14, 2024 - I'm still enjoying my OUTBACK. I now have 60,000+ miles on it, and it performs like it was new. No issues to report since last review. November 18, 2024 - 66,000 miles and everything is still smooth. Still love my Subaru!!!

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

The best value in a 4WD SUV

Tim, 01/14/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
55 of 64 people found this review helpful

After hearing friends rave about their Subaru's we decided to replace our aging 4Runner(over 340k miles) with a 2016 Outback Premium 4 cylinder. Initial impressions are: great build quality, plenty of room & storage, entry/exit very easy, great sight lines, wonderful mileage, great handling and traction, * Steering feels well centered, tracks great and provides just enough feedback to make long drives comfortable. * Ride is well controlled and handles the pot holed northern Ohio roads with grace. * Very quiet interior at speed. * CVT transition also feels like it’s not a CVT, provides the common shift breaks and always seems in tune with what’s needed. * Acceleration of the boxer 4 cylinder is what you should expect, I never feel under powered and unable to pass or keep up with traffic. But never feel like there is a big reserve to pull from when needed. * Gas mileage is fantastic for an 4WD SUV with this much room, this is where the boxer 4 come in. * An intangible as it may sounds - it feels like a well-engineered vehicle. From the packaging of the engine and 4WD drive system, to the details that include underside paneling, engine bay access for maintenance, cross bar and roof latches, ties downs in the rear for cargo, triple door seals, safety systems that include a hefty rear door impact beam, etc. We shopped around and even considered an Acura RDX, we own several other Acura’s and also considered Mazda(CX6 and CX9) and Ford(Escape and Edge) entries. While the Acura was a much better vehicle in every category(expect MPG) it was also another $11k. I love the look of the Mazda’s but they felt cheap with lots of wind and engine noise, poor CVT shifting and a tin feel to everything about them. The Fords were the biggest disappointment, horrible shifting, poor ergonomics and over-priced. Both felt cheap in comparison. I don’t understand how Subaru is able to build this car for this price when I compared it to similar entries from Mazda and Ford. The Outback was leaps and bounds a better car and value.

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

Keep Your Outback, Outfront

richard flaherty, 08/04/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

After only a month I can tell that this car has it all over the Toyota Venza it replaced, except, except, the Toyota, and others I understand, offer free basic maintenance (oil changes, etc.) and state inspections for the first two years, twenty thousand miles, which means the user will pay pretty much nothing during a three-year lease term, i.e., turning it back before the third maintenance date. Subaru should offer this perk. Nevertheless, I feel this is going to be a great car for me.

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
4 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

Subaru for life

Mike, 07/15/2016
updated 02/13/2023
2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

It's 2023 now and after almost 7 years and with 64,500 on the odometer if you asked me if I would buy again I would say yes. I bought out my lease. She still rides like a dream, a little slow and that's always been the case but I am 47 now and I prefer comfort and safety. No rattles whatsoever, everything still works. My next will be a Touring XT just for the ventilated seats. This has been my experience in my almost 7 years as 7-11-2016 is the date I started the lease. - I still feel safe driving, snow, rain never a problem (I live in West Chester, PA) not the snow belt but it does snow and rains heavily. -Everything still works ( Navigation, heated seats, eyesight, power lift gate, blind spot, lane keep assist, usb, etc. The cargo room behind front seats is AWESOME. (BTW, Navigation was and still is terrible.) -Now, the issues, replacements, repairs. - 23k miles rear passenger wheel bearing replaced under warranty - 50k miles windshield replaced, rock from construction truck on 95- if it happens with eyesight it needs to be recalibrated insurance covered 500 deductible - 57k blower motor, still worked but was loud on speeds 1-2( it wasn't a leaf caught in fan)- 350 bucks non dealer - 3 batteries costs varied- was never stranded as 2 were done when doing service and once at home and AAA came out There is definitely a power drain on this car and I am hearing its more than just Subaru. No issues with the CVT. I maintain my car. I was rear ended (low speed) in 12-19 by a Nissan Rogue. The cost to replace and paint my rear bumper was 1900, no frame damage. The right rear of my bumper was knocked off a tad. The Nissan looked horrible, older model. So, all in all, yeah I would buy it again. People can call it anything then want, be it a mid-size SUV or wagon (as my insurance company classifies it) it gets the job done for me time and time again and I am happy. I hand wash, touch less if I do a car wash wash and paint and finish are still superb after almost 7 years. Thank you for reading my review. This is my second Subaru. My first was a 2014 XV Crosstrek limited which was nice but I wanted something larger with a better ride. I have a 2.5i Limited fully loaded and couldn't be more pleased. Very comfortable seats unlike the Forester (even touring trim) and much, much better ride. I am 40 and initially my next car was going to be a WRX but I think the novelty would wear off in a month. I never thought I would be leasing a wagon because that's exactly what it is, but I am so very glad I did. Overall, nothing compares on the market to the Outback. I have driven my bosses Honda CRV that felt very unstable unlike the Outback that feels solid. Also, the AWD systems in the Honda are fake and I prefer the the true AWD in Subarus. The style both inside and out aren't for everyone but it is slowly growing on me. I would not buy a Subaru unless its a limited model or above. Go see for yourself but just keep in mind if you do decide to go with the CRV or CX5 it may be me passing you in the snow.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

The best vehicle

David, 05/01/2016
updated 08/01/2016
2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful

I wanted a wagon with a comfortable seat and some power to replace my 2012 Prius V. I loved the Prius V but the seat was very uncomfortable. After driving CRV Touring AWD, Volvo XC70, Acura RDX AWD, Allroad and Outback, I was surprised to find myself really liking the Subaru Outback. I like its spacious interior, simple and logical layout of audio and navigation systems, and overall feel and looks of the interiors. The seat is extremely comfortable. There is no need to read the manual because everything is intuitive. It runs very quiet and acceleration is acceptable even with a 4 cylinder engine. I chose the 3.6 R Limited for for power and smoothness. The adaptable cruise control works very well. I also got the factory trailer hitch for my bikes. However, there is excessive wind turbulence with moonroof wide open. Other than that It is the most versatile, practical and fun to drive wagon. It has gotten 21 to 25 MPG.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
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