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Used 2017 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
203 reviews

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4 out of 5 stars

Great Value for the Money

OhioGuy, 08/04/2017
updated 03/05/2020
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

My first Outback with the 3.6 liter engine. Drove it back to back with an Acura RDX. Why I chose the Outback: 1. super smooth engine, 2. superior AWD system, 3. surprisingly good CVT transmission to the degree that it drives like a normal automatic transmission, 4. better cargo capacity, 5. superior outward visibility from the driver's seat, 6. less expensive to insure, and 7. at 5'10' and 180lbs, it just fits me well. Unless you are predisposed to measure your self worth by a hood badge or brand of vehicle, you will not regret buying this car. I would recommend however that you ditch the standard Bridgestone tires as they are mediocre. I replaced the Bridgestone tires with a set of Michelin Premier LTX tires, and the difference in grip, handling and road noise was significant. Update 3/5/18 - great ability to handle a highway merge into heavy traffic and pass without drama when needed. Very capable on long grades in the mountains. Update 9/5/18 - my Outback has been problem free. It is a pleasure to not have to endure the constant road noise which I experienced with multiple Hondas. I will however call out the poor wear on my Michelin Premier LTX tires despite routine rotations and inflation checks. Update 3/5/20 - I am greatly disappointed that Subaru has discontinued the 3.6 liter engine. The turbo 4 which is now available is a poor substitute.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 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

Perfect mix!

Don Wheeler, 10/31/2016
2017 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful

I love this car. Great value without compromises around quality or noise level. Very nice handling, especially for the ride height. Superb turning radius, great visibility, plenty of cargo space and front/rear seating space. As a mix of attributes, the Outback nails it.

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

This Outback Fills The Bill

Walter Churchill, 09/28/2016
2017 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
22 of 24 people found this review helpful

Living in Maine it's important to have a reliable car that can handle all of the various road conditions. Although I have 3 cars (a Lexus ES, a Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Outback), my vehicle of choice during the winter has always been the Subaru. I previously had a Subaru Baja, but after 12 years it was starting to see the effects of the Maine winters. I recently replaced it with the Outback Limited. Subaru has finally started to add the technology and creature comforts that have been around for many years in the Toyota and other Japanese cars. This car is extremely comfortable to drive. the steering is tight and predictable, the breaking is excellent, and the Navigation and I-sight systems work well. Although I've only had the car for a few months, the more that I drive it the more that I like it. It's not as quiet and doesn't have the soft ride of my Lexus, but it's still very quiet at highway speeds and the road feel is smooth. There is little or no lean going around curves. The various controls, although logically positioned, still took a little getting used to as they are somewhat different than other cars I have owned. However, after driving the car for a few months I've gotten used to where everything is and have no issues. The car has great visibility, an incredible amount of interior space, and several features that I've only seen on some of the more expensive luxury cars, such as heated and reclining rear passenger seats. I anticipate that this car will be trouble free, and the Subaru guarantee is bumper to bumper including "wear items" (such as windshield wipers, break pads, etc.). I would not hesitate to recommend this SUV to anyone.

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

Great Car-Update 5

Paul, 11/05/2016
updated 06/07/2021
2017 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful

I have had my 2017 Subaru Outback for nearly 5 years and am around 111k miles. I remain extremely happy with the vehicle. I purchased the Outback in Maryland as a commuter vehicle, drove it the entire way to Alaska, spent a winter in Anchorage, and drove it back to the East Coast the following Spring. In both summer road conditions to the more extreme Alaskan winters with ice and snow covered roads, the Outback remained extremely nimble & sure footed keeping me & my family safe. Other than routine maintenance, I have had very few problems with the car. The only exception to that is having to replace the car’s battery every two years. I haven’t pursued the issue issue with a dealership, but I am on my third battery. Gas mileage has remained consistent at about 30 mpg combined. On a few long trips I have gotten as high as 33 mpg. The interior is also holding up as well. Overall, I remain extremely satisfied with my Outback and would consider purchasing another Subaru in the future.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 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

Heads above the Pilot EXL updated Feb 2020

Amy, 02/14/2017
updated 02/18/2020
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful

The only concern I had going from a 2013 Pilot EXL was the cargo room. As a direct sales business woman I have a traveling boutique. So far the decreased area has not been a problem. The controls are not even comparable. The Pilot does not even hold a candle to the Outback in the controls. The only down fall is there is no charging port for the back seat. There is a 12v charger in the cargo area. The Bluetooth system is MUCH clearer in the Outback. My husband said I no longer sound like I am in a tunnel when using the Bluetooth for phone calls. There is ample room for my tall husband. The seats in the Outback are wider than the Pilot. We live on a dirt road that is currently filled with potholes. In the Pilot I felt every bump and dip. The Outback has a MUCH smoother ride. The suspension absorbs most of the impact. Granted I am driving MUCH slower in the new car. I picked the 3.6r because I do not like slow response cars. When you step on the gas you know it right away! There is PLENTY of power in the 3.6. The lane assist takes some getting used to. The review from the editors said there is body roll in the Outback. My husband and I 100% disagree with the assessment. Once you go from the Poilot to the Outback you DO NOT feel ANY body roll. At first I was sad to trade in my Pilot. After I drove the Outback for a little bit and got familiar with the car I am no longer sad. We traded up FOR SURE! This is my forever car! I still own this car as of 2/16/2020. 68,500 current original miles. I still absolutely LOVE my car. However, I have recently noticed some items that could prove to be costly in the long run. Both front regulators and windows are wonky. If you use the auto up the windows they started to go up and back halfway down. This happens randomly. There are times it happens when you put it up slowly. This weekend the automatic unlock function, without touching the buttons on key fob, on the front doors also would not work properly. I figured that it could have been too cold or road dirty, from traveling 2 hours away. Neither were the case. I will have to investigate the locking issue further. The heated seats, all safety features and mechanical items appear to be functioning within their normal limits. My absolute favorite feature on the Outback is the adaptive cruise control. Pair this with the lane assist, and blind spot detection you essentially have a self driving car. I have taken this car on several road trips in 3 years, clearly. When driving from PA to CO we would be going 70-75 mph traffic would slow to a stop. we did NOT have to hit the break at all. Of course, I cover the break just in case. There have been a few times that I have mashed on my breaks only because of my own comfort. I am 100% confident the car would have stopped in time. My husband routinely complains about the body roll and the rear end being "wishy washy" I drive considerably slower than he does. However, I think this is because I drive the car everyday. I am used to the way it handles and have accommodated to it's short comings. The body roll is NOTHING near the Pilot addressed above! Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the Outback. I keep saying I have finally found a car that I LOVE!!!! I truly cannot ever see myself purchasing another brand of vehicle.

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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