Used 2018 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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Less noise than last year
Scott M., 08/12/2017
2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
143 of 147 people found this review helpful
I drove the 2017 Outback and really liked it, except for the wind noise and road noise. I read that Subaru was going to make improvements in that department with new glass and insulation in the wheel wells. I'm glad I waited for the 2018. The difference is very noticeable. The new interface for the infotainment system is nice, too. The fit and finish is excellent. I'm very pleased with this vehicle.
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Great Car but Electronic Gremlins
Roger Harrison, 10/12/2017
2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
110 of 114 people found this review helpful
We traded our 2015 Legacy on a 2018 3.6R touring and embarked on a 3000 mile tour of the West. The four was best around town; performance, particularly at 6000 ft. where we live, was adequate at best and the engine note was like rattling a coffee can full of rocks. It was an engine you felt sorry for. The 3.6R is an entirely different proposition - a great, quiet, confidence inducing long distance cruiser with plenty of power from an engine that sounds like it's enjoying itself. We averaged 28MPH with a lot of two-lane driving. Blind spot warning is much better now; a big yellow light nearer the driver that's easy to see. The HD rear view camera is very good, and the cross traffic alert is a life saver (literally) in crowded parking lots. Lane keep departure and assist work like they are supposed to. I think I finally found the right settings on the cruise control, but it takes a while; it brakes later than I would. Perhaps most impressive were the headlights; the auto high beams work so well they can be left on, and I like the diretional function of the headlight very much. But electronic gremlins came early and often: the car locked us out on the first day; the control center/navigation screen has frozen three times - once on a doo wop station that we couldn't turn off, and twice when it was navigating us somewhere. The navigation's voice command is not always syncronized with the onscreen prompts, and I find the Tom Tom navigation ackward to use, with a only a vague idea of where it is. Having to use the touchscreen to adjust the scale on the navigation map is distracting and it won't adjust behind 1/4 mile, at least on mine. Strangely, I find the audio in the 2018 Touring not up to the one in the 2015 Legacy although both are Harmon Karden. The new on is just OK.
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2018 Subaru Outback for sale near you
3 of 81 listings
- 3.6R Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $15,0008 mi away
- 3.6R Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $16,62214 mi away
- 3.6R Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,98513 mi away
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Electronic nightmare!
Barbara J., 11/19/2018
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
27 of 27 people found this review helpful
My 2018 Outback's multi-media system went to black 7 months after I bought the car - no GPS, Bluetooth, radio, CD, phone functions. I was also having a problem with my brakes seizing on my driveway because apparently the safety sensors thought there was an obstacle (but there wasn't.) When I went into the service department, I was informed that they couldn't repair the multi-media system because it wasn't a Subaru part and they had no parts for the electronic system. Three weeks later, they have no definite date as to when this problem can be repaired. The service manager told me that there were 3 other customers waiting to have this multi-media system replaced. The service agent informed me that the braking problem was simply "because your car thinks there is an obstacle." I was so disgusted, I asked Subaru to buy back my car but was informed that this was not an option. I have never owned a Subaru until recently - I wish I never bought one!!
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For what it is, great. Some updates needed
Pj smith, 12/21/2017
2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
56 of 58 people found this review helpful
Moving from a 528 to this, so my expectations are moderate, but have been exceeded. Great safety features with the eyesight package. Decent power with the 6 cylinder (the 2.5 felt anemic to me). Not great gas mileage, but the car has s normally aspirated, so no need for premium fuels, which helps. About the only true beef I have is that the infotainment system is a known week spot. It’s been in need of a software update for a year, and Subaru America has been ignoring it. My quirks are generally minor and infrequent. Other owners I know have lost the whole system for a day at a time, which the dealer can’t replicate in most instances, and for which there is no fix until the Manufacturer rolls out a cleaned up patch
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Car Shakes at Highway Speed
Old Vet, 11/08/2017
updated 05/10/2021
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
100 of 105 people found this review helpful
Before buying, test drive this vehicle on a smooth Interstate. I didn't and it cost me. While the driver's seat is very comfy, driver vision excellent, power adequate and amenities (Bluetooth, CD, radio) easily accessible, the fact that the vehicle developed what I'm told is a harmonic vibration at speeds in excess of 60 mph made it unacceptable to me. The dealer balanced the tires and ultimately replaced all of them, to no avail. Firmly informed that the vibration is "normal" (state lemon law only requires a vehicle to behave normally), I had to get used to a mild shake or take the loss and trade it on something else. If you are not bothered by a mild but constant vibration on the highway, beyond what the pavement causes, then this may be the car for you. In any case, be sure to test it on the highway before writing the check.
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Head Unit Nightmare
K. Howard, 12/31/2017
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
130 of 137 people found this review helpful
One week after purchasing the 2018 Outback, the infotainment system began having problems. It would repeatedly turn off and on during my daily commute. A week later, the entire head unit shut down and would not restart and the backup camera would not come on. Contacted the dealer who said it needed a software update, so scheduled an appointment with service department for the same week. The day before I was scheduled to take the car in, the car would not start. Nothing on the car worked. I had it towed into the dealership through roadside assistance. They performed the software update and installed a new battery. Three days later, and the head unit is repeatedly turning off and on again. Apparently, the software update was not effective. Very unhappy with this vehicle.
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The Right Choice Update II
Kit Harma, 12/13/2017
updated 08/01/2022
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
67 of 70 people found this review helpful
After 20,000 miles and 21 months of ownership here is my update: Same over all satisfaction with the comfort and fuel efficiency but getting a little bit annoyed with the buggy electronics. We have had the rear hatch position sensor replaced, the head unit and fuel remaining software updated and just last week the amplifier was replaced as per Subaru Service Bulletin 15-235-18R. We have made two round trips from Washington to Arizona taking four days to cover each leg comfortably and getting 32 mpg. We haven't found the limit on how much stuff can be transported in this vehicle. The clearcoat finish scratches very easily.
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Do research before buying
Rick Schein, 02/19/2018
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
51 of 53 people found this review helpful
Navigation system is poor - turns on road from middle of bridge. Android Auto and Starlink are intermittent (4 vists to dealer, replaced radio head, replaced firmware) They have no idea. They replaced radio head with a remanufactuired unit (car was 2 weeks old!) Still doesn't work. They have no one who understands the computer side of the car. National support is poor.
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Harman Kardon Entertainment Head Unit Failure
Very Disappointed Owner, 11/29/2018
2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
22 of 22 people found this review helpful
After 8,000 miles my Harman Kardon radio head unit failed-black screen. This results in no radio, back up camera, navigation or phone. My Subaru dealership informed me it was not a Subaru issue but, a Harman Kardon parts issue. Therefore they cannot begin to give me an estimate of when my new part will arrive. Per the parts manager, "there are so many units needed and the replacement process is out of our hands. It's up to the radio manufacturer." It has been 2 weeks now -no idea of when I may get the part. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed. I could have used that $38,000.00 and purchased a much better product.
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Disappearing infotainment system
Riley, 12/19/2018
2018 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
33 of 34 people found this review helpful
Be aware that there is apparently a BIG problem with the so-called "head unit" in the 2018 Outback. Mine stopped working after about 8 months. No back up camera, can't listen to the radio, play any music, use CD player, no Bluetooth, no navigation and the parts of the system that still light up flash or go dark erratically. It's almost 4 weeks now and we called the dealer (again-because we thought they forgot us) and, this time, they said they don't know when the replacement will be available. We don't get the sense that anyone is really advocating for the owners in spite of this rather spectacular failure. We spent 37K on this car and now wish we bought a Toyota or a Honda. We are very disappointed. As for rating the car - it's hard to be charitable under the circumstances even though it certainly still gets me to work. Of course, so did the 15 year old Cavalier we had; and that radio worked!
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