Used 2019 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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The Subaru for people who want a Subaru.
J, 05/21/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
114 of 117 people found this review helpful
I’ll preface this by saying that I’m a twenty-something, recent college graduate and professional. Not exactly a stereotypical Outback owner. The Outback doesn’t appear to be as big as it is, either from the driver’s seat or from the outside. You won’t get a true idea of the size until you park next to what you though was a “big SUV”, only to realize your Outback is longer, or until you open the hatch and marvel at the cavernous cargo area. It feels small when you need it to be small and big when you need it to be big. In typical Subaru fashion, the interior is very unassuming and functional, but doesn’t feel cheap at all. Everything you touch is soft or textured. Switches and buttons feel solid and well made. The seats have adjustable lumbar support and are very soft and comfortable. The black cloth is very dark, which makes dog hair and other particles visible, so go with the gray if that bothers you. The 8.0 inch infotainment screen does an average job. It checks all the boxes (BlueTooth, CarPlay, Android Auto etc.), but the interface can be laggy at times, even while using CarPlay. It also has a few gimmicky features. The sound quality is fantastic. It also features a menu called “car info” which gives you mechanical info on how the AWD system is distributing power, as well as oil temperature, instant MPG and average speed and service reminders. There’s a second large color display in the instrument cluster which displays MPG info, MPH, tire pressures and the Eyesight system’s status. There’s also a settings menu which is difficult to navigate and mostly just repeats vehicle settings from the infotainment screen’s settings menu. The driving controls are simple. The shifter has 5 positions: P, R, N, D and M. The manual mode requires shifting to drive then pulling the selector towards the driver, so you’ll never engage it by accident when selecting drive. There’s no gimmicky sport buttons or drive mode selection knobs. The parking brake is electronically engaged, which saves weight and mechanical complexity on the rear axle. Pull the switch up to engage or push it down to disengage. The brake pedal has a decent amount of travel and is neither touchy nor soft. The throttle response is also much improved over earlier Subaru models, it’s no longer overly touchy at slow speeds. The engine is not underpowered for ordinary driving. If you like to tow a trailer or frequently pass other cars on a two lane road, get the 6 cylinder. The 4 cylinder is smooth and quiet. The CVT is also very good, and that’s coming from someone who used to think they hated CVTs. Under normal acceleration the Outback wafts up to speed at a constant RPM. I never have to push it past 2500RPM in normal driving. If you do give it a little more accelerator, the CVT simulates gearshifts, which gives a sporty feel and eliminates the droning sound of an engine at constant RPM. The torque converter lockup is fairly aggressive and can be felt when accelerating from a stop. On the Crosstrek this was very intrusive, but on the Outback it’s just noticeable, not intrusive. The owner’s manual will state that some transmission noise is to be expected, since Subaru uses a chain type pulley, but in reality there is only a very slight whir that can be heard just before coming to a stop when the windows are down. Outward visibility is exceptionally great. All windows and mirrors are oversized. Blind spot assist is optional and a backup camera is standard, but neither are necessary to drive the Outback. The Eyesight system is also remarkably good. I have experience with a handful of other adaptive cruise control systems and Eyesight is easily the smoothest and most accurate in its class. It even warns you if you fail to react when the car in front of you has moved. The Eyesight features are highly customizable through the instrument cluster menus. Ride and handling are excellent. Large bumps are easily absorbed, but the Outback still feels stable and tight. There is some body roll when cornering, but much less than you would expect for a vehicle of this size. There is a bit of noise on rough surfaces, however I believe that is a result of the factory Bridgestone tires.
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Surprised at how much we love this car
Corrine, 12/08/2018
2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
157 of 162 people found this review helpful
We had a 2016 Forester and we liked it, but didn't love it, so when we were looking to trade in our lease Subaru wasn't really a top contender. Luckily, we were distracted by a move when our lease was coming due, so we had to find a new car fast. We wanted to purchase and Subaru offered 0% financing. As it turned out, we needed a 60 month plan, but that was still offered at 1.9% financing. The car was nice, but it wasn't until we got it home that we realized how wonderful it is. The color is gorgeous- we got a brown cinammon :). But what has blown me away is the intuitiveness of all the features. The headlamps track the road in front of you, making night driving a lot easier. The rear camera is so crystal clear compared to our old Forester. The car play feature is so easy to use and makes driving safer with the huge screen. The car handles beautifully and though formal reviews say the pick up lags, my husband and I don't feel that way at all. The car accelerates smoothly. We also love the storage in the back. I think we will be enjoying this car for years to come. I'm so glad we went with another Subaru. I absolutely love getting in this car as it is a pleasure to drive.
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A best value SUV option
JCK, 01/24/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
97 of 100 people found this review helpful
We've owned three Subaru’s - most recently bought our second Outback. Our prior Outback was 4 years old - one key change that is apparent is that the vehicle is substantially quieter, which make the overall experience better, car seems more put together and luxurious. Was told that they add sound deadening into the vehicle and add acoustical front glass - it worked. We test drove Mazda SUVs and Acura RDX before purchasing. Subaru’s felt substantially better that the Mazda's. While the RDX had allot more to offer and was very fast - it was also almost $10k more expensive, so we passed. The touring has all the bells and whistles that come with eye sight/lane keep/adaptive cruise control, rear brake stop/cross traffic alert as well as responsive LED headlamps - and there is a learning curve required to get comfortable with it all, so be patient. Subaru dealer (Serra)was great - they walked us thru everything when we picked up the vehicle and then came to our house a couple weeks later to review the features again and ensure we were comfortable with how they operated. We've owned 6 Acura’s and they have never done that! The engineering that goes into Subaru’s is evident - the boxer engine not only provides improved handling due the low center of gravity, but also aides in front crash protection by preventing cabin intrusion. You can see the roll bar protection engineered into the door and frame that I just don’t see as clearly in other vehicles. The outback is a great value - combining unique styling, flexibility, innovative engineering, high quality and great dealer service. I can see us continuing to buy Subaru’s as long as they keep advancing their products with eth changing technologies. Looking forward to seeing how Subaru embraces electric vehicles and autonomous technologies.
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Underrated vehicle
CJ, 01/18/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
58 of 61 people found this review helpful
This car is amazing. I traded my 2009 jeep commander for an outback in November and all i can say is that i love this car. I use it for field work as well as a daily driver and the outback is just as capable as the was jeep offroad. I have read a lot of reviews about acceleration and being described as "slow". This is all relative to the reviewer but after test driving everything from the new pickups to passenger cars, would describe the acceleration on the 2.5 as being average to slightly above average. The fuel economy is fantastic, average 30mph on the highway/interstate (80mph) and i'm getting 23mpg in town. I'm 6' tall and this car comfortably fits a car seat in the back without having to move the driver or passenger seat forward. I am also i'm very please with the cargo space in the back, as well as the easy roof rail system is great for hiding the rails to reduce highway noise when my bike is not in the rack. technology and everything being very user friendly is also a huge bonus. Like i said in the title, this car is very underrated and in my opinion kills the domestic competitors when comparing similar vehicles.
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This Is A Surprisingly (for me) Great Family Car.
Alexander, 08/25/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
27 of 28 people found this review helpful
I purchased the 3.6 Limited. I have a friend in Subaru so it came loaded with everything the Touring has except: Touring roof rack (odd that it is different), chrome doo-dads outside, brown leather interior, heated steering wheel. Engine: The 3.6 is an excellent engine: plenty of power especially on the highway. Quiet. Exterior: Cinnamon Pearl Brown. Very nice. Many compliments on the color. Interior: Warm Ivory Leather. Beautiful. Really goes well with the exterior color. Seats are very comfortable and generously sized. Love the lumbar support. Audio: the Harmon Kardon 12 speaker with subwoofer is probably the best stock audio system I have heard in a car. I suppose there are better ones out there, but I haven't heard them. I'm a bit of an audiophile--this is a GREAT sound system. The instruments are clear and distinct and it handles all ssubstantial power that it comes with--over 500 watts. Great job Subaru Touch Screen/Electronics: Very easy to use once you spend about 15 minutes in park in the driveway familiarizing yourself with it. GPS: Excellent, user friendly, accurate, fast response time. I think it's a TomTom system, similar to google maps, waaay better than Honda's system (more on that later). The INTERIOR of this car can pass for a luxury vehicle--I was so surprised when I got in and closed the doors. Very quiet, beautiful interior lines with fantastic visibility all around. A/C is powerful. Power memory front seat, power passenger seat, heated seats all around. The faux wood trim is so good I had to touch it and examine it closely to see that it wasn't actually wood. DRIVE: Very quiet, smooth, soft--almost a luxurious drive indeed. One might say it is beautifully boat like--it reminds me of a small late '60's Ford Country Squire, only smaller. This is no sports car as you will feel the "roll" on sharp turns but it's not a top heavy roll: the body moves right or left depending on the turn. It's an odd feeling at first, but once you get used to it it is much more comforting than the top heavy lean you get with most SUVs. Steering response is superb, the brakes, however, are not that great. I am disappointed in their ability to quickly slow the car. They're good, but there is certainly room for improvement. Technology/Safety: Once I decided to turn on all the safety devices, I found I actually like them--a lot. Blind side warning lights, lane assist, eyesight driver assist, pre-collision braking system, sway warning, adaptive cruise control, etc. After a while, they are invisible but there and quite useful and comforting. SIZE & COMPARISON: I'll compare this to the Honda CR-V because that is it's chief competition, and that is what I WAS going to buy. I am a Honda/Toyota/Ford guy and never thought I'd look at a Subaru, but like I said, I have a friend in the biz. So I did. Despite the literature and online reviews, the Outback is larger inside than the CR-V and you notice it as soon as you get inside. But I wasn't convinced because everything says otherwise. So I brought my tape measure. It has 3" more room (length) in the back with the seats down, and 1.5 inches more width seat corner to seat corner. With the rear seats up, the back cargo area is still wider and longer than the CR-V. So, here's the thing: The CR-V rates more capacity because of its interior height--but that's kind of bogus because you aren't going to block the rear window while driving--well, at least not completely. So, no question, the Outback is actually larger inside than the CRV. The ride is quieter and smoother, the interior is more modern and plush (the CR-V is showing its age), the GPS and electronics are superior, and the stereo system is hands down much better. Downside? The Outback 3.6 is a gas guzzler, but that's a choice I can live with. It's a naturally aspirated 6 cylinder and I can't do without the power. I would shy away from buying the 2020 outback just yet, because the accompanying turbo is a new engine--a work in progress. FAMILY Considerations: If you have a dog (I have two), a wife (one), kids/passengers, etc., this is great family car. 2700 lbs. towing capacity, a unique and useful roof rack design that will hold a large Thule or some other similar carier, and a suprising amount of comfort and convenience. It's a fun car to drive--OH, I forgot the paddle shifters: they are a blast to play with, but not necessary. I find the 256 HP six is actually better for quick acceleration, but if you like sticks (I do) the paddle shifters are a neat little toy to play with. Subaru AWD system: Haven't had a chance to put this thing in the snow yet, but I have a feeling that with a set of blizzaks this car should be a fair beast in the snow. Around the hills and back dirt roads where I live it is a very comfortable car to drive which has handled whatever I have thrown at it so far.
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