Used 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited SUV Review
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited SUV.
Most helpful consumer reviews
This Is A Surprisingly (for me) Great Family Car.
Alexander, Yorktown Heights, NY, 08/25/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
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.
2019 Outback
BJ, Palm Desert, CA, 12/14/2018
2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
I sold my E350 Mercedes Sport to purchase this 2019 Outback 3.6 Limited. I have not regretted one second. Within the first 4 weeks I drove it 6000 miles! Desert, mountains, freeways and city driving. Wind and rain storm in Texas so bad I could barely see but the constant beeps kept me in the correct lane. I love the safety features especially the blind sight giving me warning , the beep … beeps are a little annoying when I am on the open road changing lanes with no traffic. Heated seats! Love keeps me warm in the right spot. Looking toward putting on a hitch to tow a small trailer and read with the 3.6 it will handle 3000 pounds. Just purchased this in September 2018 so time will tell. So far so good.
Crimson Pearl Outback
Tim Strom, Longview, WA, 09/11/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
I only have two minor complaints about my 2019 Subi Limited 3.6. The first thing is the lack of a remote start and the other is that the 2017 CRV that I traded in had a much better LKS system. The Subi has considerably less road noise and plenty of power. Mileage isn't great but not terrible and the car feels like it would run forever. The only reason I traded was concern over the oil … dilution issues with the CRV. I asked the service manager at the Honda dealership about it and he just blew it off about three times. I began checking the oil level frequently and one day found it about a quart overfull. I took it to the dealership and they changed the oil again and said it was a service error. After about a week or 10 days, the oil level was well above the full mark again and decided it was time to off the car, as much as I liked the way it drove and handled. I have had the SUBI for about 6 months and have just over 2K miles on it and have become a Subaru fan. The fit and finish of the car and trim is excellent as well as driver comfort and passenger seating. I am 76 years old and believe that this is the last car (barring accidents) that I will have to buy. I am happy with the vehicle other than those two mild annoyances.
Undiscovered Treasure For the Road!
Andrew & Sarah, Rockville, MD, 03/25/2019
2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
Our friend who happens to be an auto mechanic has always recommended buying either a Toyota or a Honda for several reasons. First and foremost, they are the most reliable cars in terms of maintenance. Aftermarkets parts are generally available making them on average less costly to repair. Their depreciation rate is better than others so the cars hold their value.
The last vehicle my … wife had was a PT Cruiser. My wife loved the car primarily because of its utility value. She had been able to haul just about anything she needed to over the years that she had it. Unfortunately, however, the car had many problems that were difficult to fix the worst one of which was a problem with the A/C which resulted in our having to bear the terrible heat and humidity of the mid-Atlantic for several summers until finally, another mechanic we knew was able to figure out what was wrong.
When the PT Cruiser finally breathed it's last she laid it to rest. Never again!
She wanted something similar so heeding the words of our friend, in consideration of the fact that we needed a vehicle just for the two of us, we looked at the Toyota RAV and the Honda CRV. After test driving both of them, she decided upon the Honda CRV. We actually came close to purchasing one but divine providence led us to but the purchase off.
God works in mysterious ways. The 2019 Consumer Report issue arrived and my wife started to read the car reviews. She showed me the issue and pointed to the 2019 Subaru Outback which had gotten great reviews by CR. She had owned an Outback hatchback many years previously and liked it back then. So we decided to go take a test drive.
Off we went to the local Fitzgerald Dealership and took a test drive of the 3.6 L Ltd. There was nothing to think about. Compared with the Honda CRV and the Toyota RAV you get more for your money as well as the fact that the car is absolutely fabulous. As far as maintenance is concerned, time will tell. Considering the quality and the warranty, my wife has no worries or concerns which is exactly what I hoped for with this purchase.
Edmunds Summary Review of the 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited SUV
What’s new
- Subaru's EyeSight driver assist suite is now standard on all Outbacks
- Base 2.5i trim gets additional USB ports
- Part of the fifth Outback generation introduced for 2015
Pros & Cons
- Pro:Spacious and comfortable cabin
- Pro:Roof and cargo-loading heights are lower than those of most SUVs
- Pro:Excellent visibility in all directions
- Pro:Off-road ability is above average
- Con:Acceleration is lackluster, especially with four-cylinder engine
- Con:Sensitive gas pedal at low speeds
- Con:Modest handling capabilities
Which Outback does Edmunds recommend?
Our choice for the ideal Outback is the 2.5i Premium. It comes with a bright and large 8-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, and heated, power-adjustable front seats. Priced competitively to a similarly equipped Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, the Outback also gets you a robust all-wheel-drive system, clever fold-away roof rails, and better standard technology features. Although the 2.5-liter engine isn't a standout in acceleration, it's good enough as long as you don't plan on towing.
Full Edmunds Review: 2019 Subaru Outback SUV
byCalvin Kim
Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.
Driving
7.0Instrumented performance is not a strong suit for the Subaru Outback. With the four-cylinder, acceleration can only be described as slow. Although its handling numbers aren't fantastic, the Outback shows its capabilities on bumpy back roads. Its off-road ability is better than most.
Comfort
8.0The inside of the Outback is a great place to spend time on the road. The front and rear seats provide all-day comfort, and the soft suspension offers a smooth ride. But the car lets in more road and wind noise than we'd like, and longer-legged drivers will want additional lower thigh support.
Interior
8.5There's a lot going on inside the Outback, but Subaru made sure that primary controls are all traditional analog systems. Thanks to its high ride height, getting in and out is a breeze. And once you're seated, the power seat and manually adjustable steering wheel have a broad range of adjustability.
Utility
7.5The Outback is pretty versatile even though it's one of the smaller midsize SUVs. It has a lot of available cargo space in back and useful small-item storage areas for your knickknacks. It offers a decent amount of towing capability, too.
Technology
8.0What the Outback gives up in performance it makes up for in technology. Most all digital systems are controlled through the touchscreen. It has a bright, high-contrast display, with large buttons and clear text. Setting up your phone is easy, and there are plenty of ports to charge your devices.
Edmunds Insurance Estimator
The Edmunds TCO® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2019 Subaru Outback in Ohio is:
$56.42 per month*Legal