Used 2020 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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Would be great if it wasn’t for all of the probs
Carole, 01/31/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Less than 12000 km on my 2020 outback and already I have had a faulty battery that left me stranded on my way to work, a radio recall and now my drivers side power window is failing. The vehicle itself is comfortable and has great visibility for me being 5’ tall but all of these problems are making me thankful I leased and can ditch this car in 4 years and try a different brand.
Very Pleased!
N & J, 02/26/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We are very pleased with all of the safety features as well as the smooth ride!
2020 Subaru Outback for sale near you
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Great Mechanics, Horrible Electronics
George S., 11/30/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
My new 2020 Outback XT is a terrific car, mechanically. But the 10" touch screen display controls far too many basic functions which should be controlled by simple, analog controls. Changing the HVAC functions or seat heater, for example, requires one to take their eyes off the road. But more importantly, the factory settings of the "driver assist" systems are more distracting than helpful. Just changing lanes sets off visual and audible alarms, and if you leave the steering assist on, the car tries to drive itself. I was finally able to "dumb down" the system so that I had control over the car. But worst of all, the software system supposedly has bugs that can cause erratic behavior. So when I took my car in for its first service at 6000 miles at my Subaru dealer, I was told that the software needed to be updated. I specifically asked the service writer if this was the update that I heard had additional bugs and was assured that the newest update solved all problems. I got 2 miles down the road and realized I had no audio and that the radio was totally dysfunctional. I drove back and was told it just needed to be reset. After almost another hour of having three techs trying to reset the system, I was told that my entire display and computer hardware had to be replaced. So now I'm without my brand new car for at least a week, and when I get it back I'll have to reset all my preferences (satellite radio connection, cell phone pairing, map destinations, etc.) and hope that the new hardware/software combination is stable. I'll also have to go through all the driver assist programs and "dumb down" everything so I can drive the car without "assistance." I love the car mechanically, but I absolutely hate the its computer controlled system.
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2020 OBTouringXT-Mechanically Good - Software Poor
Scott, 03/10/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned an Outback for 10 years and bought this new one in June 2020. Several items to be aware of.... 1. Auto Start-Stop requires you toggle it off each time you start - not persistent setting. 2. Auto Vehicle Hold - same as 1 3. User Profiles only work with Driver Monitoring System on. This is important because I get tired of the system advising me, but when you turn off the DMS, then user profiles aren't recognized and the seats, mirrors, etc. won't be adjusted for the next driver. 4. My experience with the Auto Start Stop feature is that it saves about 1/4 gallon of gas per tank. That translates to about 6 miles of driving. There isn't a high enough return for the wear and tear on the starter system. Thus, the reason #1 is important. I'll add one more soft issue....the Lane Centering when the adaptive cruise control is on is rather annoying when it reminds you every 15 seconds to keep your hands on the wheel. While this is not billed as an autonomous vehicle, it's hard to see a lot of benefit with this limitation. It is well documented that it is not intended to act autonomously and thus just set your expectations accordingly. It may sound like I have nothing but complaints...not true! It's a mechanically great vehicle. But in today's world, having a great vehicle means that the user experience plays a much larger role. I would say our comfort has improved over our previous Outback experience, but our driving satisfaction is not better, and in some cases, worse due to the software choices offered. I am in hopes that Subaru will do like many manufacturers of my other devices and continue to hear from the consumer and improve the users experience with timely software upgrades!
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Subaru, why did you ruin a great product?
Irina L., 09/29/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 20 people found this review helpful
What a spectacular piece of crap. Returned to the dealership after two days. Engine, handling, and suspension are superb (with the exception of turbo lag), but faulty half baked electronics ruined the experience. Screen freezes, sensors randomly turn themselves on and off, certain settings are impossible to save, auto start function turns itself on while the car is stopped in traffic with the foot on the brake. It felt like the car had a mind of its own, and I don't feel safe driving a car I cannot control. My family and myself have been dedicated Subaru owners for years, and all I ever wanted was a newer Outback. Unfortunately this new Outback is stuffed with poorly thought out technology and no longer resembles the famous Subaru quality.
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A driving experience that'll drive you nuts!
Johniege, 07/09/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
15 of 20 people found this review helpful
I believed an all new Suburu Outback would be great both inside and out. And actually, the outside is fine. It looks like an updated Outback. It's the inside, the actual driving experience that will drive you crazy, literally! The touch controls for the ac/heater and related functions are just plain awful. Forget about quick access to simple functions. Then there's the annoying assortment of bright LED lights and buzzers that await you any time the vehicle wonders ever so slightly to the right or left. There are better ways of handling these driving situations with the available technologies that are available to car manufacturers. And then there's the voice command technology. It's just plain awful. It's infuriating! Instead of being an improvement over my 2018 Suburu, this version of the software is worse! How can that be?! And the Boxster engine?! Guys (and gals!), enough already. It's time for an all new, more powerful, quieter Suburu engine!! Don't get me wrong, I love Subarus. I've owned 6 Suburus over the last six years. But I'm seriously thinking of pulling the plug on this version of the Outback and trading it in!
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Outback limited XT
AlanW, 12/29/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
After 9 Outbacks this 2020 is the best by a long shot. The seats are great and the performance of the turbo is great. I seldom go over 2500 rpms in normal Hilton Head driving. City mileage is around 26 on a new engine. Haven't driven much highway yet. Let's hope they resolved the CVT issue on the Accent and it doesn't carry over. Just a little nervous on the 0-20 oil with the turbo vs 0-30 on the older one?
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2020 Outback issues
NurseB, 10/21/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have a 2020 Outback. I have had it since January 2020. The car has had issues since day one. The programming system is extremely frustrating and slow. I try to adjust the volume and it takes the car 20 seconds to respond. I have also had a/c issues. The a/c wasn’t working unless the system was on high. Then, to top things off, at 7,000 miles the car was making a strange sound when I started it. Took it into a dealership and after a few days I was told I needed a new transmission. ***BTW, stay away from Mark Miller Subaru in Sandy, UT. Horrible customer service! Anyway, buyer beware!
Test drive of 2020 Outback
JimO, 11/25/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
20 of 28 people found this review helpful
Today I test drove the 2020 Subaru Outback in both the Limited and Onyx XT trim. I really liked the look of the Onyx XT in green and with the black wheels. The turbo in the XT definitely faster but not overwhelmingly so...although the start-stop seemed more pronounced than in the 2.5 liter Limited model. There seems to be about a 6 mpg penalty for going with the turbo, so I would probably go with the non-turbo version. I was favorably impressed with the interior, seats and general quality of the vehicle in both the Limited and Onyx XT trim levels.
Start-stop can't be permanently turned off
Brandon, 09/27/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
13 of 18 people found this review helpful
I thought the start stop would be good and save gas. It uses no common sense though. Often when I pull up to a stop sign just to make a legal stop and go it cuts off. Other times I pull up to a stop light as it turns red, so great time for it to cut off, but the engine keeps running. Supposedly it uses logic to decide whether to cut off or not but it makes no sense to me. It also often cuts off when I stop in my driveway which would be fine if it did not turn back on when I shift the car to park and engage the parking brake. Because it keeps doing this (wearing my starter out which cost hundreds to replace) I decided to cut the engine off when parking before shifting to park or engaging parking brake and would you believe that the car didn't realize the engine was off? Seriously, it kept alarming telling me to cut the engine off. If I have to pay hundreds to replace starter because of this I am going to be very unhappy, or what if I am stranded somewhere because the starter goes? It would be ok if you could permanently disable the start-stop but that overrides any other thing about the car in my mind. The number one thing for my next auto purchase will be making sure it does not have start-stop. I also don't like the AC/Heat controls. Some are on the touch screen which is hard to find while keeping your eyes on the road and others are pushbuttons that do not light up ever so they are hard to find in the dark at night. I bought the car because I had heard so much about Subaru AWD. I definitely regret it.
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Bazingall
Gary M., 06/13/2020
updated 06/16/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I shopped 4/AWD vehicle's really hard online and in person for about 2 weeks prior to landing on the new Outback by Subaru. The recent (2020) refresh of the Outback has resulted in an outstanding vehicle that is exceeding my expectations daily. From the impressive foul weather capabilities (experienced on my maiden ride home from the dealer ), to the creature comforts, ride and handling, I come away thoroughly impressed with Subaru's attention to details and safety! Subaru has upped their game considerably from their previous iterations of this model. They have successfully bridged the gap between off road capability and true creature comforts. The marriage of leading edge technology & luxurious design and materials results in a car with safety, tech, and value propositions that are class leading!
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New car big problems
Unhappy new owner , 11/02/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I've had my 2020 Outback for 2 months. First the airbag system had a leak and the airbag system along with the computer program that controls it had to be replaced. Also new the tail light cover was broken and a trim piece on the outside kept coming loose, needed to be replaced. Now the control that selects the distance on the cruise control will not adjust, the clock didn't change time with DST, and my radio will not work after the last phone call saying radio and media are not available while a phone call is in progress. The phone call had ended. Stopped the car , turned it off and back on, turned my phone off and restarted and the radio still will not work. I'm beginning to think its a kemon. Very, very disappointed and unhappy 😡
First-time Outback Owner
Pat D., 07/09/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I wanted an AWD for use in the mountains. After looking at trucks and other SUV’s I decided on the Outback. It is full of safety features, enough to reduce my insurance $340 a year. The ride is comfortable and gas mileage is much better than our Santa Fe Sport. It has been enjoyable to take on the highway, city streets, and dirt roads. So for I am impressed.
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Love my Outback Touring XT except for the display
The Mighty Quinn, 07/21/2020
updated 07/25/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
many improvements over my 2014. Excellent acceleration. Quiet. Comfortable. Great roof rack system with tie downs. However, the center console display has blacked out a few times. Back to the dealer and they cannot duplicate the fault. Long term issue? Who knows. Just sold it and bought a Rivian R1T truck.
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Excellent all around car!5
ABCanada, 09/10/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We have had our Touring XT for about a month now and we are very pleased! The interior is beautiful and the seats are very comfortable, especially with the seat extender, even though I am 6’5” tall. The turbo engine is smooth, powerful and quiet and we are averaging about 30 mpg so far in mixed driving. The fact that the car runs perfectly on regular grade gas is fantastic! The ride rivals many luxury cars! I see that some people are complaining about the infotainment system. The good news is that the large maps are great to use and the audio system is very good but the Screen fingerprints are awful and having several of the hvac system functions incorporated in sub-menus Is not very safe or user friendly. Despite all the good things, our two pet peeves are the terrible start/stop system that cannot be permanently shut off and the shortage of cabin bins/ storage in the front seats. Our advice, definitely buy the Outback but do find a work around to keep the annoying stop/start system turned off! Don’t Subaru engineers know that boxer engines are not designed for a stop/start engines!
First and Last Subaru
JWoody907, 12/12/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Purchased mine about 16 months ago, and it’s already been in 8 times for warranty work due to poor build quality. I had body trim panels, particularly lower door trim, fall off, rear bumper reflectors fall off, and most recently the front windows quit working entirely. The EyeSight system is a contradiction in terms since the first sign of frost or rain it shuts down completely with no easy override options, at least without breaking out the manual. I’d love to say that I just regretted this purchase, but that doesn’t impart my total hatred of this lemon. I’d love to light the thing on fire and drive it back through the dealerships window. If not for the worldwide car shortage I’d already have this thing gone.
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Luxury limo
Conquest Wyatt , 01/15/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
My insurance policy says this is car 21 for me. So far it is the quietest, most solid , smoothest automobile I have owned.
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Dave's 2020 Outback Review
David Tompkins, 04/10/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is my 3rd Outback,..2015, 2018, and this one. I am very pleased with this wagon. Interior is nice and everything is convenient. The ride is very comfortable and road noise reduction is much improved. My 2015 Outback had the Eyesight feature, but the 2018 did not by choice. The Eyesight in the 2015 was not acceptable to me. There were too many surprises...like reacting to a mailbox on the side of the road and automatically slowing down when I didn't want to. I kept mine disabled almost all the time, Another undesirable feature was it reenabled when the engine shut off and had to be deactivated when the engine was restarted, All the warning buzzers and flashing lights were distracting and could have led to a dangerous situation. I have Eyesight on my new car only because it was standard equipment and tthe dealer could not get a car without it. Mine will be deactived all the time. The Subaru Outback is probably the best car I ever owned for comfort, handling response, and economy. Unfortunatly I suspect our government will eventually require all new cars to have an Eyesight type feature, Dave
Complete disappointment!
M Moods, 06/28/2020
updated 01/04/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
14 of 21 people found this review helpful
After purchasing the car I found it dead less than 24 hrs later in my garage. Bad battery/electrical. Super glitchy slow computer... bordering on pathetic. Window stuck down with no solution have to take the car back once again! Dealer provided no solution and said "bring it back if it happens again". Rides and drives nicely, excellent cruise control, excellent gas milage with decent power... however, terrible backup camera, WAY TOO MANY ALERTS going on 24/7, bad tires! and the worst "upgraded" sound system ever. Just a half baked car that could be really great. Not being able to turn off the AutoStop permanently is ridiculous. Worst car purchase I have made. This is not the Subaru of the past. Avoid! Sold after 7 months.
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Dangerous! Just shut down on the I-75
Oh'NealA, 03/08/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
30 of 47 people found this review helpful
The electronics keep shutting down, totally! Almost certainly due to a short withing a wiring harness, this has happened three times now. The service department at Capitol Subaru in Roswell Georgia told me it was a "code error in a throttle sensor". This is a non existent diagnosis, they are just making it up, and hoping I am as stupid as the average subaru driver? This car may kill your family.
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Got rid of my 2020 after a few months!
M Chill, 07/29/2020
updated 08/01/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
23 of 36 people found this review helpful
If I could give it a 0 rating I would! My husband and I couldn’t wait to buy our new car. When we got it home we realized we couldn’t keep auto stop off permanently like the dealer said. Took so much time to set up all functions every time you started car. Tried to get used to it but never happened. I felt if I needed to adjust heat settings I would need to stop on side of road to make adjustments! So dangerous to take eyes off road. When I tried to drive in night I had a greenish/yellow headlights that would not light up road. In rainy night there was so much glare that you could not drive! One night I tried to back out of parking space and car SLAMMED on brakes. Screen lit up red and started beeping! Tried several times and brakes were overheating! Took it to Subaru dealer in morning. After 3 hours they told me it was a computer error recall! Subaru never had the recall that they claimed it was. After that I had Subaru driving anxiety! We took our brand new car and traded in for a wonderful Toyota 4 runner!!!! Yes we took a lose but my life is more valuable that a dangerous car!
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Super Subaru
Mike, 12/19/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
9 of 14 people found this review helpful
A lot of changes since my 2015 Outback. All good. I had no intent to buy a new car, I was only there for service. Took a test drive. I suggest you decline any offer to test drive a Subaru if you are not looking to buy a new car. Hide in the bathroom, go for a walk, pretend you are deaf, start coughing real loud, talk about your gas problems. Be creative, but DO NOT TEST DRIVE unless you want a new car. Good luck, I hope you are disciplined.
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Great Outback in the line of Outbacks
naessj, 10/01/2020
updated 10/04/2024
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Got our new 2020 Outback Touring XT early Sept. Great buying experience at Ruge's Subaru in Rhinebeck, NY. We custom ordered in July to get the exact model and options. Car arrived a few weeks later than expected, but otherwise has met all expectations. Beautiful interior and very high quality overall. The 2.4 turbo has the extra power we need (often we drive on hilly roads upstate NY) and so far we are getting very acceptable MPG (about 26-28 for now). I see a lot of owners not liking the (1) electronics and (2) the auto-start/stop. Here are my observations and opinions: Electronics: yes - a brand new and fully redesigned system. Overall I love it, also the way the 'dark' theme which is enabled at night is really very discreet and not intrusive. Meaning, in many cars the 'night' mode is still way too bright. In the Outback not so. I have encountered ONE restart (bug) as I was driving and that's not good. Also, the color scheme of the TomTom maps are not the best for reading (turquoise and white). But overall very good and I am willing to wait for upgrades and fixes along the way. Auto start/stop: As I buy into the overall philosophy of not running the engine when not needed, I think the auto start/stop works well. I have found it is very sensitive to the pressure on the brake pedal. Meaning, if I move my foot even a little (almost not at all) the start/stop (when stopped) will start the engine. So I keep a FIRM pressure on the brake pedal when stopped and the engine has stopped, which seems to work fine. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this car to anyone. It drives great and feels very tight and very solid. I bought the extended warranty to cover any unforeseen issues as I intend to keep this car for a while. Update, March 2023: this car has fulfilled all needs and expectations. After 2.5 years of ownership and about 30K miles there has been no issues besides a back seat cushion seam coming apart. Seat cushion replaced under warranty. I am very glad I got the 2.4 turbo as we do quite a lot of hailing through hilly terrain with a pretty full car. Everything is holding up well, maybe soon time for new tires as the factory ones seem to have been wearing a little unevenly. I also like the look of the 2020 more versus the new 2023 updated front and wheel moldings. Count me in as a very happy owner. 10/3/2023 update: extremely happy with this car. No issues, besides a loose back seat thread (fixed under warranty) and a dead battery (bough a new AGM on my own). Engine and performance top notch. Gas mileage mid/upper 20-s. On a smooth highway day over 30 mpg. Would buy another in a heartbeat, but plan on keeping this one for a while.
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Disappointing
Paul, 09/18/2021
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Stop start is very rough. The worst of many vehicles I have driven. The transmission is often jerky at low speeds around town. It is very stable in high winds on the highway. My 2019 six cylinder outback was much better. Lots of power and the transmission was exceptional. Subaru should never have discontinued that vehicle.
Outstanding
ABCanada, 09/07/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We bought the XT Touring and it is well worth the extra cost. The seats are very comfortable even on long trips, the car is very well built and the turbo engine is both fast and fuel efficient. Everything you could want in a wagon / suv!
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Vehicle ordered, vehicle delivered!
Brewer Bob, 07/26/2020
updated 08/03/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am a tall guy and need optimal leg room. The Outback offers more leg room than most SUV's. In addition, the Touring and Limited models include an extendable thigh support on the driver's seat. This is the most comfortable car I have driven. I am surprised that Subaru does not promote that feature more. Colors are limited now so I have one coming on a train from the plant in Indiana. Should arrive mid to late August. LOVE the vehicle. No defects at all. Only recommendation I have is to install a "vehicle wash" control option to disengage the auto breaking and vehicle hold as you go through a car wash. Update: Now have had this car for almost a year and have 6500 miles on her. Still the best new car I have had in over 50-years of driving. Very comfortable and reliable. Update: After a year and a half and 13,000 miles, still very happy with the vehicle. Only concerns are two recalls for electronics that Subaru never notified me of. I have implemented the first, but have yet to do the second. Gas mileage is dropping, but this is winter. Map updates have been done, but complicated, causing the infotainment center to go blank at critical times on the highway. After 2-years ownership, I can share that I have had multiple experiences with the infotainment center collapsing during driving and automatically resetting after about 3-4 minutes. There was a recall to fix that, but the fix didn't fix the problem. I also have another recall for something involving the timing chain. I live over 50 miles from the dealership and they will not provide a loaner while checking the vehicle. If it needs parts, they will order them and then provide a loaner. Inconvenient. Otherwise, I do still like the vehicle.
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Outback driving for fun
MB49, 03/28/2024
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Extended driver's seat, more conformable for me. Actually the reason I bought this vehicle. I'd driven others prior but this one fit me perfectly. Love all the safety features! The interior is very nice and all controls are convenient.
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2018 to 2020
BismarckD, 03/28/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned many Outbacks as I trade often for work. My last one was a 2018 premium. My current one is a 2020 premium that I purchased CPO (certified pre owned), it was the dealer loaner car. First the pros: I believe it is quieter and rides better, the adaptive cruise and eye sight assistance is nice. It also is getting slightly better gas mileage. The cons: the infotainment system has been buggy, dealer did apply an update prior to my purchase and reinstalled it after reporting a phone volume issue (I have have the phone volume 90% when taking calls on the road while the radio is only 25%. Now it doesn’t always have sound till a minute into the drive and the screen has blacked out twice for a few seconds mid drive. It is going in for a third try on the update in a couple weeks. The auto shut off is ANNOYING. I get most new cars have this to meet EPA guidelines but it should be a hard switch to disable, not a “every time you start the car you have to turn it off thing”. Lady is the power, the 2018 lacked acceleration (which is expected from a small engine and CVT) but it certainly doesn’t feel like they made any progress despite being told otherwise. Will my next car likely be another Outback? Yes, very likely. I fully expect Subaru to get the bugs out and correct the errors. I don’t know what else I would even want to consider in its place. Just be aware of the minor issues or buy a different model year if your concerned. Did I mention the adaptive cruise and eye sight is really nice?
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I LOVE this car!!
LizL, 08/18/2020
updated 08/19/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
It rides very well, it's a beautiful color and all of the technology is easy to use. Two years later and I still love this car.
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Not loving my Subaru
LisaH, 03/31/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2020 Subaru Outback Limited 2 weeks ago and I under-whelmed by it. I find all the “safety” features distracting, the wind blows and it pulls the car, driving over a bridge and it felt like the wheels wanted to fall off, it kept pulling and I felt unsafe. What I like: the large screen with the back up camera and technology is easy to navigate and it’s fairly comfortable. It’s well appointed for the price point. I bought this car after owning a Volvo XC60 that was totaled and I regret not buying another Volvo. I loved the idea of how safe Subarus are, they have a lower price point, better gas mileage, and excellent crash test scores. I was hoping I would love it and it’s fallen short.
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$400 battery upgrade on a less than 5 year old Out
Debbie , 10/08/2024
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My 2020 Outback needed a Bluetooth upgrade 2 months ago & cost $200. Now the battery needs an upgrade which only a Subaru dealership can provide to the tune of $400 plus. Not a happy Subaru owner right now at all with the car less than 5 years old & low mileage.
My 2020 Subaru Outback Limited, three years on
Ivan A., 12/26/2021
updated 07/03/2024
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I traded out of 2017 Ford Escape Titanium (it had issues) for a 2020 Subaru Outback Limited. Nearly two years on, here is my assessment: PROS: It drives very well, solid four wheel road traction and acceleration, feels secure; comfortable interior, well laid out, smart leather seats and trim; easy to handle in all road conditions, paved roads or dirt track, wet or dry, a joy to drive; excellent sound system with 12 speakers; dual climate control makes for cabin comfort in all temperatures; good road visibility, easy seat and mirror adjustments, rear camera big help; helpful electronic sensors for side traffic, lane keeping, collision warning, backing up will hit brakes (if too close to obstacle) avoiding collision, right mirror tilts down in reverse; adequate rear cargo space, seats fold down easily; overall seating very comfortable, easy to reach controls on steering wheel, large tablet style touchscreen display on dash easy to read, quiet ride interior; facial recognition auto adjusts seat and mirrors; cruise control is sophisticated (little used); this Outback is nice car to drive overall, though would like a bit more power under the hood. CONS: The large infoscreen on dash is a bit confusing to navigate, some functions buried deep in the program (like settings for custom seat/mirror adjust, disable forward collision for car wash, sound controls) so have to hunt deep into touchscreen functions to find them, but much improved since last software update; auto stop/start only works intermittently, inconsistent even when engine warm; rain sensing wipers and self parking (available on my Escape) are not available on Outback; facial recognition sometimes fails to recognize driver; reverse rear-light too dim, could be brighter to light when backing n the dark; the owner manual is poorly cross-indexed, sketchy, could be better. Overall the Outback is great SUV mechanically but rather difficult electronically, until you learn the ropes (but much improved with latest software update) then easy. No issues with service. This Outback is an excellent, safe, fun to drive, AWD works well on rough desert trails, prize winning machine. I may hold off on upgrading to new model until Subaru introduces a Hybrid Outback model. But love the car and would def buy Subaru again.
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Horrible engine stop feature! Seats uncomfortable!
Perry C., 05/29/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 29 people found this review helpful
Decided to just keep driving my 2014 Subaru Outback. Seats are very uncomfortable compared to my 2014 and I hated the horrible engine stop feature every time I stopped at a red light. They say this is feature on all new vehicles so I decided to wait to purchase.
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Disappointing
Pete P, 02/16/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
If you're looking for a great ride and a safe car, the Outback is a good choice. The car is smooth and very quiet and handles beautifully. That said, the car is a gas-sucking pig. In mixed driving it averages about 26-27mpg, less in the winter. On the highway you can get close to 30 mpg. That's disappointing for a 4-cylinder car. More disappointing is the infotainment system. It looks great, but the buttons you need most are small and some are not easily accessible, such as the climate control and the seat heater. I'm not a big fan of cars that make you push a button to get to the button you need. I'm a fan of keeping my eyes on the road, and Subaru should be a fan of that, too. The auto stop/start feature is supposed to save gas but it's more annoying than useful. On an average tankful, the feature saves about 4 cents. Worse yet is that the default keeps the feature on, so you have to turn it off it you don't like. I think the default should be off. You have to push about 3 buttons to turn the feature off. Again, I'd rather be looking at the road than hunting through menus. A software update put a button out front to turn the feature off and on, so I'm guessing others also found it annoying. Anyhow, better gas mileage and a more convenient infotainment system would easily add two stars to my review.
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Great ride, display and transmission issues.
Don, 11/23/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I love the comfort provided, but storage compartments are limited. I have had issues with the media display locking up or not displaying information. I have also had problems with the transmission being stuck in gear. This is my first Subaru, not sure about being a return customer.
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Over a half a million miles in Subarus
TCH, 02/08/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
This is my 3rd Subaru. All have had quirks, the '93 had motorized seat belts, never got use to them. The 2012, no emergency brake, only a push button parking brake,no temp gauge but a massive engine vacuum gauge. Now we come to the 2020. Rides nice, great gas mileage, no inside storage for small items in the front. However, it has a huge distracting infotainment screen which sometimes works, is slow, and multiple steps to do a procedure. All which diverts your eyes from the road. Also, no CD player. The combined owner's manuals weigh 3 pounds, and, if you use the glove box for storage, well, there's no more really to use! The Eye Sight feature is a huge pain if it's engaged. If there was a way to totally disengage it, I could just drive without being bombarded by beeps. I f I had it to do over again, I wouldn't touch a car with Eye Sight.
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Impressed with New 2020 Outback Luxury XT
eam 1539, 03/24/2020
updated 03/25/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I had a 2015 Legacy gave it back after lease term done, then purchased another vehicle but was a 2 door and traded it for the 2020 Limited XT. I wanted Sunroof and Leather and all the bells/whistles this one has it all. Interior seats are superb and comfortable, ability to carry more and my moms wheelchair so far good. Main gripes is the auto stop/start as all has complained it is terrible only because of the jerk when reactivated. Have to turn it off before starting to go anywhere. The new dash is great but agree with the new center table display that it takes time to get to most important items you often want to change. Subaru please let better customize with our own buttons. Interior is better than previous Legacy model owned. Too early to speak on mileage and other stuff as I only have 50 miles so far. I went back to Subaru for the excellent safety of their cars and reliability. The turbo was better than other engine but does sometimes have a lag. The facial recognition is cool. Memory seats should also be on passenger side as well as driver. I did have issues since the original purchase of the vehicle with the drivers door weatherstrip around the door and issues with the door in general. I unfortunately sold this vehicle back to the dealer and disappointed with the quality of this Subaru.
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Great suv but does have drawbacks
Thomas , 12/23/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Moved to a mountain town that gets snow and is accessed by a long winding road through the Sierra Nevada mountains. So changed from my Toyota Camry to this. Price for new beat price for used older models. Has a comfortable ride. Drawbacks No coin holder Small glovebox Lie clearance for snow chains - AWD like 4WD can just mean four wheels spinning on ice Touch screen little to sensitive Subaru if listening Provide clearance for chains Provide open cabin storage Provide coin drawer
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Subaru 2020 Outback Touring wagon/SUV has it all!
A. Newman, 11/23/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 27 people found this review helpful
The 2020 Subaru Outback Touring wagon/SUV is like no other in its category. It is simply the finest wagon/SUV made for this cost point for vehicles by any other manufacturer. I have owned Subaru Outback cars for over 25 years and in that time have had no bad experiences mechanically, electrically or with the dealership. The Outback is a two row wagon that is great for seniors or families of four. Its engine, 2.5l 4 cylinder - regular gas, is a gem and provides plenty of pep when coupled to the CVT transmission, but it is no speedster! We purchased the Touring version of the 2020 Subaru Outback as opposed to the Limited version due to the accessories the Touring version came with. The 2020 Subaru Outback looks identical to previous Outback years, but it is an entirely different car. The 2020 Outback is built on the new Subaru global platform (frame) which provides a stronger structure for the car body and a smoother ride experience. The 2.5l engine is reworked to provide a quieter and smoother running engine that now has direct fuel injection and gains in fuel mileage. The Outback's cabin is appointed with refined, soft materials that are rich in appearance and to the touch. The Outback Touring version has JAVA Brown Nappa leather-trimmed seats that are much more comfortable than the regular seating and are very appealing to look at. The technology integrated into the Outback is advanced and requires the owner to spend time understanding the sophistication of how the electronics provides driver/rider with a greatly enhanced driving experience. One will first notice the technology integrated into the Outback by observing the large multi functional information display screen in the middle of the dashboard. To drive the Outback is not complicated, but full utilization of its onboard electronics will require extensive reading and looking at UTUBE and Subaru's website for videos about use of the computer capabilities built into the touch screen, which includes car info, navigation, a SIRIUS radio, and auto operation and maintenance settings. Subaru's manuals that come with the car provide extensive documentation on these topics as well as all of the many other features of the 2020 Subaru Outback. The new features in the 2020 Outback seem to have been incorporated from a list of requests Subaru received from public input and has yielded a set of car features that are superb for the car driver and its occupants. The features are too numerous to describe here, but a dealership would be more than happy to provide a brochure describing them in detail. Having said that, take a test drive in a Subaru Outback to experience the ride and get a gift card worth $50 from Subaru.
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I don’t like it when the engine stops at red light
Skipper, 02/24/2020
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 27 people found this review helpful
I drove one recently as a loner. The engine kept stopping. That is a deal breaker! I own an older 6-cylinder Subaru and like it a lot but now all they have are turbo-4s that stop when the car stops. Not for me!
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36k and no garage door opener!
7 time subaru owner., 05/25/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
Feels good, rides good, lots of electronic stuff, big screen (can't turn brightness down without dimming dash board). Starlink thing will not work with older garage door opener. Dealer 40 miles away and sales people not real helpful after you sign.
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Nice car with terrible MPG
Kris, 02/03/2020
updated 08/08/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
I still consider my first Subaru Outback XT a good purchase. The big dissapointment, however, is its terrible gas usage. The sticker says 23/30 city/highway mpg and I'm getting an average of 18 after the first 1000 miles. Moreover, my 18 mpg is a combined city/highway result so it should rather be somewhere in the middle between 23 and 30. It's even worse than my15 years old Nissan Maxima 3.5L. Why Subaru is lying about that? Update: almost 3 years and 11k miles later the average mileage improved to 21.5mpg and that's probably it for this car. Not so good but that's the only bad thing about this car. I really like it!
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Great suv but does have drawbacks
Thomas , 12/23/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
Moved to a mountain town that gets snow and is accessed by a long winding road through the Sierra Nevada mountains. So changed from my Toyota Camry to this. Price for new beat price for used older models. Has a comfortable ride. Drawbacks No coin holder Small glovebox Lie clearance for snow chains - AWD like 4WD can just mean four wheels spinning on ice Touch screen little to sensitive Subaru if listening Provide clearance for chains Provide open cabin storage Provide coin drawer
DISTRACTION
ray, 03/01/2020
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
15 of 32 people found this review helpful
I love all my old Subaru's....BUT: They MUST drastically change the MENU Driven VERY Distractive flat screen.....Aggressive driving AND DISTRACTED Driving are the BIG reasons for ACCIDENTS....
Give yourself a great present!
Cheryl Davis, 05/06/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Subaru Outback XT> got it for present to myself> Mother’s Day! OMG it is amazing. Peppy, roomy, beautiful and tricked out with electronics. Drive it and see. I would have considered the Touring but did NOT like the color of interior. Too masculine!!!
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Outback in my Outback!!!!
KJ, 07/30/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Shop around I got a great deal. Went to several dealers. The Outback ride is incredibly smooth! All the new tech in the 2020 is worth it! Easy to see all the controls with the large screen. It’s very easy to use as well. Lots of room!!!! Estate sales here I come!
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Transmission Problems?
George, 12/09/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I have been having problems with my 2020 Outback turbo since 45K miles or so. I think it is the transition. It has been at the dealer 3 times over a period of 4 month and in there possession for about 6 weeks. They cant fix it :-(
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Nice car but has charging issues
Larry D, 08/25/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 9 people found this review helpful
I noticed on my 2020 outback, that the battery voltage drops from 14.4volts to 12volts when ever the accelerator is depressed and the wipers, headlights and heater are off. Taking my foot off the accelerator and the voltage goes back to 14.4volts. So if someone does a lot of driving, especially city, with the headlights, wipers and heater/ac off and they have the same issue I have, then that would explain why the battery keeps going dead. FYI- my radar detector displays voltage so I can see the battery voltage constantly while the ignition is on.
Before you buy any Subaru
First and Last, 03/10/2020
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
22 of 59 people found this review helpful
Before you buy any Subaru, do your homework on the CVT transmission. Several auto makers have tried and abandoned them. I guess Subaru thinks they can make them work. What they won't discuss with you is the reliability of this piece of the drivetrain, or the fact that will cost you about considerably more to replace it WHEN it fails compared to a conventional automatic transmission. Also, look at the history of excessive oil consumption in boxer engines. The first Subaru outback I bought will also be my last!
Auto-Stop - Are You Kidding Me??
John G, 09/25/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
The car tuns turns itself off and stumbles coming out of intersections. For what? So Subaru can claim 1/2 MPG better numbers? Thanks Subaru (for nothing) - what a joke! Would have sold it if I there was not a way to defeat it (but not from Subaru)