Used 2020 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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The safe one with a good ride
BocaRich, 01/10/2020
updated 07/14/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
166 of 172 people found this review helpful
Great ride, lots of room, bigger than the older Outbacks...love all the toys...Power adequate. CVT transmission, shifts like a normal one. Tires: Yokohama AVID-GT are quiet, but a B rating for traction is curious. Automatic start stop was annoying, found www.autostopeliminator.com/subaru and installed (easy) device which when you turn the auto start stop off ...stays off until you want it back on. SAFEST car you can buy....My ultimate has everything you would ever want in a car. Much better than my old BMW and Mercedes... Now have 5700 miles ....mileage in city experience: 21 mpg... could be better but it is 4 wheel drive....
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Comfortable, great style, and good mpg!
New to Subaru, 12/21/2019
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
108 of 112 people found this review helpful
This was my first Subaru and I've fallen in love with it. The ride quality is smooth, but without sacrificing a sense of the road and terrain, and the Outback's seats are supportive enough to make long drives pleasant. Having the large cargo space of the Outback along with being able to get over 30 mpg is a huge plus, as well. Some general notes/comments: -after about 3k miles so far, my overall average gas mileage has been 28 mpg, which includes both a lot of stop/start commuting and 2+ hour trips on the freeway -there are quite a few neat 'perks' that my previous cars haven't had, like the reclining rear seats, adjustable headrest angle in the front seats, roof rail crossbars that fold up, and high beam lights that dim automatically when other cars are close enough in front of you -the lane-centering feature seems to have two operational forms: 1) a clear-cut feature that does what it sounds like, where it just nudges you back to the center if it senses you're drifting out of the lane, and 2) a micro-managing nutcase that can be very aggressive in forcing the steering to follow the car in front of you, even if they're weaving around in the lane--thankfully, this second type of the lane centering is only activated when cruise control is on, and even then can be easily shut off by a button on the steering wheel -the base model is the only trim that has two 7" screens instead of a single large screen; although it looks a little odd, admittedly, its controls are fairly straightforward and essentially identical to the large screen version--but yes, that sadly does mean that the climate controls use the same smaller buttons and can be somewhat difficult to use -all Outbacks come with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, but Subaru's own Starlink infotainment OS is rather good for bluetooth operations; along with handling voice calls and music/audiobooks, Starlink will also show text messages on screen when the car is in park or read them aloud when the vehicle is in motion
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Amazing vehicle with a minor drawback.
Jay Kim , 01/11/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
121 of 126 people found this review helpful
I am coming from a 2016 WRX STi Limited to 2020 Outback Onyx XT Metallic Silver model. I am a 29 year old male, who is married, and have been looking for a Crossover/SUV vehicle that came with AWD and Turbo. 2020 Outback Onyx XT came to my mind. This vehicle is amazing. Compared to the STI, I am absolutely okay with the CVT transmission. No more feelings of gear shift change. Also I feel like I am cruising in the clouds; it is very quiet and I don’t feel bumps at all. Pros: Quiet and comfortable. Low turn radius. Comfortable steering wheels and doesn’t feel “light” when steering. Most of the standard features that come with the car (with exceptions). Cons: MAJOR FLAW: Auto Start/Stop function. This is the most deal breaker function that will turn away most of the young potential buyers. I hate the fact that I have shut the function off every time I start the car. Subaru needs to update it so that the off function is permanent until the driver wishes not. Gas mileage: I DO NOT get 26mpg average. I average about 23 mpg and I have been driving regularly not like the STi. The touch function on the screen is so slow and lags. The functionality is not smoother AT ALL. I wish they had it like Apple or Tesla where you get instant response from touch. This is my pet peeve, but how is Subaru going to put every thing LED and not the turn signal lights? I love the day time running LED lights, LED headlights, LED fog lights and then forget the turn signals? That drives me insane. But I love this car so much I am willing to give 4/5. I love love the design and it doesn’t look like a soccer mom or granny car. It looks very sporty. I can live with shutting off the auto start/stop function every time I start the car but it can get quite annoying time to time.
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Great driving SUV or very roomy sedan?
JP, 02/11/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
20 of 20 people found this review helpful
I recently purchased a 2020 Outback Limited XT. The lease was up on our 2017 Acura RDX and went looking for a replacement that included a new RDX, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV-4, Buick Envision and a Lexus NX. I had not thought seriously of the Subaru, until that is, I drove one. Now that I own it, I am utterly impressed with the Outback XT and more pleased every time I drive it. It may be the most solid car I have ever owned, thanks to some additional chassis stiffening. It literally glides over tar strips and joints with almost imperceptible feel and comfort. Despite, this it has an extremely confident road feel, level handling and steering feedback. Cabin noise level is even less that the RDX and approaches some luxury sedans. Normal conversations are possible even at Interstate speeds. Technology and appointments are more than I had expected at the Limited’s price point, that includes adaptive head lights, adaptive breaking and cruise control, blind spot and cross-traffic monitoring as well has heated rear seats and steering wheel. Also, “X-mode” allows for better traction in poor weather conditions or driving off road. The leather appointed interior is very attractive. Performance with the 260 hp turbo is a worthy improvement over the standard engine. Although the CVT transmission is not perfect, it allows for adequate performance in Auto mode and spirited passing and Interstate merging capability. For a sportier experience, one can use the transmission in manual mode with its paddle shifters and eight virtual speeds. In addition, Subaru has one of the more impressive safety ratings and very high resale value. On the downside, there is a shortage of front seat storage and the new info-tainment screen could use some improvement. I prefer old-fashioned physical dials and buttons, being less distractive than fumbling for touch screens when traveling on rough roads or at Interstate speeds. Also, the car is fitted with an annoying “auto-start-stop” feature that attempts to save fuel and pollution from excessive idling. Most of the other technology features can be activated if and when you so chose, but the auto start stop feature must be turned off every time the engine is re-started. This feature should also be optionally on or off. All in all the Outback Limited XT is a great compromise between a fun-driver and utilitarian SUV and with its standard list of features, a good value.
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Failure of brakes & Eye-Sight system nearly killed
N. Alam, 05/06/2020
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
417 of 449 people found this review helpful
Failure of brakes and unresponsive Eye-Sight system nearly killed us and the passengers in a stationary car at an intersection. After owning two Subarus, we leased a 2020 Outback in November 2019. On a cool day with clear driving conditions and no ice in late January 2020 in PA, we approached a four-way intersection at less than 25 miles/hour. With over 30 years of an accident-free record, I pressed the brakes. To my horror, the car was not slowing down. My husband on the passenger seat warned me to hit the brakes, to which I responded, "I'm trying but it's not working!" We watched helplessly as our Outback traveled about 40 meters on the single-lane road and rear-ended the other car. Luckily, because of the low speed, the driver and her infant daughter in that car were unharmed. After reaching home, we found this report on NBC report about failed brakes in the 2020 Outback models (https://nbc24.com/news/auto-matters/2020-subaru-outback-2020-legacy-recalled-for-brake-problem). We immediately reached out to Subaru headquarters. Subaru took in the car for over three months. In May 2020, they reported that the car had no faults whatsoever and that we were responsible for all repair costs. However, Subaru refused to share the test/diagnostic report with me. When I reminded them about the NBC report, the Subaru spokesperson first denied knowledge of the report (even though I had shared the report with him in February 2020) and later wrote a curt email that, "... this recall does not pertain to your vehicle." [Again, the NBC report disputes his claim. It clearly states that 2020 Outback and Legacy models can suffer from brake failure]. For a company that pledges "love" and "safety", we are astonished at their cold and dismissive response. We never threatened to sue-- all we asked was that they make things right by either replacing the car, or acknowledging the failure and repairing the brakes and EyeSight. We are terrified of getting into the 2020 Outback again. What if the brakes fail at a higher speed, resulting in a deadly collision? What if we are picking up our children from school and there is another low-speed brake failure and unresponsive Eyesight system?
6th Generation Outbacks are the best!
Keith W., 12/16/2019
updated 06/24/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
87 of 93 people found this review helpful
The 2020 Outback is our family's 4th new Subaru since 2014. My first Subaru was a 2016 3.6R pretty fully loaded. I traded it in at 52000 miles for a brand new Touring XT. It has so many advantages over the old model- it's quiet, it does 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, it handles nicely, has all of the modern safety features, and is a heck of a bargain for less than $40k fully loaded. It's not perfect, though. There is some turbo lag. But once it kicks in, the car performs very well. The car also has auto stop/start turned on by default, and you have to turn if off every time you start the engine if you don't want it on. The center console has very little space compared to the 2016, and that's shrunken even more by Subaru moving the CD player into the console. I can see why the infotainment screen causes a lot of controversy, but I have not had some of the issues reported by others and by the automotive press. You owe it to yourself to go drive one before buying one of the competitive offerings by another manufacturer. Now after 18,000 miles we still love the vehicle.
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2020 Outback Purchase a No-Brainer
Bob, 12/04/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
90 of 97 people found this review helpful
I recently was involved in a rollover accident in my 2015 Outback. The car left the road, took out a large sign and a small tree, rolled over 4-5 times and was totaled. It landed on it's wheels (kind of ... 2 were pretty much ripped off) and I got out and walked away uninjured. That experience made the purchase of a new Outback a simple decision. Subaru isn't lying when they say they make some of the safest vehicles in the industry!!
My first but not last Subaru
LLV, 01/03/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
57 of 61 people found this review helpful
I love the car but there are a couple of things that bother me, hence the 4 star review. 1. The "stop/start" feature seems like a total waste! It will eventually run down the battery and wear out the starter, among other things. Disabling it EVERY time the car is started is a pain. 2. Having ALL the controls on the screen is also annoying. On my old car, I could just reach over and feel the controls to adjust the heat or ac without taking my eyes off the road. Now I have to actually LOOK at the screen to see what I'm doing, thus being distracted from driving! Seems like an accident waiting to happen! And lastly, I'm disappointed that there is so little storage inside the car for incidentals. I now have to get a large crate and somehow anchor it in the cargo area to carry my supplies (Xtra water and oil, a tire pump, blanket, reusable shopping bags, etc.) That being said, the car rides and handles like a dream! All the safety features are amazing! I would recommend a Subaru Outback to anyone.
Strongly exceeding expectations
Tom, 12/31/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
35 of 37 people found this review helpful
Quiet and smooth ride, good handling, great tech and audio, off-road capabilities and standard safety features made it an easy choice for us. In the end we were choosing between the new Outback, Mazda CX5 and Audi Q5 - we liked Outback much better. I was initially worried about the lack of hp in the standard engine but turns out it's very capable and comes with a better gas mileage.
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Fantastic family vehicle and great for any road tr
Rishi T, 07/27/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
Here are the pros and cons of the 2020 Subaru Outback Outdoor/Onyx XT. A few cons can be a deal breaker for some but I personally love my Outback and can't wait for more adventures with it. PROs -styling (love the new Outdoor trim look. Very youthful yet grown up, rugged and slick.) -color(the autumn green looks fantastic) -For a non premium sound system it sounds amazing. You just got to fine tune the equalizer -Starlink system to remote start has great potential -Turbo (very pushy at higher rpms, if you want to use prrmium gas then its a whole new level of performance. I suggest you try it at least once) -Clear 360 view inside ( very healthy views around when driving) -Tablet style screen ( bringing a 11inch screen in a subaru is a great choice. They are now a techy, fashion forward company) -StarTeks fabric ( great choice of fabic, durable, water repellent, soft and comfy) -Comfy drivers seat (had no problems driving far distances) -Loads of space ( tons of cargo room, back seats are very spacious) -Built-in rack rails (genius idea and ever company should copy this idea) -Tons of safety suites standard (got to love the radar cruise control feature) -8.7inch of ground clearance -Decently quiet cabin (still can hear some road noises) -Comfy ride(absorb pot holes like a champ) -Personally love all the black cladding -High beam assist works fantastic -AC systems works almost in an instant CONs -radio signal isnt the best -a big number of users are experiencing brand new defective battery and I am one of them. -Infotainment system needs much improvement (laggy, non responsive at times but also it is responsive more though to give it credit) -Starlink system needs more refinement -Having the climate controls as touch is okay but rather it be dails. (On the touch screen the fan button should be a lot bigger) -Gas mileage is on the average side big great for a turbo engine -I find that the rear view mirror placement seems a bit too low. It affects my frontview vision -Backup camera isnt the best quality -Front camera is the worst quality I have ever seen -Android auto connection is very unstable and needs corrected ASAP(ex samsung devices only works with Samsung cables) -needs a lot more spacious cuppies -Do not like the tires they choose on this trim (should of come with deeper threads since its an outdoor trim) -Auto start/stop is very aggressive, if you want to turn it off you must go in a menu to turn it off EVER SINGLE TIME. No vehicle is perfect but I find the 2020 Outdoor to fit all my needs and can live with the cons. Overall super quality vehicle that is sure to be a companion with any adventure coming your way
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Subaru added Portrait Mode to Apple Car Play
Liming, 02/01/2020
updated 08/05/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
If you have high hope on the large display, you may be surprised how small the display became during actual usage. I waited for the 2020 outback, mainly for the 11.6” display and the car seat. Well, what a disappointment about the display. The display is vertically oriented. In Car play mode, you got only 6.5” effective size diagonally. It is probably optimized for people with 40/20 vision. I feel much comfortable using a 5.5” effective display of my minivan, than this 6.5” effectively display of outback. The font size is too small, and there are too many small letters on the screen. I am OK with other part of the SUV so far. The car seat is comfortable, and the HK audio system is great. Hopefully, Subaru could cover the display issue through software upgrade. Update 08/05/20: The new FW of the infotainment system saved the display. Now the apple car play and map use about 2/3 screen. Big improvement. I was only able to get 24 combined MPG for the outback. I guess it is OK. Not a big deal.
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First time owner Subaru Outback Limited
Ivan Alexander, 03/31/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
First time owner 2020 Subaru Outback Limited. Seriously nice job Subaru for building such a beautiful Outback. I must say this 2020 Outback Limited is really a joy, with great ride comfort, roominess front and back, leather seats, moon roof, quiet ride, great responsiveness, excellent 4 wheel traction, just a wonderful wagon mechanically... I’d give it a full 5. I even like its stop/start feature and good mpg, love the Eye Sight features, pre collision warnings, wireless charger, and driver alert functions, haven’t yet tried X-mode. Where it falters (why 4 rather than 5) is in its electronics, sensors assistance that I find faulty, even annoying. Here Subaru needs work to make their use more transparent and intuitive. I like their adaptive cruise, and blind spot, but backup camera poor, cross traffic alert seem weak. Having come from a 2017 Ford Escape Titanium with similar features, I think Ford did a better job in its electronics (not to mention rain sensing wipers, self parking, front and side sensors, none of which I have on my new wagon), though Subaru beats them on design and comfort. Where I found difficulty was in its multifunction 11.6” screen, hard to navigate with multiple layers to find what sought for. Why not consolidate functions rather than having them scattered? I finally was able to track down what I needed in their (four) driver’s manuals, like setting correct volumes for beeps and dings on various sensors (the backup sensor was barely audible per default settings, while navigation prompts and lane centering alerts screamed at me). Nor was it easy to understand what the authors of those manuals had in mind, did they cross-check their indexes? Very hard to find stuff, and then finally when found with little explanation of what function is. So the tech side, though mostly works beautifully, is just badly laid out and difficult to decipher. Otherwise, once you finally are able to make it work right, this Outback is a real joy. I just wished Subaru did better on their manuals, slim them down with simplicity and cross-referencing. (They might want to take a page from Apple or Ford manuals?) So overall only a 4 rating. But if Subaru upgrades those techs, this Outback is definitely a 5!
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Best car I have ever owned
Mitch, 11/26/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
70 of 77 people found this review helpful
Some of the reviews here I just don't understand. I bought a brand new Outback XT Onyx edition in Silica black with a few extra options. Paint and finishes are excellent. Car gets stares and comments like you wouldn't believe. Not only does it look bad ass, It delivers in almost every category. Not your average soccer mom Subaru. Car rides like a dream and kills it on gravel roads and light to medium off roading. I put some off road tires on it for the winter and unbelievable how sure footed this car is. I agree that it is not a race car but has more than enough punch for a daily driver and someone who enjoys the mountain. My advice is to put winter tires on the car if you bought this as a ski/snowboard car. I drove comparable BMW, Acura and Audi among others and none can touch this car for the price. The all wheel drive is the best in the business hands down. The car is quiet and the ride is very smooth. I don't get people who say this is a bumpy ride. Did they even drive it? Not so. It rides smooth as cars twice the price. As far as the infotainment system.... unless you are really tech challenged, its easy to use. I figured is out and I am not a computer genius that's for sure. Car has great tech..... basically drives itself like autopilot. What was the other criticism … oh yes there is no junk storage in the dash. Good as far as I'm concerned. You shouldn't junk up a nice car like this. Use your junk drawer at home. I like the clean look. The seats are super comfortable for a average sized person and are very durable. Very much a leather feeling seat and I really like that they are water proof. Tons of leg room and room for all your mountain gear, dog and so on. I bought this car new from Wilsonville Subaru. Great place to buy a car. I love this car!
Outstanding vehicle for the price
Stephen , 10/20/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
34 of 37 people found this review helpful
The outback is exceptional when compared to similar cars in its class. 2.4L turbo is outstanding and gives you plenty of acceleration off the line and at speed. I purchased the Onyx Edition XT. The startex interior has the look and feel of leather but provides much more durability. Overall handles like a champ and rides like a Audi or Lexus. Car seat is a little snug behind drivers seat, but I’m not a big person so it’s not a major issue. I would highly recommend this vehicle
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Big upgrade
Ham, 11/26/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
32 of 35 people found this review helpful
I have owned 5 Outbacks since they were first introduced. This one (which admittedly cost a bit more than the first one I bought) is a significant improvement. The turbo engine is noticeably more powerful, and does not suffer from too much lag. I have not taken it off pavement yet, but the car feels firmer and more confident when confronted with serious potholes, etc.. The Eyesight technology works as advertised (I admit it kinda freaked me out at first) and makes time spent in traffic and highway travel easier. The new touchscreen takes some time to get used to but works well once you get its layout figured out. I would like to see some more customization on some of the driver assistance features (why are there driver profiles but no ability to customize car settings among different drivers?), and some like AVH require activation every time you get in the car. Bottom line - I would buy this car again without hesitation. I gave some serious thought to a Jeep Cherokee or RAV4 as alternatives, but am glad I stayed with the Outback.
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Disappointed
Sara Ann, 01/20/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
86 of 97 people found this review helpful
Our third Outback. This one a Limited. Had a 2012 (premium)and traded a 2017 (premium) in for the new 2020. I found my 2017 Outback far quieter than this vehicle. The 2012 was a noisy car, and I feel this one has regressed to that engine noise level. But my major complaint relates to the infotainment system. Whichever engineer decided to incorporate the climate control functions into the digital screen needs to be fired. The touch screen is difficult enough to navigate ( pretty exclusively use the steering wheel controls) but putting the climate control in the screen is downright dangerous. Non- intuitive, tiny controls, the glare is incessant on a sunny day. A major change in driver experience for Subaru owners. So disappointed, we are considering a trade in after only a few months of use. Tap, tap, tap. I feel like I am at work using this interface. Not sure the market Subaru was trying to appeal to, but look around. 20 somethings aren’t driving Outbacks. 40 somethings and up don’t want a huge screen in the middle of the dash needing to make numerous selections just to heat your seat. Huge miss which I predict will hurt sales. So disappointed.
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Head unit take over
Frenchguy007, 02/14/2020
updated 08/17/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
30 of 33 people found this review helpful
I've had my limited XT for 3 months now and love many parts of the car. It rides and handles quite well but the tech leaves a bit to be desired. Here are some of the issues: 1. The heated seats require going through different screens to activate. This is especially an issue when trying to back off heat since it distracts you from driving. Also, you want heated seats when you get into a cold car, problem is the head unit is slow when first starting. You have to press the screen and then be patient. If you think it did not take your touch you could be jumping around and have to start over. 2. The start/stop feature is three screens away and must be disabled every time the car is restarted. Because it is a boxer engine there is a natural shudder that occurs at every restart. Also, the car seems to restart when it wants to, not when I lift my foot from the brake paddle. Sometimes the car has restarted as pedestrians are walking across the street in front of me, they always jump in fear thinking I am going! 3. The head unit has started to act up at start up. The radio won't start for 20-30 seconds, the back up camera stays on for a short while after putting the car in drive, the screen goes blank, all kinds of quirks. I am hoping that this is cold weather issues and will disappear when the weather warms up. 4. The heated steering wheel does not heat between 10 and 2 on the wheel. 5. The rear hatch sensor and interior lift gate button are quirky and hard to understand. The manual is filled with warnings but short on clear instructions (honestly, this is my third Subaru since 2006 and the manuals have always been poorly written, I think they use Google translate from Japanese to English rather than get someone to ensure it makes sense). 6. I have the temperature set at 16 degrees in the car, anything higher and you cook. At that setting the car feels like it is at 21 degrees when warmed up. You get used to the discrepancy but it would be nice if it were accurate. 7. With the Limited you can enter your driver information but because the Limited does not have the facial recognition it has no benefit other than giving information to Subaru. Overall most of the issues seem to be when the car is cold. Once warmed up I quite enjoy the ride and the car. However I am worried that the head unit issues will get worst and not better. Luckily this is a fleet lease so I will hand in the keys in 3 years and not worry about resale value or long term reliability.
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First Subaru Outback - Won't Be My Last!
icefins, 02/25/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying I have owned a Subaru before: a 2009 Legacy. I absolutely loved the car and for some reason I got into a Nissan Altima, a Hyundai Sonata and a Honda Accord down the road. I got burned out on living the "trunk life" and wanted to explore the small/mid-size SUV market. I finally test drove an Outback and never turned back. First off, I ended up going with a Premium trim and added the keyless entry feature, along with cross traffic alerts and the hands-free liftgate. The first thing I noticed is how quiet it is. I came from a Honda Accord and the difference is quite dramatic. I especially notice it at stop lights with the auto start/stop kicks in as well as on the highway. I was told Subaru upgraded their glass thickness and also some noise dampening material in the paneling. It has definitely paid off. I love the height of the car, the sight lines and the EyeSight lane centering feature while on cruise control. The car literally can steer itself (although it will yell at you to keep your hands on the wheel :)). The only knock I have is the hands-free liftgate feature. I have a very difficult time getting the hang of this feature and its very finicky. I'm hoping I'll figure it out over time.
2020 Outback Limited
Musicmaniac68, 12/26/2019
updated 12/29/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
After 3 months of ownership I am pleased with this purchase. I really like the 11.6 inch infotainment screen. Yeah it does make some simple tasks that a knob would do easier but not a deal breaker. Favorite thing is the driver seat thigh extension. Really comfortable on long drives. Some improvements I'd like to see is, passenger seat have same functions as the driver, including the thigh extension, and add 4 way power lumbar to both. For a black interior there should be an option for a black headliner. Another 20HP to the base engine would be nice and would still be another 60HP away from the more powerful engine. And last but not least, how about a sport mode option for quicker transmission shifts and tighter steering. Other than that it's a nice ride. Car is still doing well. The nav update putting the start/stop button on the front panel helps.
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Love the Limited XT
Sid, 12/18/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
I wanted a 5 seater SUV with pep and the Outback met my needs. I purchased the Limited XT model. I test drove the non-turbo model, but did not have the horsepower I wanted. The XT was perfect. Seats are comfortable. The infotainment center takes a little getting used to. Auto start/stop can be a little annoying but you can turn it off if you want to. I really like the way it handles. Today there was some icy spots in the roadway, and the vehicle was excellent in keeping the vehicle moving and not skidding. Overall very happy with my purchase.
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2020 Outback XT Touring
Bill.Trail.PC.Doctor, 09/22/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
145 of 167 people found this review helpful
This is our family’s 4th Subaru in 3 years ... two new 2017 his-n-her Foresters and a new 2018 Forester with nearly 50,000 miles traded for this new 2020 Outback. Pros: 1. Lexus-like quiet ride 2. Front seat comfort is GREAT 3. XT Turbo engine scores a 10 out of 10 Cons: 1. Almost no front seat storage areas 2. Cloth sun visors? Are you kidding me? How nasty are they gonna get after a lot of use? In a $42,000 Nappa leather car? At least cover them in VINYL ... anything but beige cloth. Come on, Subaru! Jeeese. ((( At least the little sun visors “extend” when a tall guy like me pushes the visor to the left side driver’s window - then “pull slides” it rearward to block the EIGHT INCH HOLE left by a non-extending or non-sliding sun visor. You’d be surprised how many car companies ignore this. ))) 3. The car has this “rocking horse” thing going on when you give it the gas then let off or hit the brake. Too much fore/aft motion for such an otherwise modern car. Reminds me of early front wheel drive 70’s & 80’s vintage Regals and Cutlasses. Maybe Subaru just needs to get more experience with its small powerful turbo motor. But it does quickly remind you... this ain’t no sports car even if this new motor THINKS it is. 4. Finally - gripes a plenty about the new gigantic dash & console-hogging touch screen. Totally unnecessary - and PROBABLY not at all SAFE ? And NASTY FINGERPRINTS ? By the time you’ve had your eyes off the road long enough to attempt to adjust ANYTHING on this fingerprint-attracting monster of a screen you’ll have wandered up and over the curb and into somebody’s LIVING ROOM. It’s rediculous. It’s Subaru pretending to be a Tesla. Come on, Subaru. Forgetaboutit. You want some more? Ok. YOU CAN NOT READ THE THING WITH THE SUN’S GLARE. But never mind... the glare is ALREADY BLINDING YOU even before you actually look over at the thing. So who needs to change from SiriusXM to FM or turn down the bass without killing the 3 kids in the back seat? Not me. I’m good. After one day of ownership I’m already thinking of ways to counteract that da _ _ screen. What about a heavy piece of flat black construction paper - cut to size - taped across the top edge of the paper to the dash. Yeah. I don’t know. I’ll think of something. Lastly: Color choices. Need I say more? The rest of the 2020 Outback XT Touring package is excellent. So good, in fact, that I own one. Yes, compromise is still the order of the day. (What. Too soon?)
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Excellent update with a few drawbacks
Manku, 12/23/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
27 of 30 people found this review helpful
Had the 2017 Outback Limited 2.5...now have 2020 Outback Limited XT. Plusses: Engine is strong and powerful. Seats are really comfortable. Safety features are all updated and excellent. Drives much better than previous edition...actually a little fun on twisty roads! Minuses: Lack of storage space in center console for driver Touchscreen has too many steps for climate control...dedicated knobs better, especially switches for seat heater. Android Auto buggy...but maybe it's my phone (Pixel XL3) or I haven't learned system. Voice commands can malfunction. Mileage ain't great around the city...but I anticipated this...around 17mpg.
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Meh... Not at all what I had expected
John B. (Seattle), 09/30/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
106 of 123 people found this review helpful
We have had a 2016 (and still do), 2017, 2018 and 2019 Outback 3.6R Limited in our immediate family. Traded in the 2018 for a 2020 Limited XT. To me, the 2018, with H6 was waaaaay quieter than the buzzy 2.4 Turbo in the 2020. Many have said the 2020 interior is an improvement over the outgoing model - I can not say I agree with this... You can see cost cutting galore on the 2020, as compared to the 2018. Handling is better on the 2020, however, but I’m not so sure about that screen and lack of physical controls for the simpler and heavily used items. I do have a 2019 Tesla, so I can say “This ain’t no Tesla UI...”. It’s a nice car, but I should have kept the 2018 3.6R H6, as it was smooth as butter and very quiet -would have save $10,000 as well... So, if you’re a 3.6R Limited owner, think twice about switching to the buzzy four-banger; a buzzy four-banger with a lot of surge acceleration (not smooth). Of course, it's my fault as I did a factory order, sight unseen. You all have that option (to see and drive it) now that they are out and in dealership lots across the county. YMMV
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2020 onyx xt
C23, 11/01/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
Have had my Onyx XT for about 3 weeks. I love it. Traded in my 2017 base outback for this, wanted something a little higher-end. I'm not disappointed in the least. The turbo engine has excellent power, not a race car, obviously, but if that's what you're looking for then you're probably not looking at an outback anyway... The touchscreen can be a tiny bit finicky sometimes, but you get used to it. If you were born in the 90s or you're at least a little bit tech-savvy, you won't have any problems adjusting pretty quickly. I plan on taking this car on trips to the mountains, camping, hiking, snowboarding, etc. I have no doubt this vehicle will go anywhere I want it to. The onyx's interior is excellent, very high quality feel. The cold weather features (wiper de-icers, side-view mirror defrosters, heated seats in the front and rear seats) make driving in the winter much more comfortable and easier. The rubberized floor mats that come with the onyx are an excellent addition as well. If you like the Subaru outback I would highly recommend checking out the 2020 onyx.
Revised Review - No longer 5 stars
Nick Pachnos, 01/29/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
48 of 55 people found this review helpful
After a few weeks of owning the XT Touring I gave this vehicle 5 stars. I now have to revise my ratings downward due to some nagging problems. The stop/start engine function is awful. It is really rough when turning on and off and is very unpredictable when it engages. The facial recognition only works half the time. My biggest concern: the low beam headlights are aimed to low. I live in a rural area and the low beams do not provide enough illumination. I have to drive below the speed limit at night to ensure I don’t outpace the visibility of the lights. The high beams work ok but far less than any vehicle I’ve owned. I also get gas mileage much lower than anticipated. After only 5k miles driven I am thinking of trading the vehicle in. I do love the navigation system and sound from the stereo but otherwise Subaru has to do better.
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Subaru, what were you thinking?!
Bob, 05/05/2020
updated 05/06/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
30 of 34 people found this review helpful
This is my 3rd Outback and 5th Subaru starting in 1986. I've been a very long time and loyal Subaru customer but with this "touchscreen" Subaru has lost one of its loyal customers. The car itself seems very nice but the new touchscreen needs a lot of improvement. It's amazing to me this was even put into production. It's slow to respond, doesn't remember basic settings and is much more difficult to use than the physical controls it replaced. It seems very poorly designed. The navigation system seems fairly unless when the one on my old 2015 Outback was very useful. I didn't know about the auto engine shut-off until after I bought the car if you want to disable it you will have to do this every time you start the car. It doesn't remember that setting. It doesn't remember settings with the audio system or the nav system either. You have to reset just about every setting every time you start the car. Also, the climate control system doesn't work well. It was getting the car very warm. Now it's set at 65 degrees and the interior temperature still rises to over 75 degrees. It seems with the new touchscreen Subaru was more concerned with flashy as opposed to functional and they ended up with a system that could be more distracting than texting and driving. Update: The 2021 didn't seem much better than the 2020 so I traded my 2020 in on a 2017 Outback. It's a much better car! Controlling EVERYTHING from a single screen that doesn't work very well and wasn't programmed very well is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen in a car.
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Bought it in October and now looking to trade in
Jim , 12/21/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
My complaints include some that you've read about here and some that need more emphasis. Please keep in mind I drove my first Forrester for 12 years and my last for 10. They stopped making the turbo Forrester so now I drive an Outback...for now. The auto stop/start feature is more than annoying. The start up is rough and feels like a really bad turbo lag. As others have noted, it cannot be permanently disabled. This is close to being unacceptable. I thought I could get used to the driver interface for all the controls. The complexity of the screens, and the sheer number of screens you have to go through to do something as simple as turn on a seat warmer is unacceptable and just dangerous. They have the feature that warns you if you take your eyes off the road and then equip it with a system like that- crazy. I had to disable some of the safety features. The lane departure system is overly sensitive. It cannot anticipate if you're on a curved road and will make a turn in a few feet. Instead it jerks the wheel or it will beep at you. I'm afraid the sum total of all of this is unacceptable on what is otherwise a great car. I do think I'll be trading this in shortly. An unfortunate waste of money.
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Love it!
Andre Maluk, 02/23/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is my third Subaru and my second Outback bought back to back. I have to say Subaru did a great job refining the 2020 compared to the 2017 I previously owned. There is a bit more hp to the engine, and the transmission shifts much smoother and quieter than my 2017. The 11.6” touch screen is easy for me to use and looks GREAT in the outlay of the dash. The technology inside is comparable to other upscale cars and the ride my be firm but smooth. This is a luxury car that you can go camping with!
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Very Nice
NoOneYouKnow, 07/10/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The good— Excellent ride Very smooth Good acceleration Comfort Gadgets Very convenient space features, it’s big. Sorry for lack of ‘spraining, but really roomy. Just a very comfortable ride for short or long trips. The not-as-good— The gadgets. It’s a good and bad feature. Automatically plays Bluetooth even when you have it off, music, books. Should be able to turn that “feature” off. Some have complained about auto-stop when at a red light, you can turn that off if you are experiencing lots of delays, freeway backups or city driving, so it’s not really an issue The “lane keeping” function isn’t ready for prime time yet, if you are on a pristine highway with fresh marks, probably works as it should, but definitely do not put your faith in it. Not an “exciting” car, but ranks up with the luxury class pretty well. 2020 Limited 2.5L
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Declared a lemon after 6,000 miles
Julie, 08/25/2020
updated 03/29/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
28 of 32 people found this review helpful
I just watched a 2020 Outback commercial claiming "The most reliable Outback ever" and it made my heart hurt. I traded my 2018 Outback Touring with 111,000 miles for a 2020 Outback Touring. After my first oil change I started having a hesitation type issue. At 78 MPH or so the engine or transmission would stumble repeatedly, lose speed and drop in fuel mileage drastically. Eventually the air conditioner would stop blowing cold during the hesitations. Within the three times the car was in the shop the ignition coils were replaced, the transmission was relearned and the fuel system and transmission was checked for the correct pressure. The last attempt included emptying the fuel tank, flushing the system and refilling the tank with premium gas. Nothing fixed the issue. My car was in the shop for 40 days over 2 months when Subaru decided that they were going to evoke Lemon Law and started the repurchase process. I bought the car 4/11/20 and Subaru repurchased the car 9/7/20.
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Traded Truck for My First Outback
NP27, 09/28/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
43 of 50 people found this review helpful
I had a 2017 Silverado which was fine (except for the squirrelly 8 speed transmission) but was way to big to park in many places I had to drive to. Since it was my primary vehicle I wanted something smaller and I really didn’t need a truck anymore. As a volunteer fire fighter I also needed a good vehicle to respond in all weather with space to store my gear. I looked at the Jeep Cherokee but was concerned with the reliability. When I read of all the improvements Subaru made with the 2020 Outback I decided on a test drive. I was sold. The Touring XT has great acceleration with a luxury feel and great sound system. It has a really solid feel. While my fellow firefighters may make fun of the fact that a bought an old women’s car, I could not be happier. I can see having this vehicle for a very long time.
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Overall Awesome
SteveR, 05/11/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bought the Onyx XT to replace my 2011 Outback 2.5. The turbo is awesome, the ride is so much better, and the interior is very impressive. As mentioned in many other reviews, the infotainment is a little slow and takes drilling down to do things that should have a hard button for (heat controls, X-Mode, auto-stop off), but the rest of the car is so good, it overrides these nuisance .
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Super Subaru
Dub, 06/15/2020
updated 06/20/2023
2020 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Have had this car for a couple of weeks now and one over the road trip of about 500 miles. Love this car. Tech is unbelievable and impressive. Interior and exterior fit and finish is first class. Ride is so smooth and the engine has enough power to get you going quickly if you need to. Adaptive cruise control is the best; just set it and let it do its thing: makes highway cruising a breeze. Dont like the lane centering assist function. Its annoying and I end up fighting it because it wants to take a different line than I do. Other than that, fantastic vehicle. Update 20,000 miles: Our Subie continues to be a car we love. It's a fantastic car for road trips. It hugs curves and stays surefooted in heavy rain and snow. So smooth on the highway and adaptive cruise control makes the long highway cruising much easier. No issues with the car to date.
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CT Yankee
CT Yankee, 12/29/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
37 of 44 people found this review helpful
Found the Outback Starlink 11.6 multimedia console to be too large & complicated to use while driving. Preferred Forester 8.0” Starlink multimedia system. Also, the Outback driver seat was much lower than the Forester driver’s seat . It also wasn’t as comfortable – seemed to have a flat, less padded cushion. Purchased instead a well equipped Forester Premium.
User unfriendly
Art, 06/26/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Center Information Display (CID) (iPad on the dash) in almost every function a distraction from driving. It was so much safer and easier to turn a knob or push a button for fan, air distribution, radio preset, heat and cold adjustment . For example, to change the seat heater from high to off requires five icon taps. Even the fan speed adjustment icon is tiny and awkward. Perhaps due to lack of feel of the road or quicker steering you must really concentrate when using the Center Information Display (CID). I agree with the criticism of the auto stop in other reviews. Unless you drive in heavy traffic with lots of long stops, useless and annoying. And it's the default! In cruise control, taping to increase speed jumps it by 5 mph. What? hold down for seconds to increase. by 1 MPH. In the Limited I guess the radio speakers have reduced the door and dash storage. Only mini umbrellas in the doors and pens, glasses cleaner etc for quick access go in the, too small for this, cell phone charger. Same in the side storage in the back. A new record in "user unfriendly" spoiling a fine car.
My first Subaru Outback
Frank, 01/28/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2020 Limited 2.5L Non-turbo. I have been pleasantly pleased with the fit, finish, assembly, and overall quality. The car is quite, comfortable front seats and I feel that it will hold its value better than some of its competitors. I also have been very pleased with the customer support and appreciation that Subaru has shown me for buying their product.
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The car is ok, HATE the infotainment nightmare.
Flavio, 08/12/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This is a test drive review--I do not own this car. Since my 2010 Outback blew up on the highway, I've been looking for a replacement. At first, I wanted to stay away from Subaru after an expensive head gasket repair and 3 tows in 9 months. But I decided to take one more look. These are my initial impressions: 1. The car is smooth and quiet, but seems less peppy than my 2010 was. Same engine, so I can only guess that the car has gotten heavier. Still doesn't handle that well on the highway. Acceptable for a jacked-up wagon, I guess, but not really a driver's car. 2. I absolutely hated the infotainment center. Personally, I prefer knobs and switches, especially for changing the air/heat setting. Everything now, including seat warmers, is buried in menus and sub-menus. Very frustrating. Want to get off your computer and take a drive? Forget it. I thought everything now was about safety, because whatever you do, you get "chimed." Go too fast? Too slow? in the wrong lane? Too close to traffic? Too far away? Eating too many carbs? Whatever. The system is always chiming at you. But with all this supposed emphasis on safety, they make you look over at the stupid screen for even the simplest setting. Talk about distraction! Subaru is getting away from its roots as a tough practical wagon, and doubling down on pandering overly complicated tech. Unfortunately, most of the new cars seem to be headed this direction. I couldn't figure out if the auto stop/start function was actually working. In one buried menu, the the switch indicated "on," but the engine stayed on at stop lights. 3. Be aware that the base trim does not have a lumbar adjustment, something I believe any car that costs this much should have. Make sure you try Subaru seats to see if they agree with you. I prefer our 2015 Accord seats.
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Big Disappointment
charles kidder, 04/26/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
20 of 24 people found this review helpful
After reading many reviews, I was looking forward to trying the 2020 Outback. Even picky Consumer Reports gave it a very high score. A couple of test drives in Turbo models went pretty well, although in at least one car I noticed an odd lag in acceleration. I figured that I just wasn't used to the car, they all drive differently, etc. I went ahead and took the plunge, buying a Touring XT off the lot in February 2020. The ride and handling were excellent, better than my 2016 Outback 3.6R, which was pretty good. Seats were comfortable, although we never took it any long drives. That's the end of the good part. The big touchscreen is a huge pain, as many other reviewers have noted. Too many steps to do the simplest things. I was certainly aware of this feature from my test drives, but dealing with it every day is another matter. The auto start-stop is also annoying and requires diving into the screen menus to shut off. Every time you start the car. I think by keeping just the right amount of pressure on the brake, you can probably trick it into not engaging much of the time. The deal-breaker was the lag in acceleration. Everything is okay until about 15-20mph, and then acceleration goes flat. You give it more gas, and nothing happens. A bit more gas, and still nothing. Finally, more gas, and the car accelerates more than you want. This was a consistent issue, and I occasionally worried that the car behind me might run into my rear bumper. But mostly it was just awful response to the throttle. Not what you expect from a $40K car. I noticed some comments on this issue on an owners forum. I took it to the dealer, they drove it and said they did notice some lugging at low speeds. (When the car decides not to accelerate, I had noticed that the rpms dropped considerably due to a shift in transmission ratios.) The dealer said that Subaru had no " fix" at this time. (Or ever..?) I was so upset that I wanted out of this car ASAP. With only 386 miles and less than a month of ownership, I traded it for a 2020 Forester. I took a big hit financially, but at least the Forester is a cheaper car and my car payments actually dropped. Plus, when you give it some gas, it actually responds accordingly. And more things are controlled by hard buttons, etc. BTW, a friend of mine recently bought an Outback Limited XT and a Legacy Touring XT. He has not noticed the issue on either car. Either I am way too picky, or he is a bit clueless. Also, I haven't seen any mention of the " lag" on the Subaru Ascent, although it has the what appears to be the same drivetrain. What was Subaru thinking on the Outback turbos??!!
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2020? Don't do it. Keep your 2019.
Tugboat Captain, 01/06/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
97 of 123 people found this review helpful
Traded in my 2019 Outback, that was a Good car. Wanted to get the Wife a Touring model. Went into the Dealer to check out the new 2020 Outback's, and there was a Touring XT model, XT meaning 2.4 L turbo engine. All new 2020 Outback models have " Stop/ start ", what a mistake! The Wife loved the car so we bought it. The car road nice, but the Stop/ start is annoying to turn off through the infotainment panel. After owning for a couple of months, things started happening; started the car one morning, push start, car sput and sputtered sounding like " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Next, forgot to turn off stop/ start, left a parking lot, stopped at a stop sign, car cut completely off, jerked the steering wheel out of my hand, all the lights on the dash on, and barely got it started again. Backed up twice in my driveway, car sensed the hedges behind, when 4 feet away, automatically slammed on the brakes, and car cut off. Also, found it funny that this car would not answer the remote when 15 feet or more away, could not lock car, my 19 did, about 50 feet away. And should have read the 2019 reviews on the Ascent, which has the same engine transmission mine did, boy are they bad, and apparently transmission troubles too. Lost confidence in the car, in fact, hate the 2020, wish so much I kept my 2019 Outback instead of wasting the money to upgrade to 2020, if that's what you call it, it turned out to be a Downgrade for sure. I will never buy a Subaru again!!!
I was so sick of it I got rid of it after 5 months
Disappointed Outback Buyer, 03/28/2020
updated 01/04/2021
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
72 of 91 people found this review helpful
Unless you're someone who plans on never adjusting anything, I would not buy this car. After two months of frustrating ownership, I have given up on a lot of things. In order to set the car up the way I prefer, I need to perform TEN functions on the infotainment screen and rear view mirror each time I drive. There are several functions that reset each time the vehicle is turned off. A few include the compass on the mirror. At night, the big red letters draw my attention. It can be shut off but it comes back on after restarting the car. The compass could easily be shown on the center screen. Auto vehicle hold is a nice feature but also resets each time. It is also one of the features that is in a sub menu on the screen. After turning it on, you then have to press a few icons to get back to either the radio or whatever else you want showing. The navigation screen is junk because it hardly shows any road names. Seat climate control functions are also buried in a sub menu. Any pleasure derived from driving are very quickly overwhelmed by the idiotic infotainment system. There are only 18 total presets on the radio between AM/FM and Satellite. You can't split the screen between radio and navigation unless you're using Apple Car Play or Android Auto. There's plenty of room on an 11.6" display to show more than what it does. It may seem like a rant, but I can't hardly say anything good about the infotainment screen. It's slow to react, both upon start up (the radio sometimes is delayed over 30 seconds) and upon touching icons. If you receive a text while on Bluetooth, the notification will stay on the screen until you press Read or Ignore, then you have to press another icon or two to get back to radio or whatever else you were on. And if it's bright out, you'll probably have a hard time seeing anything on the screen. Driving is also fairly frustrating. This is my first vehicle with Lane Keep Assist so I can't compare the Subaru system to other manufactures but this LKA if very erratic. It doesn't hold you in the middle of your lane. It veers towards one side of your lane then over corrects towards the other side. Steering is very stiff while LKA is turned on so you find yourself kind of fighting with it. It also gives you no warning before it gives up on trying to navigate a curve. If it thinks it's not going to make it, the LKA just shuts off, gives you an audible and visual alert and you better have your hands tight on the steering wheel. Thankfully, LKA is easily turned off with a button on the steering wheel. Cruise control also seems very aggressive. If you crest a hill, it almost feels like it's slamming on the brakes to hold you to your preset speed. Then it aggressively has to speed back up to regain the speed. While in Dynamic Cruise Control, it will hold the distance between you and the vehicle in front, but again, fairly aggressively. I do, however, like that you can easily adjust your speed in 5 mph increments. While you're dealing with the frustrations of driving, you are also confronted with the overly loud climate fan. I've had several vehicles with climate control and this is by far the loudest and most difficult to adjust. A few more disappointing features: The interior lighting is bright but doesn't spread the light out. They are more like spot lights than flood lights. There is very little interior storage. There's a slot for your phone that barely is big enough. While the gear selector is in park, you can barely get your phone in or out. The center console storage is split into a small lower bin and even smaller upper bin. The cup holders are very close together so if you have two cups, they will hit against each other. The door bins are also quite small. There is also a LOT of wind noise with the sunroof open either in the tilt or slide position. As for my overall driving: With the 2.4 liter turbo, nearly 5,000 miles, I am averaging 26.5 mpg on mostly 55 mph roads. This is improving, my last two tanks have been close to 30 mpg. I have driven in a couple of mild snow storms and I would say this is DEFINITELY a car that can handle it. I felt very secure on the road. On dry roads, the car seems to handle quite well with LKA turned off. Overall cabin noise is quiet and it absorbs most small bumps easily. But any positives are SO easily removed with all the negatives. The infotainment system is absolute junk!! I went so far as to trying to trade this car in after only two weeks of ownership. I was willing to accept several thousand dollars of depreciation but couldn't accept the loss of what I was being offered. I did test drive this car twice, but nothing could prepare me for the disappointment of day to day driving. The only thing worse than the design of the infotainment system and interior is my decision to buy it. After 2 months, I would be happier driving almost anything else. I traded a 2015 Accord that I now miss so much.
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ok
Disappointed, 02/09/2020
updated 05/09/2023
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
57 of 73 people found this review helpful
Nothing much has changed. Car is reliable but annoying. Touchscreen is slow. HD radio quits from time to time and then comes back, usually when I restart the car. Eyesight system comes and goes. Adjusting seat heating and cooling on the touchscreen is a pain, and takes so long it's dangerous. Navigation system voice controls often can't recognize an address, but that may be my New Jersey accent. Lane centering does not work well, sometimes even wanders into another lane. Overall, meh!
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Outback falls short of the Mark
Martin, 10/04/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
71 of 92 people found this review helpful
I was so excited when this car came out. I have a 2014 Forester Turbo. I was heart broken the 2019 Forester dropped the turbo so I was counting the days to test the 2.4 turbo in the new 2020 Outback. I drove the Outback Limited on back to back days at 2 different dealers on 2 different routes. I was very very disappointed. The stop start is awful. It's like a big hiccup and somewhat dangerous when entering a high speed road from a stand still where you need to accelerate right away. The dual X modes are only available on the XT Onyx and those seats look and feel cheap and will not hold up in my opinion. The cargo net is not in back of the second row anymore like my 2014 Forester. Thus when I put the dog in the hatch I can still use the cargo net whereas in this car it's a waste as it blocks the way back when the hatch is opened. The turbo hesitates when you really chomp down on it. I am not sure why. I mean on my 2014 XT there is no hesitation whatsoever. They should have used the WRX 2.0 DIT Turbo in this one. Finally the seat position for me is awful. My back side is way down in the bucket whereas the Forester seat position is much higher. I understand the Outback may sit lower but I was told by a dealer that the Forester seat tracks were mounted on a pedestal for increased height. Playing with the various seat adjustments did not solve the problem as far as my back is concerned. I really am disappointed as I like all the safety features but the seat and turbo engine are deal breakers.
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Not a happy Outback owner..
Alex Dominguez, 03/24/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
51 of 66 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying that this is my second Outback. My first experience was with a Limited 2.5 Outback 2017. I fell in love with that car so much that when my lease expired I went to the dealership to get the same car. This time around though, the car has nothing to do with my original experience. The new 2020 Limited Outback is beautiful and more luxurious, but that's the end. Below is a list of my complaints which the dealer say is the new normal for the Outback. 1- In bold letters and huge font.. the Auto Start Stop. This thing is the most annoying thing I have ever experienced. The car shakes and its very uncomfortable every time the car stops and starts.. On top of that, they made it that you have to go through several screens to turn it off every time you get in the car. I feel every day like I have been robbed with this car. 2- The huge screen with the Tesla like screen is nothing but a piece of malfunctioning, slow as it can, low quality graphics, buggy piece of junk. Every time I turn off the car it says Unknown Driver (or something along those lines). I have gone through the wizard more than 20 times, and I keep getting the same message most of the times when I turn off the car. Very unresponsive system and complicated to do almost anything. 3 Sensors unresponsiveness. On my previous Outback, the computer was of great help. Anything moving behind you while backing up, the system will alert you. The emergency brake assist system would work, ect. On this new car all those systems are useless, the beeps are delayed the braking assist works at random. The entire car computer experience is very slow. To the point that I cant even trust the dynamic cruise control because you dont know what's going to be delayed next. At this point I dont enjoy this car a bit and only use it to go to work. For everything else I use my wife's XC60 Volvo which is great. I can't wait for Subaru to either fix these issues (which I dont see happening) or my lease to be done to buy something else. For now, I'm stuck with this car. If you are considering buying one of this, do your homework. I didn't do any research and didnt test the car since I was convinced it was going to be nothing but better than the previous version. WRONG!
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LOVE MY NEW UNLIMITED OUTBACK!
hart2hart, 10/28/2019
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
16 of 20 people found this review helpful
This is my newest Outback-Outback 2020 Unlimited XT. Drives like sweet Butter! The Tech will take a little to learn, but that’s ok! Get the Unlimited Model as it has the insulated glass for noise control that the other models do not have. It’s worth the extra $$$$. Our son gets the 2009 Outback! Love, love, love my new outback. Only one thing I would change is the cheezy sun visor. Rest of car is excellent but Subaru cheaped-out on this.
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Decent but far from perfect
jmarsh, 01/18/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
34 of 45 people found this review helpful
Full disclosure, this is based on a 3 day rental in which we covered several hundred miles on a variety of roads. I'd wanted to like the car because we were thinking of buying one. There were several things that have made me start looking elsewhere. First, the ride and road noise are sub-par. Ride is somewhat subjective but I found it 'unsettled' over bumpy roads. Noise is objective, control of road noise on course surfaces is poor, they just skimped on sound insulation I guess. Not as bad as our old Honda CRV but far from quiet. Noise was well in to the mid 70's DB at 65mph on I5 north of Seattle. However, the worst aspect was the steering. Maybe it's the lane guidance but the car wanders and requires constant attention, almost like it's out of alignment. However the care only had about 5 miles on it when we rented it so it was absolutely brand new. It was tiring over a 2 hour drive just to keep correcting it. I've driven a lot of cars, this was quite noticeably poorer in steering than anything. We've driven many cars over the same roads and the Outback was one of the less comfortable due to mainly noise. However, it was the steering that would stop me from buying it altogether, it would be tiring to drive this thing all day, it is that bad.
Just purchased the Outback Limited
Paulp, 01/10/2020
updated 07/20/2022
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I’ve put about 1000 miles on my new Outback and am very happy with it. This is our 4th Outback and they get better every time. I did much research before buying. Utube had some good one. The new Outback is quiet, has a great and appears better on fuel than out 2015. It is slightly larger and wider in the rear to accommodate golf clubs better. I have not found the large info screen to be cumbersome as some reviews indicate. After a few days, easy to navigate. Highly recommend the 20 Outback.
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Pea
Jim Dyle, 05/07/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
12 of 15 people found this review helpful
During COVID 19, it is nearly impossible to get to know and use comfortably all the safety feature It is not simple or intuitive. One thing for sure. If you love to drive the mountains and roads with curves, TURN OFF LANE ASSIST
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Touring XT
Dan, 04/09/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
I had a 2016 3.6r and traded for 2020 touring xt. I really like this car it has more features and just as much luxury as premium brands for a lot less and drives and handles great. There are 2 drawbacks the auto stop/start, any gas savings are going to be eaten up in batteries & starters. Turning it off everytime you start the car is a pain, my work around which doesn't bother me, I guess because i'm used to driving stick shift as I come to a stop I pop the car into neutral, then when I stop back into drive it doesn't shut off. The other is the driver recognition system if it doesn't recognize you your radio settings go back to default (treble/bass). So then you have to go into the menu and pick default then yourself. I set default the way I like it and turned the system off but that doesn't work either, it does better with the system on and it recognizes me 75% of the time, maybe there will be a software upgrade down the line. Hopefully it will also speed up the screens response time. Sometimes the screen stays blank for a few seconds after starting, rarely but a pain. As long as the electronics don't start breaking this car looks and drives great and is super comfortable and is fun to drive i enjoy it better than my wifes Infiniti. I gave it 4 stars it's more like 4.5
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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!
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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