Skip to main content

Subaru Outback Reviews

Owner Reviews

5(51%)
4(16%)
3(13%)
2(8%)
1(12%)

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The safe one with a good ride
5 out of 5 stars
BocaRich, 01/10/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
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....
Comfortable, great style, and good mpg!
5 out of 5 stars
New to Subaru, 12/21/2019
2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
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
Amazing vehicle with a minor drawback.
4 out of 5 stars
Jay Kim , 01/11/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
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.
Great driving SUV or very roomy sedan?
5 out of 5 stars
JP, 02/11/2020
2020 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
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.

2020 Subaru Outback videos

One Year With the Subaru Outback | 2020 Subaru Outback Long-Term Review | MPG, Maintenance & More

Safety

Our experts like the Outback models:

EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
Scans the road ahead to enable adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and automatic foglights.
Blind-Spot Detection/Lane Change Assist
Uses radar sensors to detect vehicles in blind spots and shows visual indicator in side mirror. Indicator also warns of unsafe lane change.
Subaru DriverFocus System
Monitors driver focus using infrared sensors in the dashboard, warning when the driver has become drowsy or loses focus on the road.


FAQ

Is the Subaru Outback a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2020 Outback both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.6 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2020 Outback gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 174 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Outback has 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Subaru Outback. Learn more

What's new in the 2020 Subaru Outback?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 Subaru Outback:

  • The Outback is fully redesigned for 2020
  • New 11.6-inch tablet-style interface for the infotainment system
  • Two available engines, including a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder
  • Part of the sixth Outback generation introduced for 2020
Learn more

Is the Subaru Outback reliable?

To determine whether the Subaru Outback is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Outback. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Outback's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2020 Subaru Outback is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2020 Outback and gave it a 7.6 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2020 Outback gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 174 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2020 Outback is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2020 Subaru Outback?

The least-expensive 2020 Subaru Outback is the 2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $26,645.

Other versions include:

  • 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $26,645
  • Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $28,895
  • Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $33,445
  • Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $34,895
  • Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $37,345
  • Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $37,745
  • Touring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $39,695
Learn more

What are the different models of Subaru Outback?

If you're interested in the Subaru Outback, the next question is, which Outback model is right for you? Outback variants include 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT), Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT), Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT), and Onyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT). For a full list of Outback models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more