Used 2021 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
Used Outback for sale
Subaru seems to have lost its edge and its desire
Gene, 10/23/2021
2021 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
We have a recently purchased 2021 Outback. It is our third Outback (2014 and 2016, both great!) and we also have or have had a 2018 Crosstrek (also great!) and 2003 Legacy (good) so we expected a lot better vehicle than our 2021 Outback has turned out to be. The biggest problem has been the battery which has started dying every 2-3 days. The local dealer says there is nothing wrong with the battery or the charging system. When we could get no help from the local Subaru dealer, we contacted Subaru Headquarters and were to told that to keep our battery "healthy": we must drive or leave our Subaru running for at least 30 minutes between shutdowns, at least every second or third day. In what world do people have time, let alone money, to run their car that long when they have no other need to do so? Our second biggest problem (so far) are the rattles and vibrations under the hood and/or in the dashboard whenever we are driving up hills at low speed or accelerating at most any speed. Our local dealer says these are "normal" (get used to them!). To us, this is not a satisfactory answer. Thankfully, our third problem really is more of a comment on the design of the car: our first Outback (2014) had a huge amount of storage in various wells and pockets, etc. Our 2016 Outback had a good deal less but it still had adequate "miscellaneous" storage for a SUV. Our current 2021 Outback has no more "miscellaneous " storage than do most passenger cars (and a good deal less than some). The 2021 Outback does not come close to living up to expectations built on previous Subarus that we have owned and the seeming lack of care of dealers and the headquarters itself does not bode well for future Subarus.
Interim review
1stTimer, 08/04/2021
2021 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I'm OK with the most things about the car (my 1st Subaru) and purchased as my "practical" car. Was able to find a loaded model with cloth seats, which I prefer. Is quite comfortable. Do agree with some of the comments about the controls and the hassle of having to turn off the auto-start every trip and having so many controls on the screen. However, my biggest problem has been the complete failure of the electronic system twice since new (<2 months/4500mi). Turn the car off and get out and do the 'auto-lock' thing by touching the handle and find the car is all ready locked up with the head&tail lights on. Won't respond to either the key-fob commands or the the MySubaru wireless commands to do anything. First time this happened the car "reset" itself after about 45min. Second time it put out a loud 'wailing' sound and did not respond until the battery went flat after several hours (don't know how many as I went to bed). The next morning it was dead and dealer had to retrieve. 3rd times a lemon here in NJ (thankfully - can't imagine having to deal with this on a long-term basis).
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2021 Subaru Outback for sale near you
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- Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $22,4906 mi away
- Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $22,59911 mi away
- Touring XT 4dr SUVMSRP: $27,44921 mi away
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Great car!
D Wright, 04/20/2021
2021 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Great car, just not enough color options. This is my third and would buy another.
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First impressions
Tina GL, 06/09/2021
2021 Subaru Outback Touring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I was very pleased with the car after a 15 minute test drive. I had previously owned a 2012 Outback so naturally I would compare them. The 2021 handles very well and has plenty of power (although I am not certain whether it was a Turbo that I drove). The seats are very comfortable. The thing that bothered me the most with my previous Outback was the blind spot created by the outside rear view mirrors. The 2021 model has immensely improved visibility due to better placement of the mirrors and less blocking of the front corners of the window glass. The new model's dashboard and gauges are mostly well designed and very elegant looking and easy to read. The infotainment screen was the only part of the car I didn't totally love. Sunlight hitting it makes it a little hard to see clearly, so I would recommend doing a test drive and checking that component out especially if you have any vision issues or drive a lot where it is sunny. I ended up ordering the 2021 Outback Touring so that I could get the color I wanted as there were none of that color available when I was shopping.
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Do not buy if you plan not to use it every day
Brian, 02/04/2022
2021 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Parasitic battery drain problem has not been addressed. On the third battery in 1 year and even on trickle charger most of time and no reason to believe will not continue. They say you need to drive it every day and that is ridiculous. Nice ride when it starts but has stranded me several times and must sell because cannot trust this faulted design. Have 2021 xt . The battery died first weekend I had it. See class action lawsuits regarding this. CVT not great.
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