The 2021 Outback does all the work of an SUV better than most SUVs but without any pretense. It combines a station wagon's practicality, comfort, easy-driving character and fantastic outward visibility with the ground clearance, ride compliance and all-weather sure-footedness of an SUV. We have our complaints, ranging from the frustrating infotainment screen to the anemic engine, but there are more strengths than weaknesses.
The Subaru Outback has been around for more than 25 years, splitting the difference between a midsize SUV and a station wagon. That niche has broad appeal, and the ever popular Outback has continued its successful formula over six generations. While it drives mostly like a regular car, that hatchback design, decent ground clearance and taller seating position give it an SUV flair. We think it's a successful mix. The Outback is comfortable, well appointed and versatile, and the standard list of driver aids make it very compelling.
2021 Crystal White Pearl Subaru Outback 4D Sport Utility Touring AWD 2.5L 4-Cylinder DOHC 16V This Subaru Outback has many features and is well equipp...
There aren't really any other vehicles around that strike that wagon/SUV balance. The Outback is classified as a midsize SUV, and as such competes against models such as the Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota 4Runner. Each one has its high points, from the Passport's large and usable interior to the 4Runner's serious off-road credentials. Any one of these is well worth a look if you're in the market for a two-row SUV.
What's it like to live with?
We were impressed enough with the redesigned Subaru Outback that we added one to our long-term test fleet to see if our impressions change living with it from day to day. We like the Outback's comfortable ride, handsome interior and peppy turbocharged engine.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Average
7.6
out of 10
We drove the 2021 Subaru Outback on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Outback drive? The Outback is slow, but that's about the only negative in this category. Our test vehicle, an Outback Limited with the base four-cylinder engine, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. You'll want to upgrade to the turbocharged engine to get power similar to what rivals such as the Honda Passport and Ford Edge are capable of. At least the transmission shifts quickly and promptly to help you keep pace with traffic.
There's some noticeable body roll when making turns, but in general the Outback is well behaved. The steering offers good on-center feel and feedback from the road. The best part? With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, the Outback can go pretty much anywhere its SUV competitors can — and some places they can't.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Outback? You'll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable vehicle for the money. The front seats are great. They're soft but supportive, offering a decent amount of bolstering without feeling tight. Overall, these are welcoming seats, pleasant to settle into when you're tired and easy to stay in for a long time.
The Outback's ride quality is excellent overall, too, even if certain road surfaces can create some vibrations in the cabin. Potholes, speed humps and drainage ditches are absorbed easily, yet there's no real floatiness to the vehicle. It's an impressive balance of compliance and control.
The climate system works well to regulate cabin temperature. Unfortunately, making any adjustments beyond temperature requires using the complicated touchscreen interface.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? From a space standpoint, the Outback is fantastic. Some might prefer a more upright SUV-like seating position, but the Outback offers plenty of seat adjustability. Backseat passengers will be treated to excellent head- and legroom, and the cabin feels airy and open. The big windows also make for easy visibility all around and help eliminate blind spots.
Unfortunately, in pursuit of reducing button clutter for drivers, most of the Outback's controls are routed through the touchscreen. The screen can be slow to respond and very distracting to use. Changing any setting requires navigating through multiple menus, adding time and distraction to even simple tasks.
Technology
6.5/10
How’s the tech? A nice-sounding stereo and plenty of charge ports are pluses, but Subaru's vertical 11.6-inch infotainment screen is a wasted opportunity. It's pretty but not very functional. It's easy enough to find settings and selections, but the complicated menu structure adds time to any task.
Plug in a smartphone, and the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto display is crammed into the top half of the screen, rendering the bottom half totally useless. Subaru's native voice command system is also subpar and struggles to recognize even basic requests.
Subaru's EyeSight is one of the most capable driver assistance systems you can get, but it's also really annoying. While everything from adaptive cruise to lane keeping works well, all of it subjects you to almost constant beeping notifications.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? Because the Outback is more a lifted station wagon than an SUV, it loses out just a bit in terms of total cargo capacity. But at least the cargo floor is low and flat, making loading and unloading a breeze. It's also easy to install gear on the Subaru's roof rails because the Outback isn't quite as high as your typical SUV.
Cabin storage is clever but lacking in volume. There's a nice phone shelf for front passengers, and rear passengers get bottle holders in their doors and seatback pockets on both sides, but the center console box is smaller than the ones in most SUVs. Ultimately there's less space to stash your stuff.
Installing child safety seats should be a breeze, thanks to easily accessible seat anchors and plenty of room.
Fuel Economy
7/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates you'll get 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving with the base engine, which is better than competitors manage. With our test Outback, however, we only managed around 20 mpg. This could be because the anemic power source demands a lead-footed approach to keeping pace with busy traffic.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Outback a good value? Most competitors have stronger standard engines, but otherwise the Outback offers an excellent value. The base model isn't lacking any practicality. And when loaded with extra luxuries and technology features, it costs less than similarly equipped competitors. The equation changes a bit if you want the more powerful XT models, whose prices are more directly aligned with traditional SUV competitors.
The Subaru doesn't offer any particular ownership advantages, with a warranty that's average for the segment. And while the Outback feels well put together, the design and quality of materials don't really stand out in any particular way.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The Outback does SUV things better than most SUVs, and does it without pretense or overcompensation. We wish that meeting fuel economy estimates was easier, but in its unassuming competence the Outback reminds us of the value of putting function before image.
Yes, the Outback is a little bland, but it's also very sure of itself. With plenty of ground clearance, full-time AWD and a smooth ride, it invites you to tackle potholes or unpaved roads. All told, it makes driving on bad city roads or unkept country roads altogether more pleasant. In fact, the Outback's strength is that it invites relaxation.
2021 Subaru Outback trim level differences
The Subaru Outback is a midsize SUV that comes in seven trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT and Touring XT. All-wheel drive comes standard on every trim. Feature highlights include: Compare the 2021 Subaru Outback trim levels in-depth.
Which Outback trim does Edmunds recommend?
The midlevel Premium trim offers a lot of features at a competitive price point, but if you have the budget, we suggest stepping up to the Onyx Edition XT. It packs more features than the Premium trim and benefits from a more powerful turbocharged engine.
The 2021 Subaru Outback has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 4 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #10 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Reliability Rating by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#10 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$516/yr
vs. $485/yr for Average Midsize SUV
Frequency
1x/yr
vs. 1.18x/yr for Average Midsize SUV
Severity
10.5%
vs. 13.5% for Average Midsize SUV
powered by RepairPal
Recalls
4 recalls found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
24V227000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
WRA-24
Number of vehicles affected:
118723
Defect Description:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.
Defect Consequence:
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.
Recall Number:
23V755000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
WRQ-23
Manufactured from:
2021-07-26 to 2021-07-27
Number of vehicles affected:
95830
Defect Description:
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Defect Consequence:
An inoperative inhibitor switch may prevent the reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
Recall Number:
22V485000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
WRK-22
Manufactured from:
2019-05-17 to 2020-08-03
Number of vehicles affected:
182
Defect Description:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Defect Consequence:
An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
Recall Number:
21V024000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
WRA-21
Number of vehicles affected:
383
Defect Description:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
Defect Consequence:
A loose nut can lead to a lost of retention in the CVT select lever cable and the gear selector not functioning properly, increasing risk of crash.
Corrective Action:
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-21.
Love the Outback. It drives nice and looks good. However, with less than 5000 miles, I have a cracked windshield. Then, I start reading where Subaru has a problem with windshields. I will have to pay out of pocket for replacement when they already know that they are faulty. I wish I had read about this before purchase. I would have probably chose a different model. Subaru needs to … step up and take responsibility for their error. Buyers beware. There is a problem.
I've been a loyal Subaru customer since the 1980's. My family and I have had over 20 Subarus in that time. I have always appreciated the reliability, dealer support, and simplicity of the controls.
That all ended with this 2021 onyx XT.
First, I love he comfortable seats in this model. The leather seats are too firm and give me back pain. The water resistant seats in the onyx XT have … more padding and are comfortable over a 5 hour drive. Headlights- unmatched by any others. 2.4 turbo engine smooth and powerful.
The current subarus always over estimate mpg on the trip computer by 6-10%. Understand this because the distance to empty is therefore also overestimated.
Now the problems. No less than 3 dash rattles, The dealer identified one and ordered a part. They stated they would call me when it came in. That was after my second visit there, and now it's been 4 weeks an I Haven't heard from them .
I complained that Eyesight was not functioning as designed. It will emergency brake on a clear road without traffic, and when a car in the right lane next to my lane slows to make a right turn.
It never gives a close following distance warning as described in the manual. Rather it brakes when you get less than 10 feet from a vehicle in front no matter how fast you approach the vehicle. I found the out when a car cut me off on the highway then braked suddenly.
That center tablet frequently freezes, or reboots making it impossible to change hvac settings at times.
My car has turned off when I put it in reverse and released the e brake. very intermittent- 4 times in 9000 miles.
The door lock/unlock and hatch release doesn't always work when touched. I have had to release the hatch from the inside several times as that was the only way to open the hatch.
I opened a case with SOA. Essentially they said there was nothing they could do.
I'm afraid this will be my last Subaru due to lack of dealer and corporate support. This is not the company I've known and supported for 40 years. They have gotten away from reliability and customer satisfaction as the company ideal.
2021 Outback Limited - the good and the bad
4 out of 5 stars
Eric S, 12/15/2020
2021 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
I had a 2016 Outback Limited for 5 years and traded it in for a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland so I could be cool. I didn't like the Jeep for various reasons (mostly the unbearable road noise) so I traded it in for a 2021 Outback. I test-drove the XT as well but didn't notice enough of a difference to warrant the extra cost and worse gas mileage. I mostly like the Outback but here … are my (nit-picky) complaints: you can't put the visor all the way up b/c of the Eyesight Driver Assist thingy blocks it, so it only goes 3/4 of the way up. Subaru didn't think that one through; no cap-less gas tank? Sheesh, Subaru; base engine is underpowered, but that's what you sacrifice to get good gas mileage; the auto-stop start is rough (Jeep's was smooth); too much touch screen and not enough buttons: heated seats and auto stop-start should ALWAYS be a physical button (are you reading this, Subaru?). You have to go into SUB menus for both, which is a pain (especially when it's cold and there is a huge delay when navigating through the screens); rear-camera picture quality is so-so; advertised gas mileage is false: my combined average is about 24 mpg (slightly better than my 2016 Outback) and that's driving like a normal person; there is a slight vibration when the car is idling in drive. I hope that goes away. Here's what I LIKE: overall, the value is good. I got mine basically loaded for about $36k; rear leg room is good and the back seats recline; the cargo space is great; the liftgate is awesome; the safety features are great - you basically can't do anything wrong without the car yelling at you (each of these features can be disabled); the "leather" is nice; if you have kids, get the rear sun shades. I love being able to start the car and adjust the temp from an app on my phone. The AWD is awesome. Overall, it's a good car. My friends make fun of me for driving a wagon, but whatever. It's the overall quality of this car that makes it worth it. The guy who sold me the car told me today that Subaru will have an update in the summer of 2021 for wireless Apple CarPlay, so that's cool. So this car is worth it if you're a "big picture" person who cares about overall quality and function.
Great all-round all-wheel drive
5 out of 5 stars
SB, 11/11/2020
2021 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
We have had an Outback since 2014. For winter driving even in really bad conditions, this is an ideal car with class beating symmetrical all-wheel drive. We also use snow tires in the winter which helps greatly with traction and to a small degree with braking too. I have had occasions to drive up deep snow packed and slippery hills with no problem whatsoever. I was a little concerned … going from a 6 cylinder to a flat-4, but even driving in fast moving traffic when we go to a big city, I have been able to keep up with lane changes and 70+ mph traffic. The flat-4 Boxer engine has a lower center of gravity which helps in handling. The turbo-charged newer version would be a game changer. Will be updating to a newer model in the next couple of years and will definitely be visiting a Subaru dealer. A world-beating symmetrical all-wheel for this price is great value. The CVT transmission has a slight lag with sudden acceleration, but it's fine once you get used to it.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1200" height="588" fill="none" preserveAspectRatio="none"%3E%3Cmask id="b" width="1200" height="588" x="0" y="0" maskUnits="userSpaceOnUse" style="mask-type:alpha"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23a)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/mask%3E%3Cg mask="url(%23b)"%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23c)" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23d)" fill-opacity=".15" d="M581.718 62.893c42.993 1.53 86.281 5.888 129.704 13.204 311.828 52.485 552.538 242.016 657.698 483.656-149.97-147.971-450.891-226.33-789.375-232.079-338.534.839-640.434 74.572-792.746 220.292 108.75-240.047 352.255-425.97 664.832-473.803a1041.548 1041.548 0 0 1 129.887-11.27Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23e)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M611.247 209.93a1458.84 1458.84 0 0 1 139.573 27.692c333.61 83.239 577.16 267.208 668.67 475.188-148.93-138.63-468.279-241.218-835.209-290.421-367.6-43.915-702.265-24.445-881.281 72.561 140.567-178.524 422.355-295.817 766.181-293.074 47.867.484 95.274 3.212 142.066 8.054Z"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23f)" d="M735.039 879.394c48.524-6.62 97.023-16.967 145.3-31.2C1227.03 746.059 1475.76 472.327 1564.28 145c-151.17 209.633-482.23 344.436-865.05 388.31C315.515 568.571-35.93 504.564-227 330.342-73.333 632.61 226.169 849.617 586.429 878.604c50.15 3.871 99.74 4.07 148.61.79Z" opacity=".3"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23g)" d="M694.222 783.712c50.956 12 103.317 20.27 156.946 24.578 385.102 31.013 738.232-146.76 952.062-439.434-231.22 151.216-613.24 158.795-1012.047 55.796C394.784 312.716 68.643 114.101-55.211-133c37.44 360.528 253.087 691.895 601.449 858.946 48.557 23.091 97.963 42.302 147.984 57.766Z" opacity=".9"/%3E%3Cpath fill="url(%23h)" fill-opacity=".5" d="M896 513c116 45.015 222 64 304 75V0H0v501c40 36.024 154 76 340 76s344-146.269 556-64Z"/%3E%3C/g%3E%3Cdefs%3E%3ClinearGradient id="a" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".333" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%230A4AAB"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="c" x1="1005" x2="989.087" y1="23" y2="552.522" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23007EE5"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".334" stop-color="%231561D4"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="d" x1="675.999" x2="879.999" y1="648.999" y2="120.999" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%23fff"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="e" x1="656.5" x2="637.602" y1="213" y2="622.259" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".115" stop-color="%23fff" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".944" stop-color="%23017D8D"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="f" x1="398" x2="737" y1="599" y2="387" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%2300ABB5"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%2300A0B5" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="g" x1="1051.5" x2="271" y1="567" y2="575" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop stop-color="%230098C2"/%3E%3Cstop offset="1" stop-color="%23033E96" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3ClinearGradient id="h" x1="1005" x2="986.038" y1="23" y2="587.43" gradientUnits="userSpaceOnUse"%3E%3Cstop offset=".813" stop-opacity="0"/%3E%3Cstop offset=".972"/%3E%3C/linearGradient%3E%3C/defs%3E%3C/svg%3E)
