2022 Subaru Outback Review

Name: 2022 Subaru Outback
Brand: Subaru

Price Range: $18,570 - $31,990

2022 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The 2022 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.

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Average price: $30,882

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Appraise My 2022 Subaru Outback

Subaru Outback model years

Subaru Outback for Sale

Pros

Spacious cabin and smooth, comfortable ride
Optional turbocharged engine provides plenty of power
Loading the roof or cargo area is easier than in most SUVs
Above-average off-road ability

Cons

Big touchscreen is slow to respond and buries many controls in complicated menus
Slow acceleration from standard engine
Native voice recognition system isn't very accurate

What's new

New Outback Wilderness with increased off-road ability
Part of the sixth Outback generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Reese Counts

8/18/2021

The 2022 Subaru Outback is a station wagon masquerading as an SUV, though that's by no means a bad thing. This is the vehicle to get if you want the versatility of an SUV, the road manners of a wagon, and a sprinkling of adventure. With standard all-wheel drive and a healthy number of standard advanced driver assists, the Outback makes a lot of sense. And while we're not so fond of the base engine's slow acceleration, the Outback's optional turbocharged mill absolutely gets the job done.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

2,255 listings

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2022 Subaru Outback
Premium 4dr SUV
$20,000
fair price
$588 below market
- 68,427 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Stoler Chevrolet Buick (46 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Upgraded Headlights
- Power Driver Seat
Close
Located in Owings Mills, MD
2022 Subaru Outback Premium Ice Silver Metallic CVT Lineartronic AWD 2.5L 4-Cylinder DOHC 16VCARFAX One-Owner. Clean CARFAX.New Tires, BLUETOOTH, NAVI...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S4BTAFC1N3216447
Stock: BC0220
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-23-2025
2022 Subaru Outback
Premium 4dr SUV
$26,590
fair price
$942 above market
- 13,962 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 5 Seats, 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Richmond (95 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Richmond, VA
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4S4BTADC9N3187427
Stock: 2004367253
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 12-30-2025

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For 2022, Subaru is introducing the Outback Wilderness for customers who want a little more off-road capability from their SUV/wagon hybrid. The upgrades start with a lifted suspension that gives the Outback 9.5 inches of ground clearance. That's nearly an inch more than the regular model and further enhances the Outback's ability to roll over rocks and ruts without damage. Subaru also loads the Outback Wilderness with goodies for overlanding enthusiasts including a standard front skid plate, all-terrain tires, and an upgraded roof rack that can bear up to 700 pounds of weight so you can mount a rooftop tent.

There are plenty of other midsize SUVs in this class. Top rivals include the Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Volkswagen Atlas Cross. Or if you want something even capable off-road, take a look at the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler or new Ford Bronco. But overall the Outback's combination of comfort and capability is hard to beat. Check out our Expert Rating below to learn even more from our test team's full evaluation.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds added a Subaru Outback to its long-term fleet not long after the model's debut. We've found it to be spacious and comfortable, but the touchscreen interface can be distracting to use. Get our in-depth take on the Outback's ownership experience by checking out our long-term Outback test. It's a 2020 model, but nearly all of our observations apply to the 2022 Outback as well.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.6

out of 10

We drove the 2022 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 also excellent overall, 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 Subaru's 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 keep 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, which are priced closer to traditional SUV competitors.

The Subaru doesn't offer any particular ownership advantages. The warranty is 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 them without pretense. 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.

2022 Subaru Outback trim level differences

The Subaru Outback is a midsize SUV that comes in eight trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Limited XT and Touring XT. All-wheel drive comes standard on every trim. Feature highlights include: Compare the 2022 Subaru Outback trim levels in-depth.

Which Outback trim does Edmunds recommend?

The Premium trim offers a good mix of features and tech for not much more than the base model. But if you have the budget, we suggest stepping up to the Onyx Edition XT. It's well equipped and the least expensive way to get the Outback's turbocharged engine, which is much more appealing than the base engine.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$121/mo

$167/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability

The 2022 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

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:: 22V712000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: WRH-22
Number of vehicles affected:: 42
Defect Description:: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Impreza and Outback vehicles. The incorrect paint clearcoat may have been applied, which can cause the windshield to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Defect Consequence:: An insufficiently bonded windshield can detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Subaru will offer owners a vehicle exchange or repurchase, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 21, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRH-22.

Recall Number:: 22V473000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: WRC-22
Manufactured from:: 2022-05-03 to 2022-05-05
Number of vehicles affected:: 15
Defect Description:: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 Outback vehicles. The engine wiring harness may have been damaged, resulting in a loose electrical connection to the engine control unit (ECU).
Defect Consequence:: A loose electrical connection to the ECU may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the engine wiring harness and ECU, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRC-22.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Subaru Outback Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.4

133 reviews

5(41%)

4(15%)

3(11%)

2(13%)

1(20%)

See all 133 reviews of the Subaru Outback

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

Outback Premium Good Value

William, 10/25/2021

2022 Subaru Outback Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

We looked at a number of smaller SUVs before settling on the Outback. The main thing pushing to the Outback versus others (CR-V was the other finalist) were a) the superior all wheel drive system and the ability to tow. Most small SUV have essentially no towing capacity, Subarus do.. Also all wheel drive is not created equal and we have a steep sometimes snow covered driveway. … Reviewing multiple real world tests showed that Subaru really has superior traction management system to most others. So the Subaru won on these fronts. Also helping was that the interior, even on the lower trims, is very nice. The absolute worst was the RAV, it is of the 'ultra cheap' interior trim school. We initially started to buy the Onyx version with the turbo engine since reports said the base 2.5L was underpowered. However neither my wife or I liked the throttle response of the turbo, it was very non-linear in power delivery. So we tried a "premium" with the base engine and preferred it. While some claim the turbo is quieter we really couldn't see that it was any better, both base and turbo engine make themselves heard under load, but in normal conditions they are silent. As to power, we found the base engine to be adequate. No it doesn't accelerate fast but it has enough power and will cross the Sierra Nevada mountains (7000 foot elevation change) at 70mph without trouble. At freeway speeds I don't hear the engine, it's most audible at lower speed accelerations. As to what's good and what's not so good. As stated the power is fine, the car is quiet, rides nicely, and corners well. Seats are comfortable even without all the extra adjustments that the upper models bring. Storage space is very good. It has great outward visibility, a major failing on many small SUVs. It has lots of features even in the premium trim level. Subaru did go overboard in running so much through the central screen. It is annoying to have to access the screen and go down a level just to do things like turn on the seat heaters. The voice control system is a joke, doesn't work at all don't even bother trying it! Subaru has a feature that allows you to wave a hand in front of the emblem on the tailgate to 'hands free' open the tailgate. This is their version on Ford's wave your foot under the bumper. It doesn't really work that well, it takes a long time to recognize the command so we really don't use the feature. Safety systems take some discussion. The blind spot monitoring is great. The lane guidance is fine IF you turn off the steering assist. As it comes from the factory it always has a level of steering assist that makes the car feel like it won't track in a straight line. Turn it off and it tracks perfectly. The adaptive cruise works very well. However with adaptive cruise comes the option of turning lane centering or active steering. My experience with this is very negative, to the point of being dangerous. If you turn on active lane centering the car ping pongs in the lane. If the road turns it will tend to run wide, ping pong, then leave the lane! At that point the system issues a warning and shuts off as it leaves the lane. I guess it was intended only for straight roads but even on straight roads you feel like you're having a tug of war with the system due to the ping pong behavior. While it sounds like a lot of negatives these aren't big issues. The positives far outweigh the negatives. We love the car, for the price it is hard to find something as comfortable, reliable, and capable. If you stay away from the higher models and options it remains a good deal. Like most Subar

They Call it an SUV Now

rodi53, 01/23/2022

2022 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I originally gave this car a 4-star review, but after living with it for seven months, I am changing my rating. Here's why: Mechanically and aesthetically, this is a nice car. However, the electronics spoil it. Just today I had to endure it going "beep beep beep" and flashing "Keep Eyes on the Road" every 3 seconds for 30 minutes until I got home. It was stuck on even though I disabled … the Driver Monitoring System (whose menu resides inside other submenus). The large touchscreen is a nightmare. Just doing simple tasks like changing which vents the HVAC air comes from requires navigating multiple menus. Subaru has replaced reliable knobs, dials, and switches with that abominable touch screen. It's slow, full of glitches, and cumbersome to operate. The nav system is essentially useless. It has never once come up with the correct address when I tell it where I want to go. I now use Apple CarPlay and phone nav apps exclusively. I only have 2,800 miles on this car and so far, the screen has locked up three times rendering many systems inoperable. The only "fix" is to pull over, shut off the car, then wait 30 seconds before restarting the car and hoping the screen starts to function again. Unacceptable! And the cruise control??? OMG!!! Every time you press the up or down speed button, it changes by 5mph. Not one. Five. To change it by less than 5mph, you have to hold the button down and stare at the dash display while the numbers increment to your desired setting. Subaru touts its cars as safe, but forcing you to look away from driving to watch menus or displays in order to adjust virtually everything is a recipe for disaster. Then to add insult to injury, when you try to use the screens the car will again start beeping and telling you to keep your eyes on the road. I'd rather experience driver safety by avoiding an accident in the first place rather than having a car that "protects" me in an accident caused by inattention - inattention caused by having to deal with all these screens. I truly dislike this car. I can't wait to get rid of it. It's too bad really, because mechanically it's a decent vehicle and it looks good. Ride, handling, and performance are good for a wagon (yeah, I know - Subaru calls it an SUV now). Unfortunately, when it comes to the electronics, Subaru's engineers apparently have their collective heads located somewhere the sun never shines.

Great ride comfort and space, great with snow/ice

Jim in North Carolina, 07/19/2021

2022 Subaru Outback Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I traded a beautiful 2020 Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid for a 2022 Subaru Outback Limited. I needed better seat comfort,quiet smoother ride, and more storage for my wife's travel wheel chair. I am sure I made the right choice. It has an excellent sound system and tech features. I liked the fuel economy of the hybrid but the Subaru is not bad and worth every penny spent to get features I …

Constant problems with vehicle

Imjim, 06/03/2022

2022 Subaru Outback Limited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

The first month I lived the car then on an open road, no traffic, sunny day it applied emergency braking. Dealer could not find problem. Has happened twice since but still can't find. GPS has quite working twice. A serious rattle that the dealership can hear but can't find. I am a fairly conservative driver but vehicle uses about 30% more fuel than epa with mixed city / highway of …

2022 Outback Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$27,645
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$121/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	32.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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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 a visual indicator in the side mirror. Indicator also warns of an unsafe lane change.
Subaru DriverFocus: Monitors the driver's focus using infrared sensors in the dashboard, warning when the driver has become drowsy or loses focus on the road.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover18.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2022 Subaru Outback Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2022 Subaru Outback trim level differences

Which Outback trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Subaru Outback Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2022 Outback Highlights

Safety

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