2020 Subaru Outback Review

　　

2020 Subaru Outback Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Based on its dimensions, the 2020 Subaru Outback is classified as a midsize SUV. But when viewed from the side, you'll probably think the Outback has a distinct wagon look to it, albeit a rugged one. Whatever you call it, though, the Outback is one of the most versatile, capable and comfortable vehicles in its class. And for 2020, the Outback is completely redesigned.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Subaru Outback 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$130/mo  for Outback Base

　　Outback Base

　　4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $26,645 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $28,895 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,445 MSRPOnyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $34,895 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $37,345 MSRPLimited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $37,745 MSRPTouring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $39,695 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Powering this new Outback are one of two new engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine. The turbocharged engine is particularly appealing given its boost in power and fuel economy compared to the Outback's old non-turbocharged six-cylinder. Both engines come standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Subaru has done a nice job tuning the CVT's operation to make it imperceptible in most driving.

　　Along with standard safety features such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with automatic braking, the Outback now gets an advanced DriverFocus system that uses an infrared monitor to detect if the driver is distracted or sleepy. The system can also "recognize" you by scanning your face when you get in and then set the seats and mirrors to your personal preferences.

　　Off-road, the Outback is just as trail-friendly as it has ever been. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel-drive system mean that gravel and dirt roads are no issue. You can even take on the tougher stuff by using the Outback's X-Mode system that operates hill descent control and selectable traction-control modes for snowy or muddy conditions.

　　There are a few drawbacks, such as a bit of intrusive cabin noise at highway speeds and a newly available 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen that looks great but can be tricky to use at times. But otherwise, this new Outback is impressive. The seats are abundantly comfortable, cargo space is competitive, and features are plentiful. Before you choose to buy any other midsize SUV, be sure to take the 2020 Outback for a test drive.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

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 four-cylinder engine, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. You'll want to upgrade to the turbocharged engine if you want 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 driving around 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

8.0/10

　　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 vehicles. 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

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? From a space standpoint, the Outback is fantastic. Some might prefer a more upright SUV-like seating position, but otherwise 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 in the cabin, most of the Outback's controls are routed through the touchscreen. The screen can be slow to respond to your touches 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 not difficult to figure out how 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 car seats should be a breeze thanks easily accessible seat anchors and plenty of room.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　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. In our time with our test Outback, however, we only managed around 20 mpg. This is likely due in part to the fact that the anemic power demanded a lead-footed approach to keeping pace with busy traffic.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Outback a good value? You get stronger standard engines with most competitors, but otherwise the Outback offers an excellent value. The base model isn't lacking any practicality. And loaded up with extra luxuries and technology features, it is priced 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 quality of materials and design 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.

　　

Which Outback does zzdcar recommend?

If you're looking for a price-friendly version of the Outback, the Premium trim level is pretty appealing. It offers a significant amount of equipment for the money and plenty of off-road capability. But if your budget has more room, we think you'll prefer driving the Onyx Edition XT daily. It gets the upgraded turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, a more capable version of Subaru's X-Mode all-wheel-drive system, and significantly more standard equipment.

　　

2020 Subaru Outback models

The 2020 Subaru Outback is a five-passenger SUV that comes in six trim levels: base, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT and Touring XT. The base, Premium, Limited and Touring all come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft). The XT models come with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (260 hp, 277 lb-ft). Both engines are paired with all-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

　　The base Outback gets standard equipment such as LED headlights, keyless entry, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a rearview camera, Bluetooth audio connectivity, and safety features such as adaptive cruise control, front collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane keeping assist.

　　Going with the Premium trim gets you dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and an attractive 11.6-inch touchscreen. Options for the Premium include a power liftgate, navigation, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

　　The Limited gets the blind-spot monitoring and the power liftgate and further adds leather upholstery, driver-seat memory functions, reverse automatic braking, rear air vents, and a Harman Kardon audio system. A heated steering wheel, navigation and Subaru's DriverFocus driver monitoring system are available as options. The Touring trim level provides more interior upgrades such as ventilated front seats, upgraded leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and a sunroof.

　　The Onyx Edition XT has the same basic equipment as the Premium, plus the turbocharged engine, an upgraded version of Subaru's X-Mode (an all-wheel-drive traction management system), hill descent control, a front-view monitor, heated rear seats, and upgraded exterior cladding.

　　The Limited XT and the Touring XT generally come with the features listed above for the Limited and the Touring but have the turbocharged engine.

　　

2020 Outback Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumLimitedOnyx Edition XTTouringLimited XTTouring XTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$26,645
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	32.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles