2021 Subaru Outback Review

　　

2021 Subaru Outback Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　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.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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) - $26,795 MSRPPremium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $29,045 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $33,595 MSRPOnyx Edition XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $35,145 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT) - $37,495 MSRPLimited XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $37,995 MSRPTouring XT 4dr SUV AWD (2.4L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $39,945 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　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.

　　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 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

8.0/10

　　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 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

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? From a space standpoint, the Outback is fantastic. Some might prefer a more upright SUV-like seating position, but 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

7.0/10

　　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. 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.

　　

Which Outback does zzdcar 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.

　　

2021 Subaru Outback models

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:

　　Base

　　The base Subaru Outback comes with a decent list of features, including:

　　2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (182 horsepower, 176 lb-ft) Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) 17-inch alloy wheels Turn-adaptive LED headlights Roof rails with integrated crossbars 7-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Automatic climate control Driver aids: Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Subaru and the car in front) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane keeping assist (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Automatic high beams Premium

　　Stepping up to the Premium trim adds:

　　Power-adjustable driver's seat Dual-zone automatic climate control All-Weather package Heated and power-folding exterior mirrors Heated front seats A windshield wiper de-icer 11.6-inch touchscreen display LED foglights Tinted rear windows Leather-wrapped steering wheelOptions on the Premium include:

　　Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Hands-free power liftgate Keyless ignition and entry Sunroof Navigation systemLimited

　　The Outback Limited includes all Premium features plus the blind-spot monitoring, hands-free liftgate and keyless ignition and entry. You also get:

　　18-inch wheels Driver-seat memory settings Leather upholstery Harman Kardon audio system Auto-dimming rearview mirror Power-adjustable front passenger seat Heated rear outboard seats Rear HVAC ventsOptions for the Limited:

　　Heated steering wheel Sunroof Navigation system Driver attention monitor (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)Touring

　　The Touring trim has all of the above plus:

　　Ventilated front seats Upgraded leather with contrasting stitchingOnyx Edition XT

　　Features here generally mirror those on the Premium trim. It also comes with:

　　Turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine (260 hp, 277 lb-ft) An upgraded version of Subaru's all-wheel-drive system with more drive modes Hill descent control Front-view camera Unique body claddingLimited XT and Touring XT

　　These trims mirror the features of the Limited and Touring trims, respectively, but both get the upgraded turbocharged engine.

　　

2021 Outback Highlights

Trim: BasePremiumLimitedOnyx Edition XTTouringLimited XTTouring XTBase

　　

Base MSRP	$26,795
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