Name: Subaru Outback (2021 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Subaru Outback
Rating: 58.0

Summary

Described as an SUV by its manufacturer, the sixth-generation Subaru Outback is a high-riding estate car and capable off-roader that first arrived on UK roads in 2021.

As Parker’s Chris William’s comments, the Outback should appeal to a small audience “who demand space, a taller ride height, and a long list of safety and comfort features with some genuine off-road ability”, but the model has a number of drawbacks, starting with its driving dynamics.

Besides its family-friendly interior space, the Outback’s key strength is off-roading. As Greg Potts of Top Gear concludes, “the Subaru is a likeable Swiss Army knife and will shrug off anything thrown at it.” The Carwow team’s biggest issue is the estate’s “drony” gearbox.

That said, if you are not too interested in taking your family car off the beaten road, automotive outlets generally agree that there are more polished estate options that deserve your attention, like the Skoda Superb and and SEAT Leon.

As of August 2025, the Subaru Outback holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%. It scores top marks for its excellent safety rating, but in every other category, its scores are poor to very poor.

Outback highlights

Spacious interior
Capable off-roader
Well-equipped as standard
Comfortable driving experience

Outback lowlights

Droning automatic gearbox
Poor fuel economy
Uninspiring engine performance
Interior design is a bit dated

Key specifications

Body style: Estate, all-wheel drive
Engines: petrol
Price: From £36,995 on-road

Launched: Spring 2021
Last updated: Spring 2023
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Subaru Outback doesn’t try to be anything it’s not so it focuses on practicality and off-road dynamics but won’t appeal to buyers who don’t prioritise these features.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6.8 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

“The Subaru Outback is hugely comfortable, great off-road and built like a tank – it’s a shame it’s so outdated and so thirsty most people won’t even give it a second look.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Car

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic
Score: 6 / 10
Our overall impression of the Subaru Outback is that it all feels a bit 1998. In many ways, that’s a compliment: it harks back to a pre-digital age, a time when big estate cars rode well, were simple to operate and sturdy of quality. But there are enough quirks that grate to make us think twice before wholeheartedly recommending. It’s a shame because as an estate car, the Outback is rather good. It’s spacious without being massive; relaxing to drive without losing engagement; tough without being agricultural; feature-packed without being complicated; stylish without being pompous.”
Author: Tim Pollard
Read review

Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 2.5-litre petrol automatic Field
“The Subaru Outback is quite a change from most cars — but in a positive way. I love the rugged look and chunky exterior, which carries through to the solid leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s a decent drive, accelerates smoothly, and is great at negotiating bumps. But 0 to 62mph acceleration is an uninspiring 10.2 seconds, up to a top speed of 120mph.”
Read review

Honest John

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Competent and comfortable rather than charismatic, the Subaru Outback is easy to drive but offers only modest entertainment on the road.”
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“There is a strong case for the Subaru Outback if you genuinely need to go off the beaten track on occasion. It’s a great car for families who are genuinely into activities where the Outback’s space and off-road capability are needed. However, those who will be spending all their time on-road are better served by more conventional options such as the Seat Leon and Skoda Superb. If you do need limited off-road ability and want something plush, Volvo V60 and V90 Cross Country are both worth a look.”
Author: Chris Williams
Read review

Top Gear

Score: 7 / 10
“The Subaru Outback is a likeable Swiss Army knife. Used to be a bit bland but it now stands out and will shrug off anything thrown at it.”
Author: Greg Potts
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 84%
Safety assist: 95%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 2.5i Lineartronic Petrol AWD

Overall score: 1.5 stars
Date tested: May 2022
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 5 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 2.1 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 0.7 / 10

The rating above only applies to the 2.5-litre petrol model, which is currently the only engine option offered across the Outback trim range in the UK. There are no other engine/gearbox combinations available.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of August 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the latest Subaru Outback to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Outback, we’ll publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	33 mpg	D

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	193 g/km	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	31	C

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£214	C
Year 2	£564	C
Year 3	£965	C
Year 4	£1,161	C
Year 5	£1,578	C
Overall	£4,482	C

The Subaru Outback is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Providing a fuel consumption average of 33mpg, the petrol-powered Outback has more expensive fuel costs than other mid-size crossover options, and its insurance bracket is fairly average when compared to the car market as a whole.

That said, its servicing and maintenance costs over the course of the first five years of ownership are cheaper than the average car, and should be fairly affordable.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Subaru Outback

Overall ratingE17%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles

Subaru’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles. Other rivals in the price bracket do better (and in some cases, much better).

If you are purchasing a ‘Subaru Proved’ used Outback from an official Subaru dealership, you will get a minimum one-year/20,000-mile warranty included. If you are buying a used Outback from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company. If you are buying a used Outback from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond anything that may be left on the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.