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 January 2025, the Subaru Outback holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 63%. This score is helped by the estate’s excellent five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, and hindered by relatively expensive running costs.
- Subaru Outback (2015 to 2021) – Expert Rating
- More Subaru Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features
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: High-riding estate
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.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.8 / 10
“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.”
Author: Trinity Francis
Read review
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
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“The Subaru Outback is a tall family car with a spacious cabin and grippy four-wheel drive, but alternatives are better to drive, cheaper to run and come with posher-feeling interiors.”
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.”
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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
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%
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
Energy Efficiency Index: 2.1 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 0.7 / 10
The rating above only applies to the 2.5i Lineartronic Petrol, 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 data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the 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.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 33 mpg | E | 33 – 33 mpg | E – E |
CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
Petrol models | 193 g/km | D | 193 – 193 g/km | D – D |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 31 | C | 17 – 31 | A – C |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £200 | B |
Year 2 | £505 | B |
Year 3 | £932 | B |
Year 4 | £1,094 | B |
Year 5 | £1,505 | B |
Overall | £4,236 | B |
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.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Subaru Outback, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi A4 allroad | Citroën C5 X | Ford Kuga | Honda CR-V | Hyundai Tucson | Kia Sportage | Mazda CX-5 | MG HS | Nissan Qashqai | Peugeot 508 SW | Renault Kadjar | SEAT Leon | Skoda Karoq | Skoda Superb Estate | Vauxhall Grandland | Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
- Subaru Outback (2015 to 2021) – Expert Rating
- More Subaru Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Subaru Outback at The Car Expert
Buy a Subaru Outback
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Lease a Subaru Outback
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