Consumer Reports Claims the 2020 Subaru Outback Is One of the Top 3 SUVs to Buy Right Now
The Subaru Outback comes with some of the most loyal owners and fans in the world, boasting reliability, dependability, quality performance, and affordability. Outback wagons remain as some of the country’s longest-running vehicles, with many Subaru buyers turning back to the brand time and time again. And the newest 2020 Subaru Outback is no exception. Redesigned and ready for the road, here’s why experts unsurprisingly think it’s one of the best out there.
The Subaru Outback: back and redesigned for the 2020 model year
The 2020 Subaru Outback is fully redesigned for the model year. The five-passenger wagon offers plenty of head and legroom as well as ample cargo and storage space throughout. Although the Outback is considered a wagon, its maximum 76 cubic-feet of cargo space force it into competition with many SUVs.
The interior comes designed with comfortable yet high-tech materials, such as a standard dual-screen infotainment system, with each display measuring seven inches. Also available is an 11.6-inch touchscreen, a moonroof, an upgraded audio system, and a wireless device charging station.
Under the hood, the 2020 Subaru Outback comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 182 hp, though a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine making 260 hp is also available. All Outback models are unsurprisingly paired to a CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) on an all-wheel-drive platform.
Fuel economy ratings are competitive, offering up to 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Turbo-charged Outback models even have a towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs.
Starting prices begin around $26,000 for base models but can exceed $40,000 on upper trims or with available options. There are four available trim options with the 2020 Outback, each more impressive than the last. But is the redesigned 2020 Subaru Outback living up to experts’ high expectations?
Why Consumer Reports loves the new 2020 Subaru Outback
After test-driving the 2020 Subaru Outback, Consumer Reports is certainly impressed. The 2020 model receives a super impressive overall score by Consumer Reports of 87 (out of 100), as well as predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores of four (out of five).
As if the overall score isn’t impressive enough, the Outback’s road test score is even more compelling. Scoring a 91 (out of 100), the experts at Consumer Reports loved the 2020 Outback’s transmission performance, ride quality, seat comfort, and climate system. These categories received a perfect score of five, while most other areas receive a decent score of four.
The experts at Consumer Reports compiled a list of its best-rated new SUVs and even though the “Outback looks more like a raised wagon than a traditional compact or midsized SUV . . . it’s a formidable competitor for either.”
The 2020 model not only makes it onto Consumer Reports’ list of best SUVs but also positions itself into the top-three choices. According to the experts, the Outback “has a solid feel, with a very comfortable ride that outshines even some luxury SUVs.”
Can anyone compete?
With an overall score of 87, the 2020 Subaru Outback stands out as Consumer Reports’ No. 1 rated vehicle in the wagon segment. Out of five total vehicles, the 2020 Outback receives the highest ratings; even placing above higher-end automakers like Audi and Volvo. But the Outback is more than just a wagon, offering the size and space of a smaller SUV or crossover. Even when it’s stacked up against the stiffest competition in the SUV segment, the 2020 Subaru Outback still stands tall.
According to Consumer Reports’ latest ratings, the newest Subaru Outback outshines the highest-rated subcompact SUV in the segment, which also happens to belong to Subaru. As the highest-rated subcompact SUV, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek receives two points less overall than its sibling Outback. Although it should come as no surprise, the 2020 Subaru Outback out-ranks the vast majority of SUVs in each segment.
