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The Subaru Outback is an off-road SUV that’s born to be wild. Does the Subaru Outback have reliability issues, or is it consistently reliable?

Does the Subaru Outback have a lot of problems?

A green Subaru Outback is driving on a beach.
The 2022 Subaru Outback | Subaru

The Subaru Outback is one of the most capable SUV models in its segment. The Outback is affordable, has plenty of standard tech, and has a spacious cargo area. The Subaru Outback has plenty of strengths, but is it reliable?

According to CarComplaints.com, the Outback’s worst problems are excessive oil consumption, transmission failure, and a fragile windshield. CarComplaints claims that the 2013 model year is the worst model because of engine issues. After 2018 the number of Subaru Outback complaints consistently decreased. Every model year after 2019 has less than 50 total complaints registered on the site. That being said, the 2015 model year has over 154 complaints registered.

While the Outback has had plenty of issues historically, it has drastically improved over time. Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Subaru Outback a 3/5 or 60% predicted reliability score. It got a 91% on CR’s road test. Outback models have undoubtedly had their issues, but it seems like the nameplate has turned a corner in recent years.

Is the Subaru Outback or Forester better?

A brown 2022 Subaru Outback midsize SUV is driving on the road.
The 2022 Subaru Outback | Subaru

The 2022 Subaru Outback starts at $27,145. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to make 182 horsepower. The Outback achieves 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway.

The 2022 Subaru Forester starts at $25,393. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to produce 182 horsepower. It gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles per gallon on the highway as well. The Outback is the larger Subaru SUV. Both SUVs have 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The two models are very similar. If you’re looking for a more conventional station wagon, the Outback is the better choice. The Forester is the better choice for buyers looking for a vehicle that feels more like a compact SUV model.

Is the Subaru Outback a good SUV to buy?

The 2022 Subaru Outback got a 9/10 overall rating from Car and Driver. It also earned an Editor’s Choice award. The Outback is a good SUV to buy for drivers looking to adventure. It’s amazing off-road, but there are better choices in its vehicle segment. The Outback is a station wagion that is roughly the same size as a midsize SUV.

The popular Kia Telluride is a better option for consumers searching for a midsize family SUV. It starts at $33,090. The Subaru Outback has become much more reliable over time. Based on the complaints registered on CarComplaints.com, there hasn’t been a more reliable Outback model in years.

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