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SubaruOutback (2021-)

Available new
Large estate
Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid

£36,115Typical price

Test score

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Named after the Australian hinterland, Subaru’s large all-wheel drive estate car has very apt badging. It’s designed as a practical car that combines off-road ability with luxurious overtones. The sixth-generation Outback, launched in 2021, sticks with Subaru’s tried-and-tested petrol-engined/automatic/4x4 formula. But have rivals now overtaken the big Subaru? Read our full Subaru Outback road-test review to find out.

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cons

What's included?

What is it?
What's it great at?
What's it like to drive?
How reliable are Subaru cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality
Brand reliability 0-4 years

Nov 2023Last checked by Which?
Mar 2022First reviewed by Which?
May 2021Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

19 Oct 2023

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectivess of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performanc is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (large cars, SUVs and MPVs)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of three stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Which? safety

Brand reliability 0-4 years

Overall
Petrol reliability

How we test brand reliability 0-4 years

Our reliability ratings are based on the feedback from tens of thousands of UK motorists, as collected in our annual Which? car survey. We divide all reliability feedback into three age groups: cars aged up to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 15 years.

Brand reliability 5-9 years

General
Class	Large estate
Luxury	No
Convertible	No
Availability	Available new
New price	£36,115 - £41,570
Fuel type	Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid
Tested fuel efficiency	35.3mpg
Length	4,870mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,875mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,080mm
Height	1,675mm
Driver max height
Second row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	5
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	12.15 m
On sale date	27 May 2021
Lowest pence per mile cost	£19.33

Latest tested engine
Engine name	2.5i Platinum Lineartronic
Fuel type	Petrol
Capacity and power	2.5-litre (169hp)
Transmission	CVT (Continuously variable transmission)
Driven wheels	Four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Fuel tank capacity	63 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	19.33p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£95
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	High
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	188
Well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 (g/km)	217
Official fuel economy: WLTP	32.8
Official Euro emission level	Euro 6d
Braked tow load (KG)	2000kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	09 August 2021
Test programme	2017

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SubaruOutback (2021-)

where to buy or sell