Love it. Other variants: jeeps are loud, overpriced and might go offroad in some cases better, but overall, cost an arm and a leg more. see mpg and reliability ratings. -LoveMySubie.
Got 156K on my 2006 Outback. New struts, new rims, new tires, few repairs here and there, and it is better than new. I'm not kidding. And so darn quiet inside! Quiet, solid, smooth. The compliment I get most often from passengers is this: "This car is smooth!" Think I'll take it to a million miles. And no, I'm not kidding.
@@OhPhuckYou Hate to say it, but I spoke too soon. Had to do head-gaskets twice. First at 150K, and then at 180K. That repair is something like $2500. The second time, the dealer fixed it for free, which I appreciated. But then my Outback started spending more time in the repair shop than in my driveway, so I was paying for repairs and a rental. It was breaking like once a month. Not good. Traded in the Outback for a new car. I loved my Subaru, but it just went downhill fast. Now I'm driving something German. So far, so good.
@@finnmccool684 I hate to hear that. I knew it was going to be head gaskets or transmission that went out. My boss just bought a 2017 Outback and I hope it lasts longer for him. Awesome little wagons.
I have the 2.5 2015 outback and I love it! If I drive a constant 65 mph I get 42mpg. I drove to Atlantic City and back to Brooklyn and got a average of 37 mpg!!!!!! I filled er up right before I headed out and filled her up when I got back so I know for a fact what I say is accurate. I have no complaints / regrets.
I forgot about this video. I remember watching forgot that Subaru stop lending guys cars to review and just saw that you bought one. That's why I'm rewatching this seeing why they didn't like your reviews. Keep it real.
I am betting the slow Auto lift hatch slow speed us a good thing so it doesn't hit anyone in the head as it closes. Gives you sufficient time to get out of the way ...and prevent Subaru from getting sued because someone hurt themselves when it closed on their head.
Both our Outback and Forester Touring are 2019 year models. Today is 9-14-23. My wife’s Outback has 28K miles and my Forester has 12K miles. We Love our Subie’s. For 40+ years of driving AWD and 4WD Toyota’s we always had to put studded snow tires on every winter to contend with the 5-7 feet of snow we get every winter. Both of our Subie’s have never had snow tires on them, yet they have more traction on all road conditions. We now have Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires. They’re Awesome on dry, wet, slushy and snowy roads. Both of our Subie’s have the 2.5L naturally aspirated engines. The 19 and older Outback’s have 175hp, but the 2020 and newer have 182hp. My Forester has 182hp. In 25 the Forester is going to be redesigned and offered with the RAV4 hybrid system.
When we test drove my wife's Impreza the dealer took us off-roading in one first, then we went for a long tour. Long story short, I was so impressed with them I bought the Impreza and a WRX.
Great review... great commentary on the overall vehicle. I just bought one.. I have a Jeep Wrangler for my serious offroading, but I was looking for a vehicle that had offroad capabilities while still having good mpg, room to haul, and quality... I checked out some pick ups, and also some SUV's and the Outback. I decided on the Outback. I just got it last week (2015 3.6R Limited) and had the chance to take it out to Arizona on a photo roadtrip - 500 miles from home. Great on gas, great on the freeway, and it felt great offroad. I'm happy as hell with it!
I just successfully talked/led my 74 yr old mother into buying a fully-loaded 4 cyl '16. I hope I live long enough to inherit it. There's nothing in the world safer for an old white woman, and nothing more fun for her middle-aged son to ogle over. She's trading in dad's '98 Park Ave in lieu of her '06 Sedan DeVille.
MOST IMPORTANTLY = it does not come with the 2.0 L engine that Subaru is currently having MASSIVE oil consumption problems. Subaru is currently facing 2 class-action lawsuits on this one oil consumption problem alone. Everyone I talk to is telling me to avoid any Subaru that comes with the 2.0 L engine as its a disaster in the near-term for long-term owners. Subaru is an EXCELLENT car company, all you have to do is just find a model that comes WITHOUT the 2.0 L engine and you will be just fine. The extra ground clearance (compared to the CR-V or RAV4) means you can off-road without having to worry about smashing your car's bottom on a small rock every few seconds.
Also keep in mind every time they take a Subaru off road they do so with all season tires. get a more aggressive tire on it and half the crap they complain about wouldn't be an issue
Nathan -- you can compare the Outback with the Jeeps. However, to me, the Subaru Outback has only two competitive vehicles because its a wagon. That'll be the Toyota Venza and Honda Crosstour. However, the Venza & Crosstour offroad capability isn't as good as the Outback. You can compare the Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee for its comparisons off-road.
***** The 2015 4Runner Trail at 37K? Wow! Here in Montreal (Canada) we have the 2014 or 15 at 46K before taxes and all the other expenses... However the 4Runner is not the same category as this one, it is a truck a monster off-roader especially the trail version, not mentioning the thirsty 4Liter. I love the 4Runner but can't afford it... I have the Outback 2.5 premium with eyesight in mind for my family daily life + outdoors adventures... I have a Jeep Patriot and I decided that no more Jeeps in my life... Reliability is really not on the menu... The Cherokee Trailhawk is a pretty tough modern SUV but again for the price vs family space and reliability, I decided to trust more the OB
***** no offense, 4Runner is a great car, the off road capability is outstanding. but the downside about 4 runner is the comfort and fuel consumption. If i'm gonna buy a car as a daily driver with off-roading ability, then it'd be Outback no doubt.
Great review guys. Never owned or even driven a Subaru myself but I can tell you that you see a ton of them , of all ages, in the mountain towns of British Columbia so they got to be pretty good in the snow.
I own a 2015 Outback 3.6 with Eyesite, push button start etc… It’s better than Toyota, Honda etc.. Runs like a bat outta hell, sure footed, comfortable, tons of cargo space, great A/C, and fun to drive. I would buy another, but they quit putting the 6cyl. in the Outback. Great car!
My 2006 Outback has 142,000 miles on the clock, and is like brand new. Literally like brand new. Really an amazing car. I can't think of a reason to sell it.
Great work, Nathan, this new format is absolutely brilliant !!! You've got Emme " Big Bump " Hall who's expecting, Andre stripping to the waist and bulging, and yourself who's threatening us with the full monty. All you need now is Roman doing reviews of old folks' homes and cemeteries, and you'll have the best goddamned programme that's ever been on UA-cam !!!!!
It's a family sedan, not purposely built for off-road plays. It's best suited for people living in snowy locations, or muddy. I dont like "wagon", I'd go with a WRX/STI/Legacy.
A better car that has good AWD, a Ford Escape. Tell her to get the Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost 4WD. It may only fail one test in IIHS, but it is still very safe.
So Subaru got bent out of shape because you scratched the car? I would have thought that a certain amount of wear and tear is expected on a demo car, not reckless or deliberate damage but the sh** happens kind of damage.
Yea i found it kinda ridiculous that they got upset about this why dont they just fix the car ...did the plan to sell it after her went off road in a car that wasnt even broken in yet?
What Nathan failed to mention was, he boosted the car without permission and the so called " scratch " wasn't the problem, it was the two doors he left wrapped around a rock that peeved Subaru !!!!
every one compares the Subaru and the jeep and harp about how the Subaru isn't true off road. these were never built for rock crawling, but neither are the new Cherokees, and no it don't matter if you have a trail hawk. I've had my 2014 2.5 in back roads, logging roads, and to a few out of the way backwoods camp sites. only change I had to make from stock was a more aggressive tire. let's be honest no one in there right mind buys a Jeep Cherokee for serious hard corp off road. that's what they make the Wranglers for. For all around mid grade off road stuff my outback pounds thru and over everything I throw at it. just have to be more attentive to approach and departure angles. For backwoods camping, and what not I'll take the outback over the Cherokee any day of the week. better cargo space, more comfortable and it's damn capable. Hate all ya'll want, it still won't change the facts.
You guys should do testing on Mt. Antero. Took my 2.5 15' Outback up most of it yesterday and it struggled, that mountain has about everything you could see off-roading.
It's a 3 hour drive up to Mt. Antero from Boulder. I would assume they don't like to drive that far away on a regular basis, although I'm not exactly sure where some of the other places they film are.
Great review guys! Props to you for taking the Outback off-road and testing all the conditions it was built for. Have any of the TFL team driven the four-cylinder version away from Colorado? Just wondered if it would have decent power for places that aren't so high up.
With some proper all-terrain tires, I'm curious how much better the Outback would do off-road. I understand TFL is reviewing their vehicles with stock tires, though.
The reason Subaru wont offer a 6 speed manual turbo 4 is because they know they would be stealing sales from themselves. Tons of Subaru owners own both the WRX and the Outback. Hell many own a BRZ and a WRX. I have meet folks that own 5 Subaru's. Most people dont want an Outback they need one. The WRX is almost always a want. Give the Outback a turbo 4 and you have zero need or want to buy a WRX. Those Turbo outback wagons just stole WRX sales. They did not even cost or weigh much more.
fatboy19831 I wouldn't get a turbo if it were free. I would be happy if Subaru started to make a 3cyl and put it into Outbacks. I need their utility not speed.
Y10Q I believe you are the 95 percentile of Outback buyers. Even I must admit that in normal driving the base 4 is more than adequate to keep up with traffic and gets excellent real world economy. Often into the 30's. For me I would love to have an Outback Diesel. I think Subaru could do one for just over 30k. At that price point they would have zero competition.
+fatboy19831 I just wish they would sell the 4 cylinder turbo diesels in the US, with the 6-speed manual. I know they sell them in Europe and Australia. I just don't get why they won't bring them here?
+binyamj Subaru has a very low take up rate on manuals in the states. It was in the single digits on the Outback and Forester. Only the BRZ, Wrx and STi have strong manual sales. The STI only comes in a Manual. Without heavy promotion manual Diesels would sit on the lots after a strong early sales push. At least that is Subarus fear. There must be an Automatic for the Diesel to be a sales success. Then they can push for a limited run of manuals.
Good review, nice too see one in the dirt. My favorite part about the car is the way the back seats flip down. Brilliant! I wish the seats in my car were like that...I have to go around to each side of the car and hit the release on the seatback itself, AFTER flipping up the bottom cushion and dropping the headrest. I'd like to see a similar review of the Volvo XC70. I know it might not be quite s capable as the Subaru, but I have an '07 XC70 and it is amazing in the snow, and actually looks to have decent ground clearance. I haven't really taken it off road though.
Volvo good for street, not so good for offroad... Longer wheelbase, lower ground clearance, heavier, much worse handling on turns, awd system... Another bolt on from haldex.
On this reviewed you guys did it right and fairness for SUBARU. It is a medium OFF ROAD. JEEP WRANGLERs are the BEST off road. But in recent reviews in 2018, the TFL reviewed on SUBARU are unfair and NOT justified. But i understand that you have to give GREAT REVIEWED for AMERICAN cars. The facts and true reviews are done by KBB. and the CONSUMER REPORTs on ALL cars.
the guy washing his windows on the green Legacy Wagon.... THATS a subaru driver. Also i prospect for gold in my free time and dont (some would argue cant..) leave home without my 05 Forester. Among other things.
Most of the roads shown here you would never even take it out of 2 wheel drive in a most off road vehicles and I would expect a Subaru to handle them respectably. I own a 3.6R with Bridgestones and wouldn't hesitate to take on most trails, as long as you pick a good line you'd be okay most of the time but I would air down the tires for a better ride and traction. For serious off road, like Bear Creek or Taylor Creek or Moab I'd take my Cayenne S. Gas mileage to and from being the only concern.
Hey, Nathan, I believe this model did way better off road than the previous model. How was the X-Mode in this one? Did you get stuck at some point in the hills, like it happened with the previous model??
Wild man the Subaru is not as good off-road as a jeep but it's so much more reliable and there is much more quality in the car in like 10 years a jeep is in a junk yard because in broke down and also a CRV is more reliable and it has more quality
I really dislike how you immediately dis the outback against the trailhawk. You later point out the subaru's 8.7? Inch ground clearance which if im not mistaken is identical or a touch higher than trailhawk. Suby is far more reliable than any jeep wishes it could be. Plus the Suby all wheel drive hands down spanks the Trailhawk 4x4. Plus more comfortable, more space, only bad thing you found to say is dead steering, and street tires did poorly on dirt? As far as safety well let me show you a picture look up subaru vs camaro.
Wow. Someone's all hurt about this. From an engineering point, a stock outback can't touch a trailhawk Cherokee in off road capability. The Trailhawk has a true low range and has a locking rear diff, along with superior approach, breakover and departure angles. The forester is a lot closer to the trailhawk in terms of capability but still has shortcomings compared to the KL
I had a 1998 subaru outback. head casket blew and the tranny went at 100k. Got a 2008 Outback and the head gasket went at 70k. Now my check engine light is on for Cat converter and recall on passenger airbag, there is no fix in sight, Subaru says they don't have the replacements. They say don't let anyone sit in front passenger side... wtf? They are great in snow and fun to drive, but their engines are a gamble based on my experience. I really don't want a Rav4, so what other AWD vehicle is there worth buying?
The '98 Outback had the EJ25D, the only engine with a design flaw that contributed to head gasket issues. However, the head gaskets still normally lasted until 200-250k miles. The transmission, if auto, was the bulletproof 4eat. As long as maintained and operated within limits, they generally last the life of the car (400k+ miles.) The manual is weaker than the auto, but still pretty reliable if operated within limits. The '08 Didn't have the 25D, it had a revised 251/253 series and shouldn't have gasket issues at all. Subaru's are pretty reliable cars, your experience is very out of the ordinary other than the airbag recall. I'd chose a Forester over a Rav4.
I dont get about the bandwagon of criticism about CVT by so called auto journalist who trying to convince public CVT suck. They s almost seems to be false believe that it is cool to say CVT sucks and that makes them appear that they know what they taking about. The mass majority of public don't know the difference nor care. They are happy about great mileage they get from it.
Dear TFL, Question regarding the CVT. The CVT seems very slow off the line especially the 2.5. Whats the ratio spread of the transmission? I can't find it anywhere. First gear in my car is 4.38 with 4.38 rear end, whats the equivalent "first gear" of the Subaru?
+amtdesign CVTs do have gear ratios, they are just not fixed. If I'm not mistaken, the ratio spread of the first gen cvt was equivalent to a six speed auto. The difference is the CVT has way more ratios than said 6 speed autos.
So, which one did you choose? Both would be good choices. I guess the clear choice would be if you need a truck bed, choose the Ridgeline and if you don't the Outback. Of course, the Pilot is the Ridgeline in SUV form. TFL also gave the Pilot and the Ridgeline good reviews. I like the look of the Ridgeline and like how it has a real AWD system. Would be perfect for people who don't use it for towing heavy loads.
Paul Naylor I ended up getting a 2010 forester. I loved the versatility of the ridgeline but after consideration decided against car payments. I love the forester though! Shopping for crossbars now so I can keep the Surfboards out of the car
Everybody fails to mention the handy integrated roof racks, dont know if they can hold much weight wise tho. I had an 07 Liberty (Legacy in US) 3.6 sedan, top car, but geez it drank like a fish...
I think))))))) until recently Subaru lacked an Auto that could handle the torque of the diesel. To bring it to the states with only the manual would be a wast of certification.
fatboy19831 that would make sense, they should just develop an auto for the diesel. Less people drive standards in North America. I can see AWD and diesel being great for people who have to drive on the highway in snow. I wouldn't mind having a diesel Subaru with a 6 speed
GB Sailing Americans wont by manuals in numbers. There are some exceptions. The BRZ 60%, Cruze Eco 55%, The Ford ST's ONLY come in manuals. I have already seen young men struggling with their first time driving a manual piloting the Focus ST. For the most part manuals sit on the lot. Dealers discount them heavily. They are much cheaper to buy on the used market. Aside from the BRZ and the WRX Subaru has finally for the first time backed out of offering manuals on the Outback and Legacy. I use to love to buy used manual Subarus you could buy clean ones for under a grand.
Hi Guys! Could you inform how much does it cost in USA? I dream to buy this car, this moment I drive on Renault Logan 2014. I think that you never seen nothing of the kind))) in the USA. A prices gap between Logan and Outback approximately on order of magnitude greater (Logan price*5=Outback price). I would like compare prices how long I would have to work in order to buy Subaru Outback. Thank you for your reply in advance. And thank you for your tests of cars. Every time watch it with keen pleasure. Thank you.
TheHoth1 So my wife and I just purchased a 2017 Outback 3.6r Limited and we love it. After having a 2005 Outback 2.5XT Limited 5MT, I actually don't miss the manual at all. It was loads of fun to drive but the newest Outback is kind of amazing! Oh to answer your inquiry...the steering feels just right and much more planted in my opinion. Doesn't this newest version have some sort of trick electronic steering now?
im not a fan of the 2015 outback. I really like the 2nd and 3rd gen outbacks. The 4th gen and 5th gen are just too big and i think they are more of a "mom van". Definitely not that sporty, simple, offroad type wagon the older outbacks were.
+ryan gallant I know right? like the 4th an 5th gen, makes you wonder...just get a forrester and be done with it. Now Outbacks looks like somebody sort of squashed a Forrester down. But I do like the new safety features that he either didn't mention, or weren't packaged with that specific one. And what were they thinking with the Crosstrek? 2.2 is small enough, what would you want the 2.0 in a crossover car for? I mean yeah its nice they have a hybrid option, but they could have given that to the outback. Why make a cheaper lil brother to your most popular off roaders, and now make it an embarrassment? They give off a vibe where the original brains with the master plan, retired or died, and now were left with a goofy who is trying to be progressive, but can't figure out what made their off roaders so great.
+ryan gallant I can't hate on the 201X generations of the Outback. I test drove a 14 Outback, 12 Legacy, and 15 Legacy, and loved the Outback. I am going to be testing a 15 tonight, as I am working on a Lemon Law suit against Ford, and coming to the end in the next few weeks. The 14 Outback was quieter and rode better than the 15 Legacy imho. I had an 09 Legacy that I loved, and it was more reminiscent to that, than the current gen legacy is. The main reason they went this route for 4 and 5 are ground clearance, to give better offroad capability, so you don't have to practically remove the bumpers to keep them in decent condition. Now you can at least get up on a pair or ramps to do an oil change in your own driveway. The outback is also easier to get in and out of compared to the older, lower sitting generations. Over the last 6 months I have had MANY rental cars, and have hated all but one car and I even hated getting in and out of that one (was a 15 mustang), the only ones I enjoyed were the SUVs I've received. I am now temporarily back in my own fusion... and am missing the ease of ingress and egress.
I really love subarus, but someone told me about the oil consumption issues that are being currently had by owners of 2012-2015 vehicles and how much oil they are burning. I wonder how big of a widespread issue this is, because when I type it into google I have yet to see one person say they HAVEN'T had an oil consumption issue with their car. Anyone here have a 2014 or so Subaru that hasn't been using oil? I guess the manufacturer says they can use up to 1 quart every 1200 miles, but for a brand new car thats outrageous! My parents just bought a 2014 Outback also, so I really hope they don't end up with that issue, because my mom has always wanted a Subaru for the last 20 years haha.
We put almost 30,000 miles on a 2013 Subaru Outback and we never had any Oil consumption issues as you've been hearing but I also read a lot about this but it might have something to do with me not trusting the manufactures 7,000 mile first oil change I changed it at 5,000 And maybe that's why I never had issues.... idk but it was perfectly fine. Now we have a 2015 Outback with currently I think almost 5,000 miles and once again Oil is looking fine haven't had to add anything yet but this weekend will be changing it. Good luck with your Outback the 2015 model is amazing so far
I have '13 2.5Litre I bought new. Now @58k miles. I've come to accept adding a 1/2 qt. a couple times between my 9k oil change intervals. Oil light comes on. I don't get alarmed... just know its time to add a little. I figure 0-20w oil is pretty thin stuff. Maybe something to do with boxer engine. Don't know.. 1st one I ever owned. I figure these cylinders are laying horizontal in oil?
***** I drive a 2013 2.5i starting with 7k miles it now has 25k...I send in the car to Subaru for the normal oil change as per factory...I have never seen the oil light in the time I have it and I am the only one who drives it.
***** avg subaru nerd here, 2 places that lead to extra oil consumption (from a 1999 forester at least) the valve cover gaskets can let oil into the spark plugs. On old cars (10ish years+ depends on how hard and how much you drive) the head gaskets will start to leak.
My grandparents got a new 29016 model not knowing their automatic transmission is a giant piece of crap!!!! Get a manual if you buy one! They are known for bad automatic transmissions!
I'm going to get hate comments, but yes. So much. I try not to watch their videos, but their aren't many reviews of the Outback on youtube. They aren't professional, they really don't have useful reviews, and they are just annoying...especially Nathan. I can't stand him. He makes so many unsubstantiated claims and is just bitchy.
Difference between a Subaru and a Jeep, Subaru are reliable they just keep going
***** Toyota's are not as good as they use to be
Love it. Other variants: jeeps are loud, overpriced and might go offroad in some cases better, but overall, cost an arm and a leg more. see mpg and reliability ratings.
-LoveMySubie.
Daniel Vicaretti bff
b
A jeep wrangler without lockers is a Subaru Outback
Got 156K on my 2006 Outback. New struts, new rims, new tires, few repairs here and there, and it is better than new. I'm not kidding. And so darn quiet inside! Quiet, solid, smooth. The compliment I get most often from passengers is this: "This car is smooth!" Think I'll take it to a million miles. And no, I'm not kidding.
How's that million miles thing working out?
@@OhPhuckYou Hate to say it, but I spoke too soon. Had to do head-gaskets twice. First at 150K, and then at 180K. That repair is something like $2500. The second time, the dealer fixed it for free, which I appreciated. But then my Outback started spending more time in the repair shop than in my driveway, so I was paying for repairs and a rental. It was breaking like once a month. Not good. Traded in the Outback for a new car. I loved my Subaru, but it just went downhill fast. Now I'm driving something German. So far, so good.
@@finnmccool684 I hate to hear that. I knew it was going to be head gaskets or transmission that went out. My boss just bought a 2017 Outback and I hope it lasts longer for him. Awesome little wagons.
I have the 2.5 2015 outback and I love it! If I drive a constant 65 mph I get 42mpg. I drove to Atlantic City and back to Brooklyn and got a average of 37 mpg!!!!!! I filled er up right before I headed out and filled her up when I got back so I know for a fact what I say is accurate. I have no complaints / regrets.
Cihan Ugur Not possible. How do I know? I own one. Fact. Buh bye.
How the times have changed. ;) Good review, Nathan. Looking forward to the new Subi's adventures.
I forgot about this video. I remember watching forgot that Subaru stop lending guys cars to review and just saw that you bought one. That's why I'm rewatching this seeing why they didn't like your reviews. Keep it real.
I am betting the slow Auto lift hatch slow speed us a good thing so it doesn't hit anyone in the head as it closes. Gives you sufficient time to get out of the way ...and prevent Subaru from getting sued because someone hurt themselves when it closed on their head.
The slow auto lift hatch is on xmode with traction control on..
you didn't mention the sturdy roof rack. it is best in class
If you ever go to any city in Alaska, 70% of vehicles are Subarus, Jeeps and the other 30% are regular trucks.
Same with the mountains of North Carolina. Those people buy them to get up snowy hills.
Both our Outback and Forester Touring are 2019 year models.
Today is 9-14-23.
My wife’s Outback has 28K miles and my Forester has 12K miles.
We Love our Subie’s.
For 40+ years of driving AWD and 4WD Toyota’s we always had to put studded snow tires on every winter to contend with the 5-7 feet of snow we get every winter.
Both of our Subie’s have never had snow tires on them, yet they have more traction on all road conditions.
We now have Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires. They’re Awesome on dry, wet, slushy and snowy roads.
Both of our Subie’s have the 2.5L naturally aspirated engines. The 19 and older Outback’s have 175hp, but the 2020 and newer have 182hp.
My Forester has 182hp.
In 25 the Forester is going to be redesigned and offered with the RAV4 hybrid system.
That mountain town was cool looking.
When we test drove my wife's Impreza the dealer took us off-roading in one first, then we went for a long tour. Long story short, I was so impressed with them I bought the Impreza and a WRX.
Great review... great commentary on the overall vehicle. I just bought one.. I have a Jeep Wrangler for my serious offroading, but I was looking for a vehicle that had offroad capabilities while still having good mpg, room to haul, and quality... I checked out some pick ups, and also some SUV's and the Outback. I decided on the Outback. I just got it last week (2015 3.6R Limited) and had the chance to take it out to Arizona on a photo roadtrip - 500 miles from home. Great on gas, great on the freeway, and it felt great offroad. I'm happy as hell with it!
Great review thanks, enjoyed seeing the Colorado country side also. Greetings from Victoria Australia!
I just successfully talked/led my 74 yr old mother into buying a fully-loaded 4 cyl '16.
I hope I live long enough to inherit it. There's nothing in the world safer for an old white woman, and nothing more fun for her middle-aged son to ogle over.
She's trading in dad's '98 Park Ave in lieu of her '06 Sedan DeVille.
MOST IMPORTANTLY = it does not come with the 2.0 L engine that Subaru is currently having MASSIVE oil consumption problems. Subaru is currently facing 2 class-action lawsuits on this one oil consumption problem alone. Everyone I talk to is telling me to avoid any Subaru that comes with the 2.0 L engine as its a disaster in the near-term for long-term owners. Subaru is an EXCELLENT car company, all you have to do is just find a model that comes WITHOUT the 2.0 L engine and you will be just fine. The extra ground clearance (compared to the CR-V or RAV4) means you can off-road without having to worry about smashing your car's bottom on a small rock every few seconds.
Also keep in mind every time they take a Subaru off road they do so with all season tires. get a more aggressive tire on it and half the crap they complain about wouldn't be an issue
Haha yep, I love going through Colorado! So many jeeps, subies, pickups, and fj's.
Nathan -- you can compare the Outback with the Jeeps. However, to me, the Subaru Outback has only two competitive vehicles because its a wagon. That'll be the Toyota Venza and Honda Crosstour.
However, the Venza & Crosstour offroad capability isn't as good as the Outback. You can compare the Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee for its comparisons off-road.
***** The 2015 4Runner Trail at 37K? Wow! Here in Montreal (Canada) we have the 2014 or 15 at 46K before taxes and all the other expenses... However the 4Runner is not the same category as this one, it is a truck a monster off-roader especially the trail version, not mentioning the thirsty 4Liter. I love the 4Runner but can't afford it... I have the Outback 2.5 premium with eyesight in mind for my family daily life + outdoors adventures... I have a Jeep Patriot and I decided that no more Jeeps in my life... Reliability is really not on the menu... The Cherokee Trailhawk is a pretty tough modern SUV but again for the price vs family space and reliability, I decided to trust more the OB
***** no offense, 4Runner is a great car, the off road capability is outstanding. but the downside about 4 runner is the comfort and fuel consumption. If i'm gonna buy a car as a daily driver with off-roading ability, then it'd be Outback no doubt.
Nathan, have you driven a new manual Crosstrek?
Great review guys. Never owned or even driven a Subaru myself but I can tell you that you see a ton of them , of all ages, in the mountain towns of British Columbia so they got to be pretty good in the snow.
I own a 2015 Outback 3.6 with Eyesite, push button start etc… It’s better than Toyota, Honda etc.. Runs like a bat outta hell, sure footed, comfortable, tons of cargo space, great A/C, and fun to drive. I would buy another, but they quit putting the 6cyl. in the Outback. Great car!
I really wish you guys could do more Subaru reviews.
I second this
@@CodyBosch they can’t because of this video, Subaru didn’t like what they had to say about it so they bared them from press vehicles
My 2006 Outback has 142,000 miles on the clock, and is like brand new. Literally like brand new. Really an amazing car. I can't think of a reason to sell it.
Great review Nathan. Keep up the good work.
Great work, Nathan, this new format is absolutely brilliant !!! You've got Emme " Big Bump " Hall who's expecting, Andre stripping to the waist and bulging, and yourself who's threatening us with the full monty. All you need now is Roman doing reviews of old folks' homes and cemeteries, and you'll have the best goddamned programme that's ever been on UA-cam !!!!!
I'm expecting to kick your ass should we ever meet, Senor Commando....
-Emme@TFLCar
Emme Hall I am dying laughing! Go get him!
Emme Hall Does this mean our engagement is off ????
***** How can you be so callous, I'm heartbroken and mystified !!!!! :-(((
It's a family sedan, not purposely built for off-road plays. It's best suited for people living in snowy locations, or muddy. I dont like "wagon", I'd go with a WRX/STI/Legacy.
A better car that has good AWD, a Ford Escape. Tell her to get the Titanium 2.0L EcoBoost 4WD. It may only fail one test in IIHS, but it is still very safe.
So Subaru got bent out of shape because you scratched the car? I would have thought that a certain amount of wear and tear is expected on a demo car, not reckless or deliberate damage but the sh** happens kind of damage.
It is expected they're just not a rich enough company to absorb it.
Yea i found it kinda ridiculous that they got upset about this why dont they just fix the car ...did the plan to sell it after her went off road in a car that wasnt even broken in yet?
What Nathan failed to mention was, he boosted the car without permission and the so called " scratch " wasn't the problem, it was the two doors he left wrapped around a rock that peeved Subaru !!!!
Ohhhhhhhh!!!
every one compares the Subaru and the jeep and harp about how the Subaru isn't true off road. these were never built for rock crawling, but neither are the new Cherokees, and no it don't matter if you have a trail hawk. I've had my 2014 2.5 in back roads, logging roads, and to a few out of the way backwoods camp sites. only change I had to make from stock was a more aggressive tire. let's be honest no one in there right mind buys a Jeep Cherokee for serious hard corp off road. that's what they make the Wranglers for. For all around mid grade off road stuff my outback pounds thru and over everything I throw at it. just have to be more attentive to approach and departure angles. For backwoods camping, and what not I'll take the outback over the Cherokee any day of the week. better cargo space, more comfortable and it's damn capable. Hate all ya'll want, it still won't change the facts.
You guys should do testing on Mt. Antero. Took my 2.5 15' Outback up most of it yesterday and it struggled, that mountain has about everything you could see off-roading.
It's a 3 hour drive up to Mt. Antero from Boulder. I would assume they don't like to drive that far away on a regular basis, although I'm not exactly sure where some of the other places they film are.
I LOVE my 2018 3.6 Outback!!
NO.I caught that, did you catch the part abought the one that was really rusted out and still being used?
The road has double yellow lines to denote "don't wander over here." Apparently not for this guy.
Great review guys! Props to you for taking the Outback off-road and testing all the conditions it was built for.
Have any of the TFL team driven the four-cylinder version away from Colorado? Just wondered if it would have decent power for places that aren't so high up.
Only one minor issue w/ the Jeep...when you get to your destination, you will need a OUTBACK to take you home.
Do you have any explanation for why Subaru do not make a four cylinder turbo version?
Nice job, gents. Definitely a thumbs up.
Wildman: Lighten up, Francis.
With some proper all-terrain tires, I'm curious how much better the Outback would do off-road. I understand TFL is reviewing their vehicles with stock tires, though.
The reason Subaru wont offer a 6 speed manual turbo 4 is because they know they would be stealing sales from themselves. Tons of Subaru owners own both the WRX and the Outback. Hell many own a BRZ and a WRX. I have meet folks that own 5 Subaru's. Most people dont want an Outback they need one. The WRX is almost always a want. Give the Outback a turbo 4 and you have zero need or want to buy a WRX. Those Turbo outback wagons just stole WRX sales. They did not even cost or weigh much more.
i have one...
fatboy19831 I wouldn't get a turbo if it were free. I would be happy if Subaru started to make a 3cyl and put it into Outbacks. I need their utility not speed.
Y10Q I believe you are the 95 percentile of Outback buyers. Even I must admit that in normal driving the base 4 is more than adequate to keep up with traffic and gets excellent real world economy. Often into the 30's. For me I would love to have an Outback Diesel. I think Subaru could do one for just over 30k. At that price point they would have zero competition.
+fatboy19831 I just wish they would sell the 4 cylinder turbo diesels in the US, with the 6-speed manual. I know they sell them in Europe and Australia. I just don't get why they won't bring them here?
+binyamj Subaru has a very low take up rate on manuals in the states. It was in the single digits on the Outback and Forester. Only the BRZ, Wrx and STi have strong manual sales. The STI only comes in a Manual. Without heavy promotion manual Diesels would sit on the lots after a strong early sales push. At least that is Subarus fear. There must be an Automatic for the Diesel to be a sales success. Then they can push for a limited run of manuals.
Awww, why didn't you post a picture of the scratch?
Good review, nice too see one in the dirt. My favorite part about the car is the way the back seats flip down. Brilliant! I wish the seats in my car were like that...I have to go around to each side of the car and hit the release on the seatback itself, AFTER flipping up the bottom cushion and dropping the headrest. I'd like to see a similar review of the Volvo XC70. I know it might not be quite s capable as the Subaru, but I have an '07 XC70 and it is amazing in the snow, and actually looks to have decent ground clearance. I haven't really taken it off road though.
Volvo good for street, not so good for offroad... Longer wheelbase, lower ground clearance, heavier, much worse handling on turns, awd system... Another bolt on from haldex.
Where do they say Subaru won't give them cars anymore?
On this reviewed you guys did it right and fairness for SUBARU. It is a medium OFF ROAD. JEEP WRANGLERs are the BEST off road. But in recent reviews in 2018, the TFL reviewed on SUBARU are unfair and NOT justified. But i understand that you have to give GREAT REVIEWED for AMERICAN cars. The facts and true reviews are done by KBB. and the CONSUMER REPORTs on ALL cars.
the guy washing his windows on the green Legacy Wagon.... THATS a subaru driver. Also i prospect for gold in my free time and dont (some would argue cant..) leave home without my 05 Forester. Among other things.
I bet they did not like the cliff hanger result.
Finaly! Thanks for the vid!
what happened at 10:50? Why was the video trimmed???
Most of the roads shown here you would never even take it out of 2 wheel drive in a most off road vehicles and I would expect a Subaru to handle them respectably. I own a 3.6R with Bridgestones and wouldn't hesitate to take on most trails, as long as you pick a good line you'd be okay most of the time but I would air down the tires for a better ride and traction. For serious off road, like Bear Creek or Taylor Creek or Moab I'd take my Cayenne S. Gas mileage to and from being the only concern.
Hey, Nathan, I believe this model did way better off road than the previous model. How was the X-Mode in this one? Did you get stuck at some point in the hills, like it happened with the previous model??
Finally you said something positive about Subie. It’s always Mazda 😳
Wild man the Subaru is not as good off-road as a jeep but it's so much more reliable and there is much more quality in the car in like 10 years a jeep is in a junk yard because in broke down and also a CRV is more reliable and it has more quality
98 XJ Cherokee 304,000 miles. 09 KK Liberty 165,000 miles. 06 WJ Grand Cherokee 164,000 miles. Wanna talk reliable?
@@kennethcurtis1856 only one of those numbers is impressive, and most Subarus will exceed it if taken care of.
I like the new Outback and Legacy. They look bold. I never heard such a strange turn-on sound in my life when I heard that.
Can you test the 2015 Impreza with Eyesight? There is only 1 review from Canada, that is it. Can not find anywhere.
Yeah I love my 2.5XT outback and yes it does suck there isn't a new outback with a turbo and 5spd that I could replace it with.
how is overall driveability and noise isolation. I find my 11' outback to be one of the worst highway cruisers I have ever owned.
+Drogos79 More likely the tires your running. its also hard to find the right set for your area of the world
How bad were the scratches to have subaru take away their cars from you guys??
Thank you Nathan! I hate CVT's too!
I really dislike how you immediately dis the outback against the trailhawk. You later point out the subaru's 8.7? Inch ground clearance which if im not mistaken is identical or a touch higher than trailhawk. Suby is far more reliable than any jeep wishes it could be. Plus the Suby all wheel drive hands down spanks the Trailhawk 4x4. Plus more comfortable, more space, only bad thing you found to say is dead steering, and street tires did poorly on dirt? As far as safety well let me show you a picture look up subaru vs camaro.
Wow.
Someone's all hurt about this. From an engineering point, a stock outback can't touch a trailhawk Cherokee in off road capability.
The Trailhawk has a true low range and has a locking rear diff, along with superior approach, breakover and departure angles. The forester is a lot closer to the trailhawk in terms of capability but still has shortcomings compared to the KL
How many head gaskets did that Subie go through?
I feel like these guys keep misunderstanding that Jeeps are trucks and that the outback is a station wagon.
Great Video, thanks for sharing!!
I had a 1998 subaru outback. head casket blew and the tranny went at 100k. Got a 2008 Outback and the head gasket went at 70k. Now my check engine light is on for Cat converter and recall on passenger airbag, there is no fix in sight, Subaru says they don't have the replacements. They say don't let anyone sit in front passenger side... wtf? They are great in snow and fun to drive, but their engines are a gamble based on my experience. I really don't want a Rav4, so what other AWD vehicle is there worth buying?
The '98 Outback had the EJ25D, the only engine with a design flaw that contributed to head gasket issues. However, the head gaskets still normally lasted until 200-250k miles.
The transmission, if auto, was the bulletproof 4eat. As long as maintained and operated within limits, they generally last the life of the car (400k+ miles.)
The manual is weaker than the auto, but still pretty reliable if operated within limits.
The '08 Didn't have the 25D, it had a revised 251/253 series and shouldn't have gasket issues at all.
Subaru's are pretty reliable cars, your experience is very out of the ordinary other than the airbag recall. I'd chose a Forester over a Rav4.
I dont get about the bandwagon of criticism about CVT by so called auto journalist who trying to convince public CVT suck. They s almost seems to be false believe that it is cool to say CVT sucks and that makes them appear that they know what they taking about. The mass majority of public don't know the difference nor care. They are happy about great mileage they get from it.
Dear TFL,
Question regarding the CVT. The CVT seems very slow off the line especially the 2.5. Whats the ratio spread of the transmission? I can't find it anywhere. First gear in my car is 4.38 with 4.38 rear end, whats the equivalent "first gear" of the Subaru?
+amtdesign CVTs do have gear ratios, they are just not fixed. If I'm not mistaken, the ratio spread of the first gen cvt was equivalent to a six speed auto. The difference is the CVT has way more ratios than said 6 speed autos.
What about the FJ Cruiser? You guys saw it but couldn't remember the name?
The excellent music in this video is titled "Sunflower" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
2016 3.6 outback or 2017 ridgeline?
So, which one did you choose? Both would be good choices. I guess the clear choice would be if you need a truck bed, choose the Ridgeline and if you don't the Outback. Of course, the Pilot is the Ridgeline in SUV form. TFL also gave the Pilot and the Ridgeline good reviews. I like the look of the Ridgeline and like how it has a real AWD system. Would be perfect for people who don't use it for towing heavy loads.
Paul Naylor I ended up getting a 2010 forester. I loved the versatility of the ridgeline but after consideration decided against car payments. I love the forester though! Shopping for crossbars now so I can keep the Surfboards out of the car
Good choice. I have a WRX and love it.
your 'snooth' reminds much of the glorious inspector Clouseau, i.e, Peter Sellers, but merican style in this case-- Sellers was of course sublime.
How fast you want it to close
Fun and great video and interesting car. Would really like to try a 2.0 XT
Everybody fails to mention the handy integrated roof racks, dont know if they can hold much weight wise tho. I had an 07 Liberty (Legacy in US) 3.6 sedan, top car, but geez it drank like a fish...
Does anybody know what music plays at 2:07 & Tnx in advance :)
Australia in the 70s they had an ad campaign that went like so,
You're gonna see a lot of. Subaru
I guess you guys, found the place. Lol.
That would be one interesting town to live in
parents ordered their outback 9/28/14 still isnt here factory is backlogged filling orders other then what the dealers stock the lot with...
Speech volume is so low then my ears get punished with pounding generic guitar solos. Ugh.
Other than that good car review.
love the show
That tailgate didn't seem too slow....
can't wait for the diesel to hit Australia!
Wait, did you say you're getting a 4 cylinder Outback for a 10 year test?
Please review the Land Cruiser 200 series.
nederland colorado is covered in subarus even more than gold hill
The only two things that would make be buy (another) Outback.
1. A hell of a deal on a two year old one.
2. A DIESEL !
Subaru has a diesel in Europe. I've never understood why they never brought it to North America. But I'll be buying a WRX STI before an Outback
I think))))))) until recently Subaru lacked an Auto that could handle the torque of the diesel. To bring it to the states with only the manual would be a wast of certification.
fatboy19831 that would make sense, they should just develop an auto for the diesel. Less people drive standards in North America. I can see AWD and diesel being great for people who have to drive on the highway in snow. I wouldn't mind having a diesel Subaru with a 6 speed
fatboy19831 Why would it be a waste? Explain yourself better...
GB Sailing Americans wont by manuals in numbers. There are some exceptions. The BRZ 60%, Cruze Eco 55%, The Ford ST's ONLY come in manuals. I have already seen young men struggling with their first time driving a manual piloting the Focus ST. For the most part manuals sit on the lot. Dealers discount them heavily. They are much cheaper to buy on the used market. Aside from the BRZ and the WRX Subaru has finally for the first time backed out of offering manuals on the Outback and Legacy. I use to love to buy used manual Subarus you could buy clean ones for under a grand.
13:30, the safest car with AWD and off-road-ish ability, what about the AWD Tesla Model S or X?
Who the fuck would take a tesla offroad??
Hi Guys! Could you inform how much does it cost in USA? I dream to buy this car, this moment I drive on Renault Logan 2014. I think that you never seen nothing of the kind))) in the USA. A prices gap between Logan and Outback approximately on order of magnitude greater (Logan price*5=Outback price). I would like compare prices how long I would have to work in order to buy Subaru Outback. Thank you for your reply in advance. And thank you for your tests of cars. Every time watch it with keen pleasure. Thank you.
+Михаил Шаханов approx 35,000 USD
We have the 3.6R and I notice the steering is too light for my taste. Anyone notice the same thing?
TheHoth1 So my wife and I just purchased a 2017 Outback 3.6r Limited and we love it. After having a 2005 Outback 2.5XT Limited 5MT, I actually don't miss the manual at all. It was loads of fun to drive but the newest Outback is kind of amazing! Oh to answer your inquiry...the steering feels just right and much more planted in my opinion. Doesn't this newest version have some sort of trick electronic steering now?
Maybe new power steering fluid? Once I changed my steering fluid the steering wheel felt lighter and smoother on turns
Lol except when the trail hawk gives you transmission problems that can’t be fixed
why no turbo subaru? even the forester has it... cmon
im not a fan of the 2015 outback. I really like the 2nd and 3rd gen outbacks. The 4th gen and 5th gen are just too big and i think they are more of a "mom van". Definitely not that sporty, simple, offroad type wagon the older outbacks were.
+ryan gallant I know right? like the 4th an 5th gen, makes you wonder...just get a forrester and be done with it.
Now Outbacks looks like somebody sort of squashed a Forrester down. But I do like the new safety features that he either didn't mention, or weren't packaged with that specific one.
And what were they thinking with the Crosstrek? 2.2 is small enough, what would you want the 2.0 in a crossover car for? I mean yeah its nice they have a hybrid option, but they could have given that to the outback.
Why make a cheaper lil brother to your most popular off roaders, and now make it an embarrassment?
They give off a vibe where the original brains with the master plan, retired or died, and now were left with a goofy who is trying to be progressive, but can't figure out what made their off roaders so great.
+ryan gallant I can't hate on the 201X generations of the Outback. I test drove a 14 Outback, 12 Legacy, and 15 Legacy, and loved the Outback. I am going to be testing a 15 tonight, as I am working on a Lemon Law suit against Ford, and coming to the end in the next few weeks. The 14 Outback was quieter and rode better than the 15 Legacy imho. I had an 09 Legacy that I loved, and it was more reminiscent to that, than the current gen legacy is. The main reason they went this route for 4 and 5 are ground clearance, to give better offroad capability, so you don't have to practically remove the bumpers to keep them in decent condition. Now you can at least get up on a pair or ramps to do an oil change in your own driveway. The outback is also easier to get in and out of compared to the older, lower sitting generations. Over the last 6 months I have had MANY rental cars, and have hated all but one car and I even hated getting in and out of that one (was a 15 mustang), the only ones I enjoyed were the SUVs I've received. I am now temporarily back in my own fusion... and am missing the ease of ingress and egress.
@TFL- It's Scoobie.......
I have 2010 outback , bottom always sounds fragile!!!
I really love subarus, but someone told me about the oil consumption issues that are being currently had by owners of 2012-2015 vehicles and how much oil they are burning. I wonder how big of a widespread issue this is, because when I type it into google I have yet to see one person say they HAVEN'T had an oil consumption issue with their car. Anyone here have a 2014 or so Subaru that hasn't been using oil? I guess the manufacturer says they can use up to 1 quart every 1200 miles, but for a brand new car thats outrageous! My parents just bought a 2014 Outback also, so I really hope they don't end up with that issue, because my mom has always wanted a Subaru for the last 20 years haha.
We put almost 30,000 miles on a 2013 Subaru Outback and we never had any Oil consumption issues as you've been hearing but I also read a lot about this but it might have something to do with me not trusting the manufactures 7,000 mile first oil change I changed it at 5,000 And maybe that's why I never had issues.... idk but it was perfectly fine. Now we have a 2015 Outback with currently I think almost 5,000 miles and once again Oil is looking fine haven't had to add anything yet but this weekend will be changing it. Good luck with your Outback the 2015 model is amazing so far
I have '13 2.5Litre I bought new. Now @58k miles. I've come to accept adding a 1/2 qt. a couple times between my 9k oil change intervals. Oil light comes on. I don't get alarmed... just know its time to add a little. I figure 0-20w oil is pretty thin stuff. Maybe something to do with boxer engine. Don't know.. 1st one I ever owned. I figure these cylinders are laying horizontal in oil?
***** I have a 2013 outback 3.6R with 78k miles and mine consumes a little over a quart every 7500 miles
***** I drive a 2013 2.5i starting with 7k miles it now has 25k...I send in the car to Subaru for the normal oil change as per factory...I have never seen the oil light in the time I have it and I am the only one who drives it.
***** avg subaru nerd here, 2 places that lead to extra oil consumption (from a 1999 forester at least) the valve cover gaskets can let oil into the spark plugs. On old cars (10ish years+ depends on how hard and how much you drive) the head gaskets will start to leak.
Hope you guys will review the Honda cross tour :)
am in the market for cars like this but the cross tour i jus tugging me at the moment
I always thought of the Crosstour as an answer to a question that nobody asked.
Rev limiter at 4.
Just go to :50 to begin
He's mentioning a Jeep Jerky all the time, what's a Jeep Jerky?
Jeep Cherokee
subaru is way too good than kia,hyundai or toyota...they cant even offroad tho
Horsepower, cubic feet, pound feet of power... wtf
My grandparents got a new 29016 model not knowing their automatic transmission is a giant piece of crap!!!! Get a manual if you buy one! They are known for bad automatic transmissions!
Say no to crack!
Does anyone just hate these hosts for some reason?
I'm going to get hate comments, but yes. So much. I try not to watch their videos, but their aren't many reviews of the Outback on youtube. They aren't professional, they really don't have useful reviews, and they are just annoying...especially Nathan. I can't stand him. He makes so many unsubstantiated claims and is just bitchy.