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Also referred to as: Subaru Outback 5GEN 2019 and Subaru Outback 5GEN 2021. 2.5i Premium, 2.5i, 3.6R, etc...GilMelbourne
Drives well
Good safety features. Maps vastly superior to the older version in our 2012 Outback - speed zone notifications in maps and on instrument screen are especially useful. Car has plenty of go and is very comfortable. Lot's of space in the back seats and boot. Happy now the Starlink system has been replaced.
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NickMelbourne
2018 Outback 3.6r - Mixed feelings
I bought this car because I was impressed by my experience with my last car 2005 Subaru liberty 2.5i. That was my first Subaru. It had a mesmerising pull when it occasionally downshifted to 1st gear when flooring the pedal below 40-50km. It engages the rear differential and revved up all the way to redline bringing the car to 60-70km in such a short time. The first time I did this it almost choked me cause I couldn’t breathe as I wasn’t expecting the acceleration to suddenly press my body against the seat. It also sticked to the road when corne...Read more
ring, you could feel the outer wheels holding the car from going outside the turning trajectory. it was such a sure-footed, confidence inspiring car in 4EAT mission. That made my decision to buy another Subie. And this time a wagon with even a bigger engine because I wanted that mesmerising experience. But Outback 3.6r in CVT trans was nothing but that. Granted the eyesight combined with this trans is very quiet and comfy. Ho-hum. But accelerating in CVT I noticed it just gives a split burst of torque. It doesn’t build rev and give a predictable amount of torque. Basically not linear. And also don’t have much of linear engine braking. So I feel less in control and hard to predict driving this car compared to my old Liberty sedan. Its body rolls in corners and sometimes the car doesn’t stay in the lane after changine lanes where it is going down and turning in a big diameter. I can feel the G force not just going in lateral direction but in vertical direction aka suspension sinking too much unlike my last 4 gen Liberty. The suspension is very soft aimed for comfort. After months of driving I just drive Outback very carefully like I’m driving a bus. The only time I can appreciate this engine is when speeding in a straight line with minimum cars around. I simply don’t feel safe to do spirited driving because the driving experience is numb. Numb handle, weak engine braking, non linear torque building or revving. S and S# is also not THAT different from I mode which is eco mode. When it is crusing, the mode just jumps additional 200 rpm from each other. So I can be doing 1500 rpm while cruising on 70km. If I switch to S mode then 1700rpm, S# to 1900rpm. The throttle response gets just tad sharper. That’s it. Now I admit that the car is very quick off redlight if you’re in S# mode although it doesn’t feel like it. You’d notice it IS actually when you notice you’re easily half a car to a car space ahead some FF cars next to you. This Outback AWD offers a quiet and less obvious rear wheel traction feel (compared to my old Lib which pushed violently from behind like a rear wheel drive which was eye-opening fun) but it can still smoke most cars off redlight. Driving in a very hilly suburbs, you still can lose momentum if you’re cruising uphill at 60km on S mode. Engine rev can be something like 1500-2000 but then the car can slow down to 50km on CVT. I was wondering why a crappy 20 year old daihatsu turbo mini car can stick so close to my tail on uphill. It’s just that the Daihatsu can control the high revs better than this OB CVT. I was mainly utilising paddle shifter for engine braking down hill and putting back to D mode on uphill assuming that the flat 6 engine would keep up the cruising speed uphill but on low revs, it can’t keep the heavy 1.7 tonne car with 3 passengers on speed on partial throttle! Torque is not strong enough in 1500 rpm. And because the car is so quiet it’s hard to notice you were losing momentum. At some point I was letting Eyesight Adaptive Cruise Control do the job since I must admit ACC can regulate the speed on downhill quite impressively. I don’t know how it manages to control the speed on a long down hill without creating almost any noticeable G force or without obvious engine rev up like manual engine braking. It doesn’t feel like it is applying brakes either.. It actually might but it doesn’t indicate in the driver’s console where there is a car figure that shows when brakes are applied. But because there was quite a few blind corners, I had to disengage ACC (otherwise it will keep going steadily on cruising speed without considering risky situation be it uphill/downhill) and drive normally with paddle shifters aid. Anyway manual shifting on CVT has no fun. The 4EAT on 4 gen Liberty had more accuracy and fun. I could even match rev the 4EAT by adding a slight throttle to down shift with almost minimum shift shock. Summing up, if I knew that 3.6r would only be good for super quiet automatic cruising on Eyesight and very quick off redlight (although I rarely do this unless I have to overtake to cross a lane) or tow something heavy which I never do, or driving rough terrain which also I don’t as I drive exclusively on paved roads, I would just have chosen 2.5 4 cylinder version of OB. Or else get a Mazda wagon for it would be more fun. The flat 6 Outback although maybe quicker compared to my old car in straight line and definitely in the speed range above 60km, the 4 gen Liberty 2.5i felt much safer and composed and much more fun like an European Audi A4 I’d imagine.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
SocGreater Melbourne (Inner), VIC
- 4 reviews
Outback
What a great car, excellent overall in regards to space height, room and more so the roof racks. Great family car and price is spot on. The only thing i could find is why are they using full synthetic oil on a daily driver? Really happy with this car i will buy another soon.
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NickAU
Built for highway cruising but just as comfy in the city.iI
I purchased my Outback 2.5 Premium in 2018 as new in Brisbane for $42,000 with all weather mats and a boot liner.
I have owned German luxury cars and this is by far the most comfortable car I've bought. The reviews are right. It is extremely comfortable. The engine is not underpowered as some reviews say. Change the mapping to sports and it gets off the line fine.
The sun roof and heat seaters are great. The car is quiet. The audio quality is great. The fuel economy is solid...about 6.9L I'm averaging in the first 5000kms so it will only ...Read more
get better. The radar cruise control is great in the city and country. The lane departure system grows on you and all aggravating alarms can be turned off at the press of a button. There's enough storage and the roof racks are a great addition as is the automatic tailgate. The back seat is very roomy and wide for three kids. Speaking with others, this car will easily go to 600,000km when looked after. It feels like it too. Even the car tint man said that when putting tint on, Subaru fittings are so much better quality than anything else out of Japan.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
StevePGreater Melbourne (Outer), VIC
- 7 reviews
- 2 likes
Excellent all round
Very comfortable driving. Heated front (leather) seats and sunroof are a joy. High front seats (for those of us a little older) make getting in and out so much easier. Easy visibility, incl larger side mirrors, makes driving (incl changing lanes) easy. And have the comfort of it being all wheel drive. Highly recommended.
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glennl003South East Queensland, QLD
- 9 reviews
- Outback 5GEN 2.5i Premium (2014-2020)
- Verified purchase
A vehicle for all seasons
Having owned some 40 plus (sedans, coupes, wagons, 4WDs, GTs etc) over as many years, I've not had a vehicle as complete as this one. Without a doubt this crossover can't be matched for value in nearly every respect. Having researched this vehicle (and many others) for a number weeks I couldn't find anyone giving it a bad review or even any criticism for that matter. I purchased the 2018 2.5i premium and was in two minds about opting for the 3.6r and I think I made the right choice. However the proof of the pudding will come when I go to tow a ...Read more
small poptop or boat. Just to shed some light on my vehicle history I've owned (new) everything from Porsche 911 turbo, Jaguar XKR, Audi RS5, A6 Allroad, BMW M3 (6&V8)X6, X5 just to name a few of the 40 plus purchases. So I believe I give a subjective point of having had so many diverse cars. Out of all the vehicles I don't recall any of them coming so well equipped as the Outback. You won't find another car that has more safety tech than this one. Apart from a towbar and rear scuff plate there's not much you can add to this vehicle. Probably the only thing I can see missing is a head up display (I tend to think it could be a distraction). What I love most is it is quite nimble and drives like a car but has all the benefits of a larger 4WD ie legroom, and a feel of spaciousness. Whilst not designed for HD off roading it can certainly handle itself through mud, sand and excels in the snow. I looked at and tested many SUVs including Nissan xtrail, Mazda, Skoda Octavia, Ford and none of them held a candle to the Outback. If you are serious about a family wagon then pay a little extra and get the best value for money SUV wagon on the market. For those folk that live in South East Queensland you need to visit Von Bibra Southport and see Charmaine and Steve they treat you like royalty even after the initial sale. Thank you Von Bibra.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Cassie TAdelaide
- 5 reviews
Mummy car
I bought the Subaru Outback in 2017 premium version and couldn't be happier. The main reason i bought it was because of all the safety features. I tested the safety features out, it will beep if you start to swerve into another lane, slow down if you are driving too fast when car infront has slowed down which could be good if you get distracted with a screaming child. Able to take car up dunes without need to charge tyres. Can open/close boot via car remote, handy when carrying groceries/ baby. Plenty of leg room for front passenger even when you have baby car seat in the back. Has a great sun roof too. Great all round car!
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FroggyPeel, WA
- Outback 5GEN 2.0D (2014-2020)
- Verified purchase
Dpf problem
Had our 2.0 diesel 7 months 17000klms do love the ride and practablity economy But don’t expect a new car to start having issues with dpf did the recommended burn off light went off thought that’s ok 2 days later back on . Very Disappointed not explained fully at time of sale as most people would think ho it’s only a filter ie like oil or fuel ho no did research it $$$$ to replace I voiced my concern the same week of purchase and was reassured long as it has a good run periodically you’ll be fine funny thing is the last month it’s been on long...Read more
er journeys . So crazy we have these things in place to save the environment and people’s health yet do the manufactures in the countries that manufacture them have the same stringent things in place ?. and to be told you need to use the car to burn it off defeats the purpose of buying such an economical vehicle in the first place Fore warned is forearmed Subaru don’t even come in the top ten list of worse vehicles with dpf issues guess I’m just unlucky. Hope Subaru can resolve the issue or a petrol Toyota may be an option . When buying any car you should be able to drive as little or as lot without issue or should not be allowed to sell themSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Chiara
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
Amazing car
The design is classy and the inside is too die for. Very silent car with a lot of room. Perfect for long trips and for city rides. It connects to my phone as soon as it gets close to the car and it opens and closes sensing the key in the near by.
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jiminozDarling Downs, QLD
- 62 reviews
- 1 like
Affordable, practical, reliable car
We purchased our 2015 Subaru Outback in February of 2015 and have driven nearly 90,000 km in the past three years with trips from Queensland to VIC, another trip to SA, and this year a trip to WA. We have the 2.5i which is not overpowered, but we have no trouble keeping up with traffic or in hilly terrain. We carry a cargo box on top of the car for long trips and the stock rails work perfectly.
While not a true off roader we have taken the Outback on some pretty ordinary dirt roads and have never had any trouble anywhere. It goes and goes...Read more
smoothly. I am not a super fan of the CVT, but it is OK and has not left me down. Seating is adequate in front and the back seat is spacious with a great deal of legroom. The dual climate control in front and air in the back keeps everyone comfortable. The rest of the interior looks quite nice. The steering wheel has a good feel and with important controls within reach, it is well designed. The infotainment system is adequate, but not spectacular and the speakers are a weak point. The Eyesight safety feature is top notch and I especially like the adaptive cruise control. The lane departure is OK I guess and I have never needed the crash avoidance, but the feature may be of benefit. The back seat will fold down nearly flat and holds a great deal if you are running to Bunnings, shopping for groceries, or even making a run to the tip. We put in the optional mat in the back to protect the interior from any damage from the many items we have carried.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
JOZ
- 6 reviews
unbelievable drive
the car is a smooth drive with minimal noise even on the highway. The internal space is huge with plenty of legroom. The look and the feel of the dashboard and interior looks luxurious.
The cost of fuel is a bit expensive - usually put in unleaded 958 (recommended minimum) and it does go through quite quickly
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BelmakovSydney
- 4 reviews
- 1 like
Great Family SUV
Ample Space, Rich Looks, Great Ride, fantastic road grip, can go on and on and on. Symmetrical 4WD is just awesome and you cannot question Subaru's eye to safety. The Eye sight and lane departure features are cool additions. Great sound system and excellent leather quality used for seats.
Now why 4 stars then - Dashboard looks quite basic, their inbuilt entertainment system is supposed to be playing video files as well but none of their technicians could make it work
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RudolphSydney
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
Great family car
Highly recommend this car, it's a pleasure to drive. Leather seats feel luxurious, with power seat adjustments. We took it to the snow and it was very comfortable and quiet, lots of power, plenty of room for skis on the roof, plenty of room for luggage and skit boots, and the front seats are heated. Did our research and you get a lot of premium features for the price.
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JaeMelbourne
- 4 reviews
- 6 likes
SUV? Wagon? This is OUTBACK a true Utility vehicle
I bought this car for my sister who needs car with a good driving position and a decent space at a reasonable price we initially wanted to buy Nissan dualis or Renault Koleos but ended up buying this beautiful car and we are so happy with our decision. This car is probably the most spacious in its segment and my first impression was like 'WOW' when I was sitting at the back it was so much more comfortable than other car in this category such as Tiguan, Dualis, Q5, Asx and Koleos
Infortaimemnt system would be a downfall for this car though com...Read more
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Davey's MumBrisbane
- 4 reviews
- 2 likes
- Outback 5GEN 2.0D Premium (2014-2020)
- Verified purchase
Best car - luxurious, efficient and very easy to drive - not happy with the Head Unit
I have the MY16 Outback 2.0D Premium and it is luxurious, comfortable to ride in (back seat as well) and so easy to drive. My favourite features are the assisted cruise, auto high beam, collision warning/prevention, blind spot indicator light, heated and electric seats with memory...the list goes on. I love all the storage, the roof racks and the seats fold up and down so easily with an auto lever conveniently located in the boot as well. It is a fuel efficient and problem free car - I've had no issues at all except for the navigation maps and ...Read more
Head Unit. The luxury in it is similar to what we've seen in our friend's new Mercedes Coupe, so in terms of value for money, you can't beat it. ****UPDATE JULY 2018****** Unable to mirror my Smartphone and GPS on the vehicle's Head Unit because Subaru de-licensed the program on it called "Mirrorlink" in Jan 2018. When asked at Subaru's Service Centre, the staff advised there is no fix or patch for this and there are no updates available for the vehicle's own navigational maps which are well out of date. I am really unhappy with this response as I believe since the vehicle is still under warranty, it should be capable of mirroring a smartphone. I will be escalating this with Subaru. Also, the servicing is really expensive. As follows: Scheduled Service Interval 2.5i, 2.5i Premium 3.6R Premium 2.0D Premium 'A' Service 6 months or 12,500kms $311.74 $343.45 $312.60 'B' ServiceSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Find out how Subaru Outback 5GEN compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
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Susan dB
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
- Outback 5GEN 2.0D Premium (2014-2020)
- Verified purchase
Clutch not designed for 'steep driveways'!! Not recommended as a family car.
We bought a Subaru Outback in 2015 to get our family to sport, band and holidays to see the grandparents. The clutch has had to be replaced twice in two years - the first time at 31000km, and now at 67000km. The dealer asked if we live on a steep driveway! Isn't this car supposed to be an all-terrain vehicle?
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Garry MAU
- Outback 5GEN 3.6R (2014-2020)
- Verified purchase
Great Car
This is my fourth Subaru over a 18yr period, two Foresters & now on my second Outback. I test drove a lot of different SUV’s & did a lot of research, thinking it may be time to move onto another brand.
I was able to eliminate all the diesel models partly for the interior noise levels & the other factor being the dpf (diesel partical filter problems) as I do a mix of short trips & long trips, short trips not being good for a diesel.
Our previous Outback 2013 model with 2.5 motor was a great car & after reading motoring reviews on the new mode...Read more
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Fantastic
Great to drive, plenty of room and comfort. .elegant easy to see and use dash and controls . doesn't look like a spaceship from another galaxy like many other SUV's. Expensive servicing, every 6months other makes are 12 months .excellent fuel economy 6.7 litres per 100km .this is my 3rd outback and first new one (2015) . an outback in 2000 cost around $40,000 today you pay less with all the Improvements and new tech . adaptive cruise control is wonderful, I can knit a jumper while driving up the coast (only joking)
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DesBallarat
- 2 reviews
Perfect family car without the bulk
Purchased new 2017 Subaru Outback premium 2.5. After many large bulky 4x4 this is a breath of fresh air, as smooth as a Lexus, lovely ride and handling .and so quiet..... Fuel efficient 8.5 lit/100 town running, no rattles beautiful solid build quality .
Massive leg room compared to, cx5 Mazda, jeep, Hyundai.
Most definately recommend,
1 comment
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LaneNorth West, QLD
- 6 reviews
- 5 likes
All the bells and whistles
A beautiful car to drive, smooth, easy and quiet. The cruise feature is excellent if not a little space age. The car drives and brakes itself. Lots of room inside front and back. I especially like the electric controls for adjusting the seat and I love the seat warmer excellent for a bad back. Average running costs, however services are expensive.
The only problem I've come across is now and again I can't gain access to my car. It is keyless using a hand print and it simple doesn't work, frustrating but eventually it gives in. A lovely car that I love but I wouldn't get a keyless car again.
Purchased in April 2021 at Suburu, tweed.
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Questions & Answers
Alanasked
The power and torque figures of 129kW and 235Nm under details are incorrect for the 3.6
No answers
Noel P.asked
I question the engine power and torque listed here for the 2.5 Lt petrol.
No answers
Rodasked
Anyone with problmens/noise when opeming power tail gate?
1 answer
Mine has been ok but only had the car one week. How has the steering been on yours? Mine wanders at highway speed. Taking it back to the dealer tomorrow
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Des
Whilst it was a very good car, I have since sold it .... CVT auto transmission just annoyed the crap out of me in the end .... No defined gears, found engine to be very underpowered.... Vague steering and no feel.... However very well built vehicle