What is the Best Subaru Outback Year?

With so many generations to choose from, what is the best Subaru Outback year for the modern adventurer? And which model years can we rely on the most?
Written by Elaine Duvet
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
We all know and love the
Subaru
Outback for its many quirks and standard all-wheel drive.
Owners range from avid outdoorsmen to epic family vacationers to as simple as the daily driver living their best life in a reliable crossover.  
Jerry
, the
car ownership super app
, checks out the best Subaru Outback years, and which model year to avoid.

The golden year generation

If you want a rugged vehicle, the 1994-1999 generation may be the best Subaru Outback years for you. According to
Four Wheel Trends
, “Standard all-wheel drive was still pretty rare back then, and it is to this day. The base engine delivered plenty of power, and the seats were downright cozy.” 
You may even be able to find one for $3,000 or less. Did you know the Outback was first introduced as a trim levelon the Legacy? It wasn’t until 1996 that the Outback debuted as its own model. It’s also when the 7.5-inch raised suspension was introduced.
This generation featured a 2.2-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with 135 hp. If buyers wanted a bit more power, they could opt for the 155-hp dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) 2.5-liter engine. Four-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions were available to consumers. 
With a 2,000-pound towing capability, these models had an excellent EPA of 18.5 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. 
The 1994 Subaru Outback is rated one of the best Subaru Outback years, “with independent suspension, a hydraulic amplifier, and a disc drive braking system, the car can easily push out 125 horsepower, all with a solid fuel economy,”
WVDOT
tells us. 
And if you’re one for heated seats and lumbar support (yes, please!) the 1996 Subaru Outback is calling your name. Its all-wheel-drive will also help you clear through the snow when your Jeep fails you. 
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Where performance meets utility

The third generation, 2005-2009, added the XT turbo engine as well as an updated interior. “Having been borrowed from the Subaru WRX STI, this engine delivered 100 hp more than the base engine,” according to FourWheel Trends. With 250 hp, the 2.5-liter engine sure did deliver. 
Its appearance received an update as well. With a more aggressive front bumper and beefier fog lamp housings, owners could only get the XT version in a five-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, since the HVAC and audio controls were built into one unified faceplate, it’s pretty impossible to integrate your smartphone or add Bluetooth access. 
The third generation also offers a panoramic sunroof, the last generation to do so. It’s fuel-efficient and has enough safety features that owners can feel good about. And of course, who doesn’t love a standard all-wheel drive. 
Specifically, the 2005 Subaru Outback is one of the best Subaru Outback years because it requires little maintenance and can last well over a decade. While the 2006 model was a bit of a dud, the 2007 Subaru Outback was ready for action. 
According to WVDOT, the vehicle featured “fewer overall problems and continued to provide the same, useful features and comforts such as the additional ground clearance, AWD and automatic transmission and a comfortable interior.”
MORE: The Best Affordable New Car is a Subaru

The 2013 Subaru Outback—just say no

So Subaru had a bad year…a very bad year. “A 2014 class-action lawsuit was filed against Subaru because there had been problems with defective piston rings put into various Subaru vehicles since 2011,” according to Four Wheel Trends. 
This caused the Subarus to burn an excessive amount of oil and some cases even led to total engine failure. The specific model from the lawsuit was the 2013 Subaru Outback with the 2.5-liter engine. 
On
CarComplaints.com
, the highest number of engine complaints involved the same 2013 model year. Reports include drivers’ engines blowing at 78,000 miles or the engine giving out when driving fast on the highway. Though you can find one for $5,000 to $18,000, it’s likely to be a big waste of your hard-earned cash. 
Other model years to avoid include 2015, 2017, 2018, 2014, 2016, 2011, and 2010.
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