Used Subaru Outback 2015- present review

If you fancy a rugged, good value, off-road car with a huge dollop of practicality and an exceptional build quality, but you don’t want to buy into the whole SUV experience, then you need to take a look at a used Subaru Outback.

It is, in effect, a jacked-up version of an ordinary four-wheel drive estate car with some limited off-road capabilities. It’s a class that’s grown in popularity over the last few years, so much so that there’s now a whole host of similar cars available to the used buyer, from the VW Golf Alltrack and Skoda Octavia Scout right up to the more premium Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain and Volvo V90 Cross Country.

For all that, the Outback doesn’t offer you much in the way of choice: there have been just two engine options and only the one trim currently on sale. You can seek out either a 2.0-litre diesel or a 2.5-litre petrol engine, and as far as trim goes it’s mostly just SE Premium, though at the Outback's launch there was briefly the option of an SE trim, too, although this was soon dropped. The diesel is the slightly better performer and the more economical, but it can be unrefined higher up the rev range, a factor made more problematical by the optional CVT auto gearbox, which can keep the revs high when pressing on. The petrol car is actually automatic only, but it is generally the quieter of the two options. Both cars drive pretty well, in fact, but the ride is disappointing, rather spoiling the Outback’s otherwise high comfort levels.

Inside is a functional, handsomely kitted out and well-screwed together interior, with loads of space and a big boot, too. Safety and security equipment is all top-notch, too, as is Subaru’s placing in most reliability and customer satisfaction surveys.

New, the Subaru Outback is broadly competitive with its premium rivals from Audi, BMW and Volvo on price, but noticeably pricier than the competition from Skoda and Volkswagen. On the second-hand market this translates, along with the car’s reasonable residual values, to some fairly strong used prices. The good news is there are a few to choose from, and there are still good buys to be had. Around £20,000 kicks off the newer shape Outback, that being what you’ll need for a 2015 car with an average mileage, while upping the cash to £22,000 to £25,000 buys you a low mileage 2016 car.

Of more of a problem might be the running costs. Neither the petrol or the diesel are particularly economical, with correspondingly high CO2 emissions figures, so cars registered before April 2017 are likely to attract a high VED annual tax rate. The diesel version with a manual gearbox is the best bet there, with reasonable emissions of 145g/km. Parts are expensive, too, though so far it seems the Outback continues Subaru’s usual solid record for reliability, with few reported problems.

As far as servicing goes, Outbacks need one every 12 months or 9000 miles, and it could potentially be pricey, as could getting to your nearest potentially far-flung Subaru dealer. Subaru doesn’t at the time of writing offer a fixed price servicing plan.

The Outback is a nice car to drive, with good steering and decent handling. It’s four-wheel drive, so there’s plenty of traction, though the ride can be unsettled and the refinement an issue. You don’t get a great choice of engines, though, in fact there are just two - a 2.0-litre diesel and a 2.5-litre petrol. The diesel feels quite strong at low revs, although it gets a bit coarse at higher revs. The petrol option is quieter, but it feels much slower, and it’s not as economical, so bearing in mind the sort of use the Outback will probably get we’d pick the diesel.

There is currently only one trim level on sale: SE Premium. It’s well equipped, though, with climate and cruise control, sat-nav, LED headlights, a rearview camera, heated leather seats and a powered tailgate. A lesser-equipped SE trim was briefly on sale from the Outback's launch, but was dropped soon after due to poor sales.

Our favourite Subaru Outback: 2.0d SE Premium

There are now many alternatives to the Outback, depending on how much you want to pay.

The Audi A6 Allroad is essentially a raised version of the popular but ageing A6 Avant. It’s a quick and well-made car that feels a little bulky to drive, with its high new and used prices perhaps the only real deterrent to buying one.

The Skoda Octavia Scout is a positive bargain in this class, especially as it’s been on sale for a few years now and there are plenty on the used car market. It is, as you’ve guessed, a jacked-up version of the regular Octavia Estate, an all-rounder of supreme ability and an excellent car for families. If it loses a little in on-road driving behaviour as a result of its increase in height it does at least make up for that with some extra go-anywhere ability.

Also look at the VW Golf Alltrack and the VW Passat Alltrack, two beefed-up cars that, despite being pricey, are worth serious consideration for their classy build and practicality alone. If you have more to spend you might consider two more: the competent Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain is great, but too new to be freely available on the used car market at the time of writing, as is the impressive Volvo V90 Cross Country, and both are pricey options when stacked up against the Outback.

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