I had to buy a washing machine the other day, you should have seen the looks I got when I put it in the back of my outback still in the box!

Your mogul test is the best way of testing the AWD/4WD system in vehicles. It's amazing how many cars that aspire to being used off-road fail this test and it's even more amazing how few reviewers are actually touching on this subject. Good job!

Thanks for your ACTUAL testing of the AWD system. I watch for the mogul test!

I test drove this car and it was like a huge boat compared to my 2007 outback. They made it larger to keep up with crossover SUVs and ruined it in the process. I'll be buying a VW alltrack over this.

After buying my 2014 XV Crosstrek which had paint and interior cheapness issues I said no more Subaru's, but ta-da I bought another. On the 9th of September my XV was totaled while waiting at a red light. My first Subaru was an entry level Outback with a head gasket issue. I drove that car for over 10 years checking the radiator level monthly. I liked the go anywhere aspect of the car, but one day my wife smelled anti freeze while in the passenger seat and that car had to go. I used the Crosstrek like a my old Outback for everything, towing, sleeping, traveling, and it was flawless. I had no issues with the 2 liter motor, and it handled our forest roads well. The only option I wish I had was the rear-end force field! Now nearly 2 weeks into the 2017 Subaru Outback Touring I say " What took you so long?". I got the Lapis Blue/Saddle interior version with the 2.5 liter motor for $34,225. I tried the 3.6 liter motor, but it didn't have the navigation system and was more money at the dealers. If I wanted a special order it would have been MSRP'd over $40,000 according to the salesperson, so I bought the best off the lot. I don't know what adventures the future has in store for this vehicle, but I do know that sometimes late at night I sneak into the garage and spend time going over the features of this fantastic automobile!

I just leased the 2017 2.5 Premium for my wife and she loves it.

I used to be a Chevy and Ford man. 8 1/2 years ago, my wife and I got a 2010 Outback. WOW! Since then, I've had a 2012 Outback of my own, and now have this '17 Outback in Touring. My wife's 2010 broke in at 158 mph, the 2012 at 128 mph, and my '17 at 138 mph. All H4 Boxers w/ the CVT. Love 'em.

I love the Outback. I wanted one very much. I still do. For that Billy Goat go anywhere, and Snow climes and more. Subaru owns it. In the infotainment, they are getting better. The GPS is outright not so hot. But I got a smartphone, so, so what??!! I have owned Subarus in the past. A WRX and a Legacy GT. Never has either stranded me, or made me feel not confident. I drove that Legacy GT with just only so so All Season tires and was getting around just fine where so called AWD SUVs were getting stuck. What the heck? So yes, the Outback and the Forester are my iconic Subarus now. The BRZ, is not even in the same game here. The Crosstrek is a great one too. Nice review Sam.

Thanks for your review Sam. This was one of the 2 reviews I saw about the Outback that most helped me to know what the car was about. Cheers and greetings from the other side of the border of the Sonoran desert.

You can use paddle shifters too without putting shift lever into manual mode. I find the down shifting useful for engine braking. It goes back to regular mode autonomously.

Excellent review, not bogged down by too much detail on the Infotainment features,etc. I have a 2014 2.5i that I bought in 2014 with 15,000 miles on the odo... (now at 168,000); it has been amazing both on and off road. I came down off a mountain in Arkansas in January of 2017 and the roads were 6 inches of snow with ice underneath; I was the only vehicle on the road... going 45 MPH, and under control. It really is the best vehicle I've ever owned! (I'm 65 and been driving many different vehicles for 50 years). Looking at a 2017 with 54,000 just to upgrade a little bit.

Buying a used Outback 2.5 Limited. This was very informative and reinforces my decision. Thanks for the help.

Just got my 1st 2017 outback base and I'm already in love with this Subaru!!!

Hey Sam, I am going through the process of choosing the right vehicle, and always loving Subaru, your really great in your review, your very professional and personal with the honesty you have great job..... thanks

I like this vehicle a lot. Don't know why people knock its looks. I like it. But would still choose the 6 over the 4.

Great detailed review. I just bought this car and I'm also quite smitten.

Electronic mother-in-law.....I love it, and I subscribed!

Good review. This is the car I would like to get in this next year

Nice review, well spoken, good content - thanks!

Just bought the 2017 Subaru and love it! I can tell it will be a solid fun car🤩

Sam, Just got the Legacy 2017 limited ..... 4 wheel, 'all the time' was why I chose it over the CRV, CRX, Rav4 Hybrid and Kia Sportage ... Their 4 wheel drive systems only kick in when there is wheel slippage. Decided to keep my Kia Soul to haul stuff around town and the Legacy for H'way driving. Great reviews !!! Matt

Very impressed by this vehicle. Trying to decide between it and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. After this review the scale is tipping towards the Outback!

love the subarus commitment to keen driving and capable awd.

Really wish they would bring the diesel outback to the states.

Just bought a 2017 Outback 2.5L yesterday. It's great! Thanks for a really well done and comprehensive review. It makes me feel satisfied that we chose this vehicle. I'm sure we won't regret our purchase.

I like this guy. And I like this car!!! The mogul test IS what I needed to see. My concern was traction and having the tires that needed to spin, spin. I live in Maine, so I can go from dry roads one day, to black ice up hill, with no salt or sand the next. I NEED my tires to turn. This car will apply traction to the road when other foolish AWD systems will not. And comfort? Excellent, I went and test drove the car after watching this (and made a deposit ;D). I am 6'2 and actually adjusted the seat fore ward when I got in. The seats adjust well, and there are so many convenience factors that are standard. Look at the oil filter placement under the hood, never have I owned a vehicle with such an owner friendly maintenance design. 5 years down the road when the dealership stops doing things for free, I can do them all on my own. Oil, filters, fluids, open engine and able to be cleaned without wondering what you're spraying down. And the 8.7 inches of clearance is just enough for me to spray the bottom of my car with fluid film so it wont rust over the years. SO what if the 4 cylinder doesn't throw you into your seat, you would be impressed with what it does do when you need it. And if gas goes back up to $4.00/gallon, you will be glad your wagon gets 30 mpg. Drive it gingerly and it will. Its SAFE, incredibly reliable, surprisingly capable, very comfortable and SUPER affordable. Its the smart choice for every reason, and if people jab you about having a Subaru wagon, let them take it for a drive. This is a luxury car. The luxury of impeccable reliability, outstanding ability to drive wherever you want to go, user friendly convienience inside and outside of the car and the smile you ALWAYS get starting up the engine before you go wherever it is you're going. It changed my mind quickly and now I am thankful that this is the decision I am making.

My 2017 Outback is a wonderful car for me. This was a right on review. The 4 is more than enough for my needs.

Last year in 2020 I got myself the mid cycle refreshed 2018 Subaru Outback Premium with all the bells and whistles that you could get on that trim, like the complete eyesight safety features, power sunroof and power auto rear gate, 8 inch infotainment screen with factory navigation and apple CarPlay and android auto, also got the interior lights upgraded to full LEDs from Subaru complete with Subaru LED puddle lights on the outside mirrors which are also heated and auto dimming with LED turn signal Indicators.....all for $20k......I couldn't be happier with my 1st Subaru ever!!!

Great review Sam. I have subscribed. Good vehicles - I'm biased - I've bought six:)

Great review. I just bought a brand new green one in Touring grade. In terms of roadability this car sure does GRAB! I have not tried the "mogul test" yet but it looks like fun. I do think it's more of an AWD station wagon than a SUV, but who cares what you call it.

great review Sammy!

Really enjoy your review in this MV :-) :Like your voice too :-)

Hey GREAT review. Thanks!

I have a 2017 with 18k on it, and I've never been happier with a car, and I've owned over 20 really fine cars. Yes, if it came with a 6 speed manual and the turbo diesel that you can get everywhere BUT the US, I'd be over the moon, but... The car is just rock solid - never a single rattle, amazing in all weather situations, super comfortable and great on gas. A buddy of mine with a Lexus RX 350 drove it and said that it drove and rode better than his Lexus at HALF the price and 5 more MPG overall. Good work Subaru! oh BTW for 2018 they've added Apple Car Play, etc...

I like the outback. I got a 6 cylinder 2016 and I can say so far it's my favorite vehicle out of the ones I had in the past. The four cylinders I hear about oil usage, I haven't noticed in 20,000 any oil usage

Got this and find it Very comfortable to drive. The seats are great! Love the mileage as well. Five star for me.

Have a 2010 3.6 R , drove on similar roads east of Prescott on vacation had no probs washboard at 45 mph xlnt presentation Sam.

I really love your reaction here :-) Love your voice too :-)

Thanks so much for the great information!

Please do the 2018! I find your reviews very helpful.

I test drove this as well as the new Forester. I just found the ride on the Outback too firm. I enjoyed the more nimble, flexible feel of the Forester. Outback definitely has some better creature comforts though, like rear heated seats.

Great review pal

Glad to see Sam put the Outback on his "I'd Buy It" list. Good to hear that Subaru made it possible to 100% turn off the driver assist systems. The driver owner should have the ultimate say if it is on or off. Outback is one of my favorites SUVs. I am considering the Outback Limited vs VW Tiguan S, another SUV Sam liked but did not put on his "I'd Buy It" list. I know the Tiguan and the Outback do not seem like likely cross shopped competitors, but it's a matter of checked boxes for me that many of the competition do not have. Boxes checked on both? Comfortable driver's seats, both have quality interiors with soft-touch dash and window sills, both have good soft usable center armrests, good entertainment systems, quality switch gear, push button start. The Outback obviously has the big cargo room advantage. The Tiguan has a big fun factor advantage. Of course the Outback costs about $5,000 more than the Tiguan for the Premium and $9,000 more for for the 2.5 Limited. The competition in the $25,000 to $35,000 price range (Forester, CRV, RAV4, Sportage, CX-5 all have some deal breaker issue of one kind or another that took them off my list. Go figure.

Keep up the great work.

Great review.

Nice review thinking of trading in 14 Toyota 4Runner for this outback limited. Better MPG big time!

very good review!

I had a 2010 Outback with the H6 engine. Whenever they switched to the use of regular unleaded for the H6. And here in the mountains of the Pacific NW. It got well over the rated HWY fuel economy. I suspected it was due to the bigger H6 engine not having to work as hard to move that vehicle. It was a nice surprise to say the least.

Thanks for a great review of the interior, exterior, and test drive! My most recent Consumer Reports magazine said that due to multiple problems with the Outback it has now dropped into the 'average' reliability category. They did not specify what problems, have any idea as to what they are referring to?

i like it when you mention the disadvantages of the car honestly , Sorry my English isn't that good I wish you got my point ...

Does it really give 28 mpg combined? I have 2017 outback as well and i bought it in august. With the a/c off it shows 22-23 at display panel and i dont rev up.

amazing test drive W8 for 2018 version ;)

outback went from humble beginnings to near GMC sized SUVs.

Great review - love my Outback! Also love those shorts ;)

Awesome review, man. Would you happen to know the wading depth of the Outback?

It's looks great in that color!

The steering responsive fog lamps don't turn. It activates the lamp on the inside of the turn direction if the fog lamps are not already turned on.

Could you elaborate on the braking? What made it just four stars? What are its shortcomings?

If towing some light weight like 2 dirt bikes , would you choose the 4 or 6 cylinder?

I hope subaru starts offering heated rear seats in the forester too.

Drove this today and the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. The Subaru Outback blows the Alltrack away with space. The Alltrack was nice and stiff and had really nice torch in low gear. You can feel the CVT engine lags a bit with the 2.5. I'm buying a 2017 Outback next week. Trying to decide colors.

If the outback was this nice back in 2011 I would have bought one.

Excellent review! What are your thoughts on the longevity/reliability of the CVT transmission? I have a 2005 Pilot with 213,000 miles that I just gave to my son. Can I expect the same longevity from this bad boy? Thanks Semper Fi

As much as I like the redesigned Outback, a couple of test drives revealed the following. Steering wheel covers the upper gauges. Initially did not realize the car was equipped with a gas mileage gauge. Completely covered by the steering wheel. Spongy brakes. Brakes felt spongy. At a stop with the trans in park, I could push the brake pedal nearly to the floor. Wind noise from left side mirror. Shame that was not noticed during testing after the redesign. Unable to move the mirrors outward enough to cover the blind spot. I always felt the engine is underpowered. Felt that way with the previous generation, still feel that way about the new generation. Hate the head rests. Same is true with most of the headrests in cars. Why oh why must the head rests be canted forward? Back of our heads are not shaped that way. So many, many good features, so many pointless features that I do not want nor need. I will just keep looking. Shame, has one of the most comfortable seats, headrest aside.

how do you get all these cars

Sam, what's the 11 for at the end of the video?

Just got one for 19k, not a bad deal when it was over 30k 3 years ago.

So what do you think about 2017 allroad?

How much is consumption in 100 km in diesel and in normal essence ??? Thank you

I've always liked the Outback, but it's overkill for my needs here in an urban environment in Florida. I'd much rather have a Legacy wagon with FWD. Would also make it more affordable. Subarus sell really well in the northeast because of the AWD, but Subarus are really weak sellers in the southeastern US. We don't want or have to pay for AWD. Sad because I love Subarus.

how is the Outback compared to the CX9?

A step-up from my OBS;)

do a alltrack and outback comparo

whats your opinion on the outback vs the crosstrek? I like how the outback has the air conditioning air vents for the back seats as well. Is the outback from the 80's. I had a subaru wagon I think it was a 84 and I am wondering if this became the outback. Also, the outback looks a little longer than the crosstrek I live in Phoenix by the way.

Awesome!

It seems as though you did the test drive near the Superstition mountains, maybe Gold Canyon area. I am thinking of buying this exact car and I want to go on to some of our Arizona 'primitive roads' as they are lovingly called. How do you feel this car will do on the road that goes to the Peralta Trail, for example? It is rocky in some spots and as you know it is dirt the whole way. I am a photographer and I would like to get off the road too in some of the side areas that are legal. There is usually a dirt wall or curb to get off the road and so it is a barrier for most cars. How do you feel about the car navigating that? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

After watching your review of the 2018 crosstrek, and how you gave the chassis a bad grade, it's surprising that the older outback scored better on the dirt road.

Excellent review as always Sam! Couple of things missing, Apple Carplay / Android Auto, panoramic sunroof, and a auto hold for the red lights in the city. The dash as nice as it is, feels a bit dated. They went conservatively on that design in my opinion and needs to be more daring. See Mazda CX5 to understand what I mean.

i want one now

Forget the CVT for a minute, there is a LOT of tech going on here.... too much ?

My car has a manual mode no paddle shifter but I’ve never once used it only accidentally went into it on accident

Strange to say but they'll ship these up to Canada with a manual transmission instead of the CVT.

Im about to buy this car but what confuses me is on the one im looking at it says it goes up to 240 horsepower but it only has 1 exhaust pipe.. i read that if it was the bigger engine it would have 2 pipes so im confused. I cant tell if its the 2.5 or not, anyone know whether it is?

I'd be terrified to do the mogul test. I always think the vehicle is going to tip over every time I see the one tire in the hole.

Does anyone know why the tow ratings are always so low on Subarus?

Any chance for a Forester test? With a stick?

This is a how to video... "How to describe a bland, very boring family wagon" lol I just discovered this channel today and you seem pretty level headed. However from the videos I've seen, I can tell when you are excited and I didn't get that from this one lol. Anyways I wanted to comment on some of the videos but was unsure if you actually see them or not. On the comment bashing videos you mentioned drum brakes on a Toyota and lower quality, several times, on Ford. It's absulutely hysterical to me how many people get butt hurt over it. From a mechanics perspective both Toyota and Ford have shady quality. It comes down to quality vs quantity and if the manufacturer actually gives a crap about their consumers or not. Ford and Toyota just don't. Toyota used a caliper in a 2008? Tacoma which was the exact same pin rusting, piston freezing design they used in 1980. I have seen several Fords eco-poop trucks under 75k miles with timing chain slap and turbo failure. Says a lot about Ford especially when the truck is only 3 years old... If you actually read this, thanks lol it was kind of long I know, but I'm impressed by your videos and so I took the time to write a little bit about what I thought. Looking forward to your next video, oh yeah and I subscribed as well...

4:25 look at the fit and finish under the drivers side air vent. The colors of the plastic don't even match. I don't mind the Outback but Subaru needs to work on their interiors still.

Sam, what would you get? Outback or 4Runner?

What about when it's got 4 passengers and full on luggage? uphill and accelerating?

If you are trusting the MPG computer for your 29mpg, don't. It's off by about 4-6%. Your pump calculated MPG would be closer to 26-27MPG.

coooool

I'm guessing 4 or 5 people and loaded with cargo it's way under powered?

Don't all of the limited models have low-profile roof racks?

The eyesight option is quite expensive. If your looking for the car with that feature, default on makes sense. Why would you buy a feature you're just going to leave switched off

Subaru did not listen to you. They did market research in Indiana that made them allow toggle of the lane departure assist.

What have Subaru done with the new Outback to solve the head gasket problem ?

Does it have Apple CarPlay?

Like the review, Heights like an SUV but drives like a car. I think Subaru made a good design on how a modern day wagon should be like. Make the forest a CUV and Tribica an SUV. Even with the 2.5 SOHC engine is ok if you live in the city. What's lacking is a 2.5 DOHC and Turbo as two separate option. I'm just wondering how 2.5 DOHC would be like without a turbo? like the old legacy. - I just realized, Audi allroad had it first I think but that's with adjustable height suspension. I hope Subaru is going to market it as a wagon not a CUV though. It already made its name for their capable AWD system and reliability that is not too shabby. So trying to say it's an SUV or CUV just to allure buyers as a gimmick is not necessary. But if you said it's a wagon with CUV height and capability... I would buy more into that. The only thing I don't like from it's design is the fender. It collects snow and mud like crazy and can't get rid of it as fast as the others cars because fenders is too close to the wheels at the lowest point, and snow get accumulated fast.

This car is safe, squishy and boring, but with all weather benefits; something reminiscent of an AWD 4-cylinder Toyota Camry. The wow factor is real with this one.