Used 2020 Subaru Outback for Sale near Illinois

How much does the 2020 Subaru Outback cost?

Prices have softened 6.69% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,870 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Subaru Outback earns a 5/5 user rating and a 7.7/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, ample interior space, and strong safety features. The review summary also points to impressive power and a smooth ride, which fits the Outback’s role as a practical everyday vehicle with broad appeal. On the downside, the expert review calls out sluggish touchscreen response and an underwhelming base engine, so the experience is strongest if you value usefulness over flash.

For shoppers who want a spacious, capable, family-friendly vehicle with standard all-wheel drive, the Outback’s mix of utility and value makes sense. The market also shows 36.8% of listings as good or great deals, which supports the case for shopping carefully.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback emphasizes dependable everyday use, with praise for comfort, safety, and a trouble-free feel that helps the Outback fit long-term ownership. The expert review also highlights Subaru’s standard all-wheel drive and notes that the tuned CVT behaves more like a traditional automatic, which supports a more settled driving experience. The cost-effectiveness review adds that the model offers a lot of car for the money, including an appealing mix of capability and value.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about the core concept and more about condition, maintenance history, and whether the tech features still work as intended.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Subaru Outback?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the vehicle history report carefully and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example. Focus on overall condition, how the touchscreen and driver-assist features operate, and whether the vehicle has been maintained consistently. If you want the best ownership experience, pay close attention to trim content and make sure the equipment you care about is actually present.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base 2.5i trim gets dual 7-inch screens instead of the 11.6-inch touchscreen, and it can feel spartan compared with higher trims. It includes LED headlights, keyless entry, automatic climate control, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a strong standard safety set, but some convenience and luxury features arrive only as you move up.
• Powertrain: The standard 2.5-liter engine makes 182 horsepower and is tuned for efficiency and everyday use, while XT trims add a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque. The turbo setup is the better fit if you want stronger passing power, towing confidence, or more relaxed highway performance.
• Safety package: Subaru’s standard safety suite includes wiper-linked automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep alert and assist. Blind-spot monitoring is not standard on the Premium trim, and some features such as reverse auto braking and DriverFocus are reserved for higher trims or options.
• Infotainment: Higher trims get an 11.6-inch touchscreen, while the base trim uses dual 7-inch screens. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included, but the system is known for lag, and the camera resolution is not especially crisp.
• Fuel efficiency: The base engine returns 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, and the turbocharged engine is described as the stronger choice for performance rather than efficiency.

Which 2020 Subaru Outback trim should I buy?

The 2020 Subaru Outback is offered in 7 trim levels: 2.5i, Premium, Limited, Touring, Touring XT, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, and Touring XT.

Here's the short version:

• 2.5i: This is the value play if you want the Outback’s standard all-wheel drive, core safety features, and everyday usefulness at the lowest entry point. It’s the best fit if you can live with the simpler dual-screen setup and fewer comfort upgrades.
• Premium: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds the 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. It’s the trim to target if you want the Outback to feel meaningfully more modern without jumping too far in price.
• Limited: Choose this if you want a more upscale daily driver, since it adds leather upholstery, an upgraded stereo, a memory system for the driver, reverse auto braking, and standard blind-spot monitoring plus a power liftgate. It suits buyers who want more convenience and a richer cabin.
• Touring: This is the comfort-focused choice, with upgraded leather, ventilated front seats, and a sunroof. It makes sense if you want the most relaxed, near-luxury feel in the standard lineup.
• Onyx Edition XT: This is the standout if you want the turbo engine and the most off-road-capable version mentioned here. It adds heated rear seats, a front-view camera, hill-descent control, and a more aggressive X-Mode setup, making it the most adventurous pick.
• Limited XT: This is for shoppers who want the Limited’s upscale equipment plus the turbo engine. It’s a strong choice if you want more power without giving up the comfort and convenience features.
• Touring XT: This is the top comfort-and-power combination, pairing the turbo engine with the Touring trim’s upgraded cabin features. It’s the right pick if you want the most premium Outback experience described here.

The safety package is strong even on the base trim, but blind-spot monitoring is not standard until you move up, so that’s worth factoring into your decision.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Subaru Outback?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 36.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,870 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.69% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 75.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,234, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Subaru Outback's resale value?

The current average of $20,234 sits slightly below last year's $21,686.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled enough to help buyers now, but it also means future sellers may need to price competitively to stand out. The current range still leaves room for well-kept examples to hold value better than rougher ones, especially if they have desirable equipment and clean history. Strong demand for practical, safety-minded vehicles should help support resale, but condition and trim content will matter a lot when you eventually sell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback safe?

The 2020 Subaru Outback earns Good ratings from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA.

It earns an 8/10 safety score from our experts.

The standard safety suite includes adaptive cruise control with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep alert and assist, and wiper-linked automatic headlights. Subaru’s EyeSight system is standard, but the expert review notes that it can be sensitive to weather and lighting conditions, and DriverFocus is described as a disappointment because it can be overly intrusive. Blind-spot monitoring is not standard on the Premium trim, so you may need to move up or add options if you want that feature.

Should I buy a 2020 Subaru Outback or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 36.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 75.7% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 6.69% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 brings a major redesign with a larger touchscreen and updated safety tech.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $21,538, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $20,234 average.
• It emphasizes reliability, low cost, and high resale even more directly.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2020 is the smarter starting point because pricing has eased and inventory is healthy. If you’re willing to spend more for a newer model year, the 2021 may appeal if you want the same basic formula with a slightly more refined ownership pitch.

How does the 2020 Subaru Outback compare to the 2020 Toyota RAV4?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2020 Subaru Outback:

• Pros: Standard all-wheel drive, Excellent value for money, Spacious.
• Cons: Sluggish touchscreen response, Underwhelming base engine.

2020 Toyota RAV4:

• Pros: Easy-to-use technology, Comfortable, Standard advanced safety features.
• Cons: Poor fuel economy.

Our experts score the 2020 Subaru Outback 7.7/10 and the 2020 Toyota RAV4 8.7/10. The Outback stands out for standard all-wheel drive, value, and space, while the RAV4 gets the edge for easier technology and a stronger overall expert score. If you care most about comfort and standard advanced safety features, the RAV4 looks stronger on paper; if you want all-weather confidence and a roomier feel, the Outback remains compelling.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.