How much does the 2020 Subaru Outback cost?

Prices have softened 7.84% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,688 listings available, which gives you a solid pool of options to compare.

If you find a listing below $20,705.23, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Subaru Outback earns a 4.95/5 user rating and a 7.67/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Cost effectiveness at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, ample interior space, and smooth ride, and they also highlight its excellent safety features and strong sense of value. The expert review also points to its utility, all-wheel-drive capability, and broad everyday usefulness. On the trade-off side, the base engine can feel underpowered, and the touchscreen can be sluggish.

For you, that means this is a strong fit if you want a practical family vehicle or an adventure-ready daily driver with a roomy cabin and all-weather confidence. The market also shows 32.7% good or great deals, which suggests there are still worthwhile opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback reliable?

Owners rate it 4.95/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback points to a vehicle that feels safe, comfortable, and dependable over time, with many drivers describing it as a car they trust for everyday use. The expert review also emphasizes Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system and the brand’s focus on safety engineering, which supports the impression of a vehicle built for steady, trouble-free ownership.

The expert review also notes that Subaru’s standard safety system is impressive for the price, and the all-wheel-drive setup is designed to keep you moving in poor conditions. If you’re buying used, the main long-term ownership risk is making sure the electronics and driver-assist systems work properly, since those are the areas most likely to frustrate you later.

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

Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free listings are common but not guaranteed. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the infotainment system, driver-assist features, and overall cabin condition, since those are the areas most likely to affect your day-to-day experience. It also makes sense to test the vehicle in real driving conditions so you can judge power delivery, ride quality, and how the controls feel in practice.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base 2.5i trim is more spartan than the higher trims, with dual 7-inch screens instead of the larger central display and fewer comfort features. Higher trims add features like heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather upholstery, and ventilated front seats.
• Powertrain: The base 2.5-liter engine makes 182 horsepower and returns 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. XT trims use a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine with 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque, which is the better choice if you want stronger passing power or towing confidence.
• Safety package: Subaru’s EyeSight suite is standard and includes 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.
• Infotainment: Most 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 can be slow to respond.
• Fuel efficiency: The base engine returns 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway, and the turbocharged engine is the stronger performance choice if efficiency is less important than power.

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:

• Base trim: The 2.5i gives you the essentials, but it feels stripped down compared with the rest of the lineup. You get the smaller dual-screen setup and fewer comfort upgrades, even though Subaru still includes a strong standard safety suite.
• Sweet-spot trim: Premium is the best value for many shoppers because it adds the 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.
• Premium/top trim: Touring is the most upscale non-XT choice, with upgraded leather, ventilated front seats, and a sunroof.
• Off-road trim: The Onyx Edition XT is the one to watch if you want the most capability, since it adds the turbo engine, hill-descent control, and a more aggressive X-Mode setup.

Subaru’s standard safety suite is a major plus across the lineup, but blind-spot monitoring is not standard on the Premium trim.

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

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without feeling rushed.

• Deal availability: 32.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,688 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.84% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 78.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $20,705.23, 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 $21,243 sits slightly below last year's $23,051.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled, which can be good news if you’re buying now but less favorable if you’re planning to sell soon. A softer market usually means future sellers may need to price more competitively to stand out. Even so, the Outback’s strong owner satisfaction and broad appeal should help support demand over time.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.95/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Subaru Outback safe?

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 also includes its EyeSight system standard, which is a major plus for shoppers who want driver assistance without moving up the trim ladder.

There is one important caveat: the expert review says EyeSight can be inconsistent when its view is obstructed, and DriverFocus is described as frustrating in daily use. That means you should test the driver-assist systems carefully on any used example you’re considering.

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:

• 32.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 78.6% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 7.84% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.95/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Subaru added a larger touchscreen and DriverFocus for this year.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $22,788, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $21,243 average.
• It adds more cargo space and keeps the same rugged, practical formula.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2020 is the smarter buy because prices have eased and inventory is healthy. If you’re willing to spend more for a newer model year, the 2021 is the cleaner alternative, but the 2020 already gives you the core Outback strengths at a lower average price.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from July 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.