Subaru has always innovated: It was the first automaker to put all-wheel drive (AWD) in its entire vehicle lineup, for example. And in 1995, Subaru seemed to be the first automaker to offer what we now know as a crossover SUV. The Subaru Outback debuted in 1995 as a trim of the Legacy, and it came as a wagon only. With demand for SUV height, rough-road travel-readiness, and sportiness rising amid a growing stigma attached to station wagons, Subaru introduced the Outback as a way to help reinvigorate Legacy sales

The Outback is a mid-size, five-passenger crossover sitting below the larger Ascent, which has seating for eight, and above the compact crossover Forester. Over the years, the vehicle has been seen in both sedan and wagon form and with four- and six-cylinder boxer engines. However, Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive technology has remained consistent over the years.

Today, the Outback remains a top seller for Subaru, and it’s gained many refinements and interior conveniences over the years, including heated leather seats, six airbags, a 60/40 split rear seat that folds flat, and automatic climate control. Trim offerings today include the 2.5i (now hitting 175 horsepower), the turbo 2.5XT at 250 hp, and the 3.0R (also making 250 hp), still only available in the L.L. Bean and VDC models. The Outback continues to garner praise for its quiet and smooth performance, its powerful turbo engine, and its all-wheel drive. Backseat legroom, however, is cramped for a five-person wagon.

CarGurus has reviewed the latest generation of the Subaru Outback, giving it a 7.7 in 2020, a 7.8 in 2021 and a 7.5 in 2022.

Generations: Six

• Subaru Outback 1st Generation
• Subaru Outback 2nd Generation
• Subaru Outback 3rd Generation
• Subaru Outback 5th Generation
• Subaru Outback 6th Generation
• Subaru Outback 7th Generation

Pros: Great all-wheel drive system, smooth ride, tough exterior
Cons: Infotainment can be laggy (current generation), poor camera resolution (current generation), polarizing looks

Subaru Outback 6th generation (2020-present)

The most recent Outback earned good marks for space and utility, but some may find the touchscreen to be slow to respond. For its sixth generation, the Outback was offered in seven trim levels: 2.5i, Premium, Limited, Touring, Onyx Edition XT, Limited XT, and Touring XT. The car was powered by a revamped 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, but higher trims got the 2.4-liter turbocharged mill with 260 ponies and 277 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is the name of the game here, and both power plants used a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) that included an eight-speed manual shift mode to get the power to the pavement.

While exterior styling remained cosmetically similar to the outgoing generation’s, the new Outback’s technology got a major overhaul, including a new available 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Subaru’s EyeSight suite of safety features, a driver-distraction warning system, high-beam assist, and a front-view camera. A Wi-Fi hotspot was also available for the first time in an Outback. Starting price for the 2020 model was $26,645, not including destination fees.

A few improvements came in 2021, including standard steering-responsive headlights, a rear-seat reminder, and a passenger seat belt reminder. The car remained competitively priced at $26,795, not including destination.

2022 saw the debut of the off-road-focused Subaru Outback Wilderness with 9.5 inches of ground clearance. The Wilderness version also came standard with meaty Yokahama Geolander all-terrain tires, a new roof rail system, StarTex water-repellent upholstery, and a specially tuned suspension system. It did not get the Harman Kardon audio system that came standard on Outback Limited XT and Outback Touring XT models, however. The Outback Wilderness was available only with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and stared at $36,995. The Outback base model remained a good value, with a $26,945 MSRP.

The 2023 Subaru Outback gets a major cosmetic refresh, with new black cladding and a revised front fascia. In-car cameras are upgraded, and the Outback Onyx Edition XT adds the availability of the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine as well as the 2.4-liter turbocharged power plant. For 2023, the Outback becomes the first Subaru to integrate what3words, a mapping technology that uses three words instead of traditional addresses or navigational points to refer to a location.

Subaru Outback 5th generation (2105-2019)

The fifth generation Outback came to us in 2015 in Standard, Premium, Limited 2.5, and 3.6R Limited trims. While drivers liked the spacious interior, the switch to a CVT was a problem for some. Most Outback trims got a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine good for 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 3.6R Limited got a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine pushing out 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. All trims were all-wheel drive and had a continuously variable transmission with a six-speed manual shift mode. To help out in slippery situations, X-Mode was now standard, as were hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The Limited trims gained exclusive Stablex suspension dampers.

The infotainment system here was sparsely appointed, hosted on a small 6.2-inch screen on the base model and a 7-inch screen elsewhere. The EyeSight suite of driver-assist technology was only available on upper trims and included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert were also kept to upper trims.

The 2015 Subaru Outback started at $24,895 before destination.

In 2016, Subaru added Starlink connected services to upper trims and added Lane-keeping assist to EyeSight. In 2017, Subaru added the Touring trim as the top spec, coming in at $35,995.

In 2018, Subaru gave us a mid-cycle refresh with tweaks to both the front and rear fasciae, as well as some performance and tech upgrades. Suspension was revised for a smoother ride, and the brakes and electric power steering got a tweak as well. An 8-inch screen became available running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the first time. For this year, the Outback started at $25,895, not including destination.

For 2019, EyeSight became standard for all trims.

Subaru Outback 4th generation (2010-2014)

Folks still liked the fourth-generation Outback for its all-wheel drive system and poor-weather performance, but its larger size hindered handling. For 2010, the Outback was offered in six trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 3.6R, 3.6R Premium, and 3.6R Limited. It got a longer wheelbase and an expanded width, but it was actually shorter than the 2009 model.

The car was powered by a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine good for 170 horsepower and an equal amount of torque. A six-speed manual was available with this engine, but a continuously variable transmission was also an option. The avaialable 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine made 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, putting the power down to all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.

Technology here was pretty non-existent—the Outback didn’t even have a back-up camera in 2010. The car started at $24,595, not including destination.

There were no major updates for 2011 or 2012, but 2013 brought big changes for the Outback. A restyled front fascia updated the car’s looks, while a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine upped the power to 173 ponies and 174 pound-feet of torque. For this year, Subaru tailored its all-wheel drive system to the transmission, so the manual gearbox got a continuous AWD system, the CVT was paired with an active torque split AWD, and the five-speed automatic got a variable torque distribution AWD system. Also new this year on the Subaru Outback Limited was Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system with adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and lane-departure warning.

In 2014, Subaru made EyeSight standard on Outback Premium models.

Subaru Outback 3rd generation (2005-2009)

Reviewers liked the third-generation Outback for its refined ride quality and robust standard features, but lamented its small back seat. For 2005, the Outback had three engine options. There was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 168 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque. Another engine option was a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine also delivered 250 ponies and 219 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual or automatic transmission were the options.

Subaru added navigation as an option for 2006, and the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine got a power bump to 175 ponies.

In 2007, Subaru revised the Outback’s trim levels but kept the car’s components the same. 2008 saw the demise of the sedan and a slight revision to the front and rear fascias. For 2009 Subaru added stability control on all trims but nixed the L.L. Bean model.

Subaru Outback 2nd generation (2000-2004)

The Outback was completely new for the 2000 model year and was well-received as it officially spun off from the Legacy into its own separate model. Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the Outback pushed out 165 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. Shifting was handled by a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

In 2001, Subaru introduced the L.L. Bean edition and a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 212 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. The Outback remained unchanged for 2002, but 2003 saw a freshened front fascia.

Subaru Outback 1st generation (1995-1999)

The Outback started as a trim package for the Subaru Legacy, but it got a bit more independence in 1995, when it debuted as more car than crossover. People liked this little Subie for its two-tone paint job and saw it as a viable alternative to the heavy SUVs of the time, but some decried the anemic 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 135 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque. A four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual put the power to all four wheels.

In 1996, Subaru raised the height to nearly 8 inches, and the engine was improved to a 2.5-liter with 155 ponies and 155 pound-feet of twist.

In 1997, the Outback got a Limited trim, but the car remained the same for 1998 and 1999 models.