Used Subaru Outback for Sale nearElizabeth City, NC

How much does the Subaru Outback cost in today's market?

Used Subaru Outback prices span a wide range depending on model year. Here's what the market looks like right now:

The Subaru Outback's current nationwide average price is $23,446, and its lowest point over the past year was $21,339. Recently, prices have come down for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 models, making now a good time to shop recent model years.

Is the Subaru Outback a good car?

Yes — the Subaru Outback is a strong used-car choice if you want comfort, capability, and everyday usefulness in one package. The all-generations owner rating is 4.63/5 across every model year in the data.

Owners consistently praise the Outback for its reliability, spacious interior, all-wheel drive capability, smooth ride, safety features, and cargo space. Across the model years, that combination makes it especially appealing if you want a practical vehicle for family duty, road trips, and changing weather.

Expert reviews rate the 2015 and 2018 models among the highest across all years.

The main trade-offs are the underwhelming base engine, the CVT’s droning character in some years, and infotainment systems that can feel frustrating or slow to respond. Higher trims can add appealing equipment, but some of those upgrades bring diminishing returns.

33.7% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Are Subaru Outback models reliable?

Owners consistently praise the Outback for reliability, comfort, safety, and all-wheel drive confidence. Expert reviews also reinforce its reputation for practicality, roomy cabins, and strong everyday usability.

• Owners rate the Subaru Outback between 4.33 and 4.96 out of 5 stars across all model years in the data.

For used buyers, long-term ownership risk is generally tied more to maintenance history and how the vehicle was used than to the model’s core reputation.

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

Across all model years, accident-free inventory is solid at 82.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.

Older model years carry meaningfully higher accident rates, so always verify the vehicle history report on pre-2020 models.

Key things to evaluate:

• Safety package: Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features
• Infotainment: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both operate wirelessly, and a wireless charging pad is available.
• Fuel efficiency: The EPA estimates the new Outback will return as much as 27 mpg in combined driving (25/31 mpg city/highway) for the base engine and 24 mpg combined (21/29 mpg city/highway) for the turbocharged XT models. The Wilderness brings up the rear with a 23-mpg combined rating (21/27 mpg city/highway).

Which Subaru Outback trim should I buy?

The 2026 Subaru Outback offers these trims:

• Premium: This is the entry-level trim, and it brings the starting point for the redesigned Outback with a strong mix of comfort and capability. It suits you if you want the most accessible path into the new model.
• Touring: This trim adds several niceties and driver assists, plus premium items such as a surround-view camera system, hands-free automated highway driving assist, active lane-change assist, and highway pre-curve speed control. It suits you if you want the most advanced comfort and convenience features.
• Wilderness: This trim adds the more off-road-capable setup, including 9.5 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and electronically controlled suspension dampers. It suits you if you want the most adventure-ready version.

What Subaru Outback do most buyers choose?

The Subaru Outback years with the most listings are 2024, 2025, and 2023.

Higher-listing years tend to be the most popular because they give you more inventory to compare, more pricing flexibility, and a better chance of finding the trim and condition you want.

What is the Subaru Outback's resale value?

Most model years are down year over year, which is good news if you are shopping used because it creates more room for value. The declines are generally larger on older and mid-cycle years, while the newest years are falling more slowly. That pattern suggests you can often find stronger pricing on recent used Outbacks without giving up the model’s core appeal.

The 2016, 2017, and 2025 model years have held their value best, with the smallest year-over-year price changes.

Is the Subaru Outback safe?

• 2026: 7/10
• 2025: 9/10
• 2024: 9/10
• 2023: 9/10
• 2022: 9/10
• 2021: 9/10
• 2020: 8/10
• 2018: 10/10
• 2016: 10/10
• 2015: 10/10

All 2026 Outbacks come with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, automatic emergency steering, emergency stop assist, haptic steering wheel alerts, a driver condition monitor, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams.

For the safest used buy, the 2015, 2016 and 2018 models all post the highest confirmed score of 10/10.

Should I buy a used Subaru Outback now or wait for the next model?

Buy now if:

• Price trend: The 2025 model is at −4.98% versus a year ago, and the 2024 model is at −6.1%.
• Deal availability: The 2025 model has 34.9% good and great deals, and the 2024 model has 35.1%.
• Sweet-spot year: The 2024 model has the most listings at a current average price of $28,940. The Subaru Outback offers a roomy cabin, strong cargo space, and a comfortable ride.

Consider waiting if:

• Powertrain/efficiency: The base powerplant is a 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder "boxer" engine that produces 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, while XT models go with a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four, increasing output to 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.
• Tech: A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel allows the driver to customize what information is displayed, while a 12.1-inch infotainment touchscreen is placed higher on the dashboard to reduce distraction.
• Safety: All 2026 Outbacks come with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, automatic emergency steering, emergency stop assist, haptic steering wheel alerts, a driver condition monitor, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams.
• Starting price: The 2026 Subaru Outback has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $36,445 for the Premium trim.

If you're buying used today, the 2024 model year offers the best mix of value and availability. If you want the latest tech and features, it may be worth waiting for the next model year's inventory to build up.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 15, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.