The 2025 Subaru Outback remains a popular choice from the Japanese automaker, and is mostly unchanged for this model year. More tall-riding wagon than true SUV, the midsize Outback seats up to five, features standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and offers a choice of two engines, one of them turbocharged.

The 2025 Subaru Outback faces a number of compact or midsize competitors, including such rivals as the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Bronco Sport, Honda CR-V and Pilot, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50, Toyota RAV4 and 4Runner, Volvo V60 Cross Country, and its own Subaru Forester stablemate.

The Outback received numerous updates for 2023, so its changes for this model year are minimal. Apple CarPlay’s turn-by-turn integration is improved; the Touring trim receives an automatic vehicle hold button; and Brilliant Bronze Metallic and Ice Silver Metallic exterior colours are discontinued.

The Convenience, Touring, Onyx, and Limited trims use a 2.5L horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, which Subaru calls a “boxer” engine, making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The Wilderness, Limited XT, and Premier XT switch that for a turbocharged 2.4L boxer four-cylinder, making 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines use an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard and Subaru calls it “symmetrical AWD.” That doesn’t mean equal torque to each wheel; rather, it describes the mirror-image layout of the drivetrain. Under normal driving conditions, 60% of torque goes to the front wheels and 40% to the rear, but it can vary depending on driving conditions when more traction is needed.

In his review of the 2024 Subaru Outback, Sami Haj-Assad said, “While the ride quality is good, the powertrain is concerning. The base motor in the Outback is a 2.5-litre boxer engine with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. Even when paired with a CVT, this engine feels underpowered and overworked. That has several negatives, as it significantly impacts fuel efficiency when in town, and the noise levels in the cabin can get grating. If you can spring for it, opt for any of the models with the 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4L engine, which is much more satisfying to drive. There are paddle shifters to help manage this loud and groaning powertrain, but one worthwhile gimmick is the unique dual X-Mode setting, which helps out in slippery and really messy conditions.”

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Outback with 2.5L engine at 9.2 L/100 km city, 7.3 highway, and 8.3 combined. With the turbocharged engine, that rises to 10.6 city, 8.1 highway, and 9.5 combined. The Wilderness trim, with turbo only and with all-terrain tires, is rated at 11.0 city, 9.0 highway, and 10.1 combined. All take 87-octane gasoline.

The 2025 Subaru Outback gets the top five-star crash-test rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 2024 version was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Its ratings included the top “Good” in the original moderate front overlap crash, and also in the updated side crash, which better simulates being struck by a large SUV. But in the updated moderate front overlap, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as those in front and which wasn’t yet part of the award score for 2024, it scored “Marginal.”

All trims include Subaru’s camera-based EyeSight suite of driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control with vehicle hold, lane centring assist, emergency front braking, and pre-collision throttle management, plus the mandatory rear view camera. An advantage to EyeSight is that the camera is behind the windshield in the path of the wipers, so snowy or wet weather won’t affect it as can happen with vehicles that use external front sensors. All but the base Convenience trim further add automatic emergency steering, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

Consumer Reports gives the 2025 Subaru Outback a predicted reliability rating of 50/100, saying it expects it to have “about average reliability when compared to the average new car,” based on the 2022 through 2024 models. The Outback didn’t take an individual award in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which looks at three-year-old vehicles, but Subaru ranked 14th among all automakers – three slots below the industry average and an improvement from its number-22 spot in the 2023 study.

Features on the entry Convenience trim include a 7-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, tonneau cover, power driver’s seat, heated front seats and steering wheel, and cloth upholstery. All other trims use an 11.6-inch screen with wireless phone connectivity. Depending on the trim, features can include dual-zone climate control, wireless charger, auto-dimming mirror, heated rear seats, premium audio, navigation, power passenger seat, leather upholstery, and all-weather floor mats.

In his review of the 2024 Subaru Outback, Sami Haj-Assad said, “The infotainment system is almost identical to other 11.6-inch units in other Subarus. It’s good enough with large buttons, but lackadaisical response time. This (Onyx) trim lacks built-in navigation but supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and it can access those smartphone projection systems wirelessly, which is a nice bonus. If you’re worried about draining your device’s battery, the Outback has a wireless phone charging pad and USB-C ports.”

The 2025 Subaru Outback has an overall length of 4,875 mm (91.9 inches). The Wilderness is slightly shorter and with an approach angle of 20.0 degrees and departure of 23.6 degrees for those who want to go a little farther off-road, along with 241 mm (9.4 inches) of ground clearance, compared to 220 mm (8.6 inches) on other trims.

Cargo volume is 923 litres with the rear seats up; fold them down, and that stretches to 2,141 litres. Towing capacity is up to 1,225 kg (2,700 lbs) for non-turbo models, and up to 1,588 kg (3,500 lbs) for those with turbo engines. Most trims can carry up to 68 kg (150 lbs) on their roof racks, while the Wilderness can tote up to 100 kg (264 lbs).

Non-turbo trims start with the Convenience at $34,495, and go through the Touring at $38,795; the Onyx at $41,095; and the Limited at $42,995. Three trims have turbocharged engines: the Wilderness at $45,295; the Limited XT at $45,795; and finally, the Premier XT at $47,895.