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Overall Rating
The Subaru Outback offers a roomy cabin and large cargo capacity and is based on a family sedan with a raised ground clearance.
The 2016 Subaru Outback offers a roomy cabin and large cargo capacity, and is based on a family sedan with a raised ground clearance. It also features plastic cladding all around for that extra chunky look, along with standard AWD. The 2016 model year Outback stands as a highly reliable and capable wagon that also has a high resale value in the used car market.
The Subaru Outback is offered with a 2.5L Boxer-4 engine that punches out a tight 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. With a good amount of power and a comfortable CVT to put the power down, the Outback stands as a competent city dweller and highway crusher alike. The 2016 Subaru Outback faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Mini Countryman and the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen.Â
The Premium trim gets a considerable amount of additional features over the base trim and it also keeps the price in check but not exceeding the MSRP by a large margin.
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl CVT)
2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
2.5i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)
The Subaru Outback offers a roomy cabin and large cargo capacity and is based on a family sedan with a raised ground clearance.
The 2016 Subaru Outback offers a roomy cabin and large cargo capacity, and is based on a family sedan with a raised ground clearance. It also features plastic cladding all around for that extra chunky look, along with standard AWD. The 2016 model year Outback stands as a highly reliable and capable wagon that also has a high resale value in the used car market.
The Subaru Outback is offered with a 2.5L Boxer-4 engine that punches out a tight 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. With a good amount of power and a comfortable CVT to put the power down, the Outback stands as a competent city dweller and highway crusher alike. The 2016 Subaru Outback faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Mini Countryman and the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen.Â
The 2016 model year Subaru Outback is offered in three trims and gets an option for two engines. The Outback keeps AWD as standard, as per Subaru traditions, which is an absolute delight. The base trim gets a decent amount of features, but the Premium and Limited trims get all of the latest technology and creature comforts, while only the Limited trim gets the optional six-cylinder engine. The following table sums up the trims and features offered with the 2016 Subaru Outback.
Trims |
Base |
Premium |
Limited |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (2.5i) |
$25,845 |
$28,245 |
$31,245 |
MSRP (3.6R) |
- |
- |
$34,245 |
Key Features |
2.5L, 175 hp Flat-4 engine |
Base trim plus; |
Premium trim plus; |
Post-Collision Safety System |
Front Fog/Driving Lights |
Optional 3.6L 256 hp Flat-6 engine |
|
4-speaker audio system |
6-speaker audio system |
12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system |
|
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel |
4 Months Of Paid Satellite Radio Service |
Blind Spot Warning Accident Avoidance System |
|
Cloth Upholstery |
8-Way Power Driver Seat |
Leather Upholstery |
|
Reclining Rear Seats |
Multi-Level Heating Front Seats |
Dual Zone Front Climate Control |
|
Rear View Camera |
17-inch Alloy Wheels |
Heated Rear Seat |
We Recommend
If you're considering getting the 2016 Subaru Outback, we suggest sticking to the Premium trim. The Outback's mid-level Premium trim gets a considerable amount of additional features over the base trim and it also keeps the price in check. With powered
The 2016 Outback is available with two engine options, a 2.5-liter Boxer-4 engine which produces 175 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter Boxer-6 engine rated at 256 hp and 247 lb-ft. Both the engines are mated to a CVT transmission and power is sent to all four wheels as standard. Although the acceleration performance isn’t really impressive on the base engine, the 2,700 lbs towing capacity is one of the best in the segment. The 2016 Subaru Outback manages to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which certainly feels underwhelming.
Opting for the bigger Flat-6 engine definitely helps in shaving off some time during acceleration. Additionally, the 6-cylinder engine feels a lot more potent and works wonderfully well on highways. The CVT is no performance machine, but helps in smooth gear changes in the city. The AWD powertrain helps the Outback to maneuver freely and comfortably, ensuring there's maximum traction even during slippery conditions.
Model |
Subaru Outback 2.5i |
Mini Cooper Countryman S ALL4 |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen S |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$25,845 |
$28,700 |
$23,545 |
Engine |
2.5L, Naturally Aspirated Flat-4 |
1.6L, Turbocharged Inline-4 |
1.8L, Turbocharged Inline-4 |
Drivetrain |
AWD |
AWD |
FWD |
Transmission |
CVT |
6-speed manual |
6-speed automatic |
Power |
175 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
181 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
170 hp @ 4,500 rpm |
Torque |
174 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
The 2016 Subaru Outback is a fairly fuel-efficient vehicle. However, the Outback's fuel efficiency is hampered by the standard AWD drivetrain. The Subaru Outback returns 25 mpg of driving around the town or 33 mpg of highway cruising, while the combined fuel economy is rated for 28 mpg. The large 18.5-gallon fuel tank does a great job of providing a long driving range so as to not hinder the fun element of the adventure trips.
Model |
Subaru Outback 2.5i |
Mini Cooper Countryman S |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
25 |
25 |
25 |
MPG (Highway) |
33 |
31 |
35 |
MPG (Combined) |
28 |
27 |
29 |
Fuel Capacity (gal) |
18.5 |
12.4 |
13.2 |
Range (City / Highway / Combined) (miles) |
463 / 611 / 518 |
310 / 384 / 335 |
330 / 462 / 383 |
The Mini Countryman has the highest fuel consumption here and also employs the smallest gas tank in here, translating to a very short driving range on a single tank of gas. The Golf SportWagen with its FWD layout does offer higher fuel efficiency figures but offers a marginally larger fuel tank capacity than that of the Mini, thus offering a much shorter driving range as compared to the Outback.
The interior of the 2016 Subaru Outback, after the recent refresh last year, offers soft-touch materials all around the cabin alongside the faux metallic and wood-tone accents, while the overall fit, finish, and quality of the materials is pretty convincing. The seats have abundant cushioning and offer great support on long drives, but the under-thigh support could have been better which could be a concern for taller passengers. The fabric cloth upholstery also feels pretty good to touch and one need not go crazy for the leather upholstery offered only on the top Limited trim.Â
The 2016 Subaru Outback's cabin ergonomics are excellent. Everything feels within your reach, with all the buttons and switches centering around the driver. The overall cabin feels well put together, with high-quality materials adorning every surface. Subaru also offers several upgrades to improve your Outback cabin experience, and you can opt for some of those without having to burn a hole in your pocket. All in all, Subaru has managed to impress us with the Outback's interior without having to use lavish materials or expensive luxury features on a budget.Â
Model |
Subaru Outback 2.5i |
Mini Cooper Countryman S |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen |
---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in) |
40.8 / 58.1 / 42.9 |
39.9 / 52.8 / 40.4 |
38.6 / 55.9 /41.2 |
Rear Row (Head / Shoulder / Leg) (in) |
38.9 / 57.3 / 38.1 |
37.5 / 52.1 / 33.8 |
38.6 / 53.9 / 35.6 |
Cargo Capacity with Rear Seat Upright (cu-ft) |
35.5 |
16.5 |
30.4 |
Cargo Capacity with Rear Seat Folded (cu-ft) |
73.3 |
41.3 |
66.5 |
There is plenty of space on offer inside the Outback and neither of the other two competitors can catch up with either cabin space or the luggage carrying capacity of the Outback. The Mini Cooper Countryman is the most compact one here while the Golf SportWagen although has a much more space to offer, falls short of the Outback. Some key interior features offered with the 2016 Subaru Outback include:
For the 2016 model year, the Subaru Outback sees an increase in features of the infotainment system both as standard and in the optional packages as well. The Subaru Outback gets a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, featuring plenty of apps and setting to play with. The new pinch-and-expand finger movements to zoom in or out for the navigation system is pretty intuitive to use while all the other controls are also well within the reach and are easy to control as well.Â
Additionally, the Outback is offered with a compelling 12-speaker Harmann/Kardon sound system, which can give a massive boost to your weekend road trips. The Outback infotainment also offers a SiriusXM Radio, along with additional support such as Bluetooth Audio Streaming, Aux, and USB Connectivity. While the Outback's infotainment system is nothing fancy, it doesn't fail to entertain its occupants. Some major infotainment features offered with the 2016 Subaru Outback include:
The Outback has a typical station wagon look but now looks much better than its previous generation. The sedan-based design is still evident and the plastic cladding at the bottom does look cheap but also adds the practicality of saving the paint job when going off the tarmac. The roof rails provide the much-needed tough-and-outdoorsy look to the wagon as there are not many rugged elements to it.
The overall design of the 2016 Subaru Outback is elegant yet bold, thanks to sharp headlights and a strong shoulder line. The proportions are elegant and sharp, and the overall silhouette of the outback is very recognizable. The rear follows a similar theme as the rest of the vehicle, with angular tail lamps and a sporty dual-exhaust setup. All in all, the 2016 Subaru Outback is a handsome vehicle, with all the right design elements in the right places.
Model |
Subaru Outback 2.5i |
Mini Cooper Countryman S |
Volkswagen Golf SportWagen |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3,593 |
3,208 |
3,120 |
Length (in) |
189.6 |
161.8 |
179.6 |
Width (in) |
72.4 |
70.4 |
70.8 |
Height (in) |
66.7 |
61.5 |
58.3 |
Ground Clearance (in) |
8.7 |
6.3 |
5.5 |
Wheelbase (in) |
108.1 |
102.2 |
103.5 |
The Outback is the largest car in all the dimensions in this comparison while the Mini Countryman is obviously the most compact one. Although the Golf SportWagen is considerably larger than the Mini, the wheelbase isn’t that much longer. The Subaru offers the highest ground clearance while it is the Golf that rides lowest to the ground. Key exterior features offered with the 2016 Subaru Outback include:
The Subaru Outback is meant to venture away from the roads and hence safety becomes of paramount importance. The NHTSA has rated the 2016 Outback with a perfect 5-star overall rating while the IIHS has awarded it with their prestigious ‘Top Safety Pick+’ award for performing exceptionally well in the crash test conducted by them. There are lots of standard and optional safety features on offer, some of them are listed below.
The Subaru Outback may not be the fanciest wagon out there in the market, but it can do everything a premium wagon is expected to perform. One can throw it off the tarmac, and it will perform equally well as any other capable off-roading SUV for that matter. It offers decent performance and fuel efficiency, while the safety and reliability quotient is very high, and now that the car also offers the latest technology and newer interior and exterior designs, it offers great value as a family car. All in all, the 2016 Subaru Outback is probably one of the best AWD vehicles you can buy in this price range, and there's certainly nothing stopping us from recommending it for your next purchase.