2012 Subaru Outback consumer reviews

5500 miles after first long road trip: 30-34.8 mpg on the flat highways was a real surprise. Around town averages 24-25. Very comfortable. I marked down on performance only because the hill climbs seemed to eat gas and really had to work hard. If I went slow and steady it performed great and still had power to accelerate if I needed. I also notice the CVT noise but it dosent seem overwhelming. Plenty of room for everyone and I love the little convenience touches. I am in a bad area for XM but thats the only complaint. I really do love the car and am completely sold on Subaru.

Bought a new Outback Wagon after comparing it to the CRV and the Volvo XC 60. After 3 months we are impressed. 28.5 mpg for city/highway combo. Handles well on the highway and is nicely finished in the interior. We bought the Limited model with sunroof, winter mats, bumper and mud guards at an out the door price of $29,000. Last day of the month deal. So far, we love this new vehicle.

First time Subaru owner. The Outback has a great solid ride.Nice features, easy to use. The 2.5 engine is somewhat noisey,but has plenty of power. I have been getting around 22 MPG stop and go city driving. Body panels are fit very well, and the paint is great.Have had the vehicle for 2 months, no problems.

I purchased the 3.6 engine, and just love it. The pick up is fantastic! I'm also a huge fan of the fit and finish inside, as well as the exterior styling. The headroom cannot be beat. The seats leave a wee bit to be desired in terms of comfort- I had to play with mine for quite a while until I was able to get it perfectly comfortable. To be fair, my last car essentially had the seat cushion of practically a La-Z-Boy recliner- way plush and squishy. However, given the handling of the Outback, sitting a bit more upright and supported is a good thing. I would unequivocally recommend this. I'm a convert. Just so you know, I previously owned a Jetta Wagon-VR6.

I purchased the 2012 Outback 3.6R after test driving both the 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder versions and going with performance and ease of merging with fast traffic over better gas mileage. I bought this car in Phoenix for the AWD and cargo capacity and drove it to Iowa, where we now live -- and where it has yet to snow substantially. It figures. The car is surprisingly comfortable, quiet and agile in traffic. Fully loaded with cargo, there is a slight sway in the rear at high speeds (80 mph+), which I noticed driving relatively tight turns in the mountains of northern Arizona. However, a car like this is not meant to "hug" the highway, and one has to drive a station wagon with some common sense. It has fantastic pickup, but gas mileage is not the best (22 mpg combined city and highway). I have the fully loaded version -- navigation, back up camera (nice feature), moonroof, etc. The "premium" radio is a disappointment, and certainly not up to the quality of the radio in the 2002 Acura RL I sold recently. However, it's adequate if you fiddle for awhile with the settings. It's nice to integrate the cell phone through the car's electronics, although I haven't used it that much. Heating and cooling systems work as advertised; everything is logically laid out. I was somewhat disappointed to learn that the back seats don't fold down completely flat, but it's not a deal breaker. I have 3500 miles on it so far, with no rattles and zero problems. I looked at the 2012 Audi Avant A4 wagon, and while I loved the ride and "feel" of German engineering, I didn't buy it because of the cost of servicing it and reported reliability issues on some Audis. The Outback sits up a bit like an SUV, but it drives more like a car and is easy to get in and out of. So far, I can recommend this car enthusiastically.

My wife bought a Ruby Red 2012 Outback Premium to replace her 2002 Honda Accord. It has the 4 cylinder 2.5 liter engine, 6 speed manual transmission, sunroof package, and heated seat package. She loves the look of the car, the visibility, comfort, handling in snow, the heated seats, and apparent safety of the car. The ride is fairly firm but comfortable. The car has ample room for two adults in back with good leg room. There is plenty of storage space behind the back seat. We haven't tried the fancy roof rack yet. Fit and finish are excellent both inside and out. The car developed a rattle underneath after we had it for a week or two, but then it disappeared and has not returned. The 2.5 liter engine does not provide lively acceleration and hill climbing here in Colorado requires some patience. Gas mileage is fairly good and she gets around 23 MPG in her 15 mile commute to and from work that often has stop and go traffic on the freeway. The mileage should get a bit better as the weather warms up and the engine breaks in. From my viewpoint, the car is stable and handles reasonably well for its size. It is not nimble by any means. The steering is a bit numb and this car is not a sports or sporty sedan by any means. (I had encouraged her to buy a Mazda Speed 3 Hatchback so you can see what kind of car I like.) I disagree with those who say the boxer-type Subaru engine emits a pleasant sound. To me it is noisy with a sound resembling a rod knock especially if revved to merge with traffic. However, the engine has quieted down noticeably after 1,500 miles so I suspect it was just breaking in. Like all our other cars, we plan to keep it for 10 years. I think it will prove to be a fine purchase in the long run and plan to have it take us on many hiking and bicycle trips. Most of all, my wife likes it!

Recently purchased my Outback 2.5 premium and am very happy with the car. The gas mileage is great compared to the 07 Hyundai Sante Fe it replaced. However, I did not go for the top-of-the-line stereo and now wish that I had. I'm 51 years old, have purchased a lot of vehicles since 1976 and I must say this is in the bottom 3 for sound quality. You would think they would include a better sound system for something that costs over 27000 dollars.

3 months later and 8000 miles, I am very happy with my 2012 Outback 2.5i Premium. Combined gas mileage is around 27, hwy can be as high as 30 mpg. Driving this car gives you a safe and confident feeling that it can handle anything that you come across driving in different conditions. I am well over 6 ft tall and plenty of leg and head room. All the controls are easy to use and the heated seats is a nice feature. Not the zippiest car on the road but certainly adequate. Interior design is fine, the fabric is a little odd. Overall, a really good value for the price.

I have a 2010 Subaru Legacy and a 2012 Subaru Outback and they are the best cars ever. Subaru's are great in the snow and they're performance is great, especially on the Interstate.

I've owned my 2012 Outback 2.5i Limited for about 6 weeks and am thrilled with it. Subarus are the car of choice in the mountains of Asheville, NC. I love the AWD, the safety features, and the car is gorgeous! The Continously Variable Transmission is a great new feature, providing more power and better performance than the automatic transmissions of old. I love the new blue tooth and the USB port for my iPhone--I'm having no problems with the Harmon Kardon stereo system. I recommend this car without reservation--you won't be disappointed!