2014 Subaru Outback consumer reviews

This is the first Subaru I've owned. I am very pleased with the interior and exterior. The stereo system is lacking a bit on power but then again I'm not bumping music down the street like teens so I can deal with. The drive is smooth and comfortable. I have the 2.5 engine and I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed with the power it puts out, but I'm reminded that my gas mileage is better than expected (27avg) which is great for someone like me who commutes almost 100miles a day. I would have gone with the 3.6 engine, but after reading how low the mileage was I opted for the 2.5 engine. I like that I have all wheel drive at all times and that I have tons of room on the inside. I wish Subaru gave you better options for adding accessories. Overall a great car, it has been very reliable so far and if it continues to be a pleasure to drive in the next few years, I would definitely consider buying another Subaru.

Love the gas mileage, the exterior, the safety rating, the all wheel drive, and the overall outback! The only thing I'm not too crazy about is the radio! It could stand a lift!

The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars in every category is that I'm annoyed I'm already having to replace a tire after 850 miles...most likely a road hazard issue and not manufacturer's problem, but it concerns me this happened so quickly. I was very pleased with the roadside assistance program which came with the car. Regarding value, just wishing there were some lower cost options with the larger engine (which we needed for towing).

I bought this car new in January. I've had a chance to drive in snowy conditions and never once felt my wheels slip. The car has always been firmly planted on the ground. Great feeling! I have the base 2.5i with the additional wheel package with fog lamps. I find the base engine a tad underpowered, but I remind myself that I'm not really in a hurry, and suddenly, it's not so bad. I think the CVT throws me off. From a stoplight, I find that I'm actually accelerating faster than other cars. The engine is a tad loud from a start, but for only a few seconds until the CVT kicks down at speed. No biggie for me! It's very quiet after that initial start up. The CVT has performed flawlessly. It takes some getting used to, but ultimately it works efficiently. My combined mpg has been 25mpg to date. No long road trips; just a typical 70% city / 30% highway mix. Climate controls are no nonsense. I find the heat to work very well. At times, though it really kicks in and I can really feel the heat; not sure why, but on a cold day, I don't care! As long as I'm warm! The A/C works well, too. (More to come this summer!) I have the basic Clarion head unit, with AM/FM/USB/XMRadio and BT-A (bluetooth audio). All work well, except recently my BT-A option has disappeared and I'm still trying to find out why. A trip to the dealership this weekend will hopefully shed some light on that. Bluetooth hands-free phone is flawless though in basic operation. The voice recognition is lacking though, but from what I hear is no surprise with any manufacturer. Storage is excellent. The top-side cross-bars swing out and are sturdy enough to hold light-weight items like a bike or kayak. They do flex, however, so if you're moving some expensive items like a $3000 kayak, you may opt for a Thule or Yakima solution. The factory bars are probably OK though, but don't expect much from Subaru for help making the decision on what choice to make. I find the basic seating (non-powered) to be marginally comfortable. For long road-trips, I may buy supplemental support cushions. This is subjective, though. I was able to lay down completely in the cargo area with rears seats folded; not bad! I'm 5 foot 7". Some basic annoyances: 1. On my car there is at the very far left of the display gauge, a needle that shows MPG. It continually moves up and down to show you if you're driving efficiently or not. I constantly stare at it; so it's distracting to me. However, some folks may find it helpful. 2. The user guide for the radio is not helpful; it only covers the buttons for the various trim levels only. It doesn't suggest any help for my BT-A issue, for example. 3. I test drove a higher trim level last summer with the Eyesight; it worked OK, but was prone to direct sunlight (like sun in your eyes) and shut off. We finally decided to shut it off all together; it sort of got annoying after a while with warnins, etc. Some things I really like: 1. The look! Very functional. 2. Reliability so far 3. Simple and no nonsense 4. Not laden down with too many bells and whistles, but still has all the basics. I do wish I would have dropped coin on getting a rear camera, tough. 5. Interior workmanship; very nice seams, well fitting plastics. Some folks complain about soft plastics, etc, but I don't "feel up" my car, so who's to know? That's about it. Just my two cents on the lowest trim level. Most reviewers cover only the highest trim level, so you get a biased viewpoint. I definitely would recommend this car to someone like me who wants functionality over looks at a good price. I hope this helps!

Subaru offers great value for the money. Full time all wheel drive, good ergonomics and reliable all weather performance. Dealer at Manchester NH Subaru was pleasant and efficient. My sixth Subie in twenty years - if they've fixed the bad head gasket problem then I recommend Subaru!

Comfort, style, and performance is great. I used to drive another SUV so the gas mileage has been incredible - really noticeable increase. So far I am very happy with my purchase

Just rolled the first thousand on my 2014 3.6R Outback. Drove the 2.5 and found the power some what lacking. The extra power the six cylinder provides is impressive. My short trip average is 18 MPG. Not great, but with all wheel drive, I think it is okay. Excellent in the snow, I have no fear of unplowed parking lots. All the controls seem well placed and are easy to use. Sound system is good and I like putting my music on a flash drive and being able to navigate the content with the steering wheel controls. Dual zone climate control works well and you have to love those heated seats! Obviously haven't used the A/C or the sunroof yet. If they are as good everything else, no worries. Other nice stuff, back up camera, adjustable roof rails, Bluetooth, and cargo room. Two things I find lacking. The fan for the climate control seems way loud on full power, really got to crank up the volume to compensate. Really wish when you unlock the rear hatch , it would pop up, even just a little. Would make loading a lot easier. The wife's '06 Accord trunk does that. All around, feels solid. Haven't tossed into any corners yet, but it seems like it will do well. Drive both the 2.5 and the 3.6, and decide.

Purchased this car for a cross-country trip with my grandchildren. Each time I drive it, I discover another useful feature. The comfort in the back seat - air, music - was especially important. Only drawback was that, at low fuel, the indicator on the dashboard dropped the miles remaining quicker than the actual miles driven. Other than that (easily compensated for) the car is a dream.

All you need to do is drive one and do some research on the product your about to buy. That's what I did and we really love it!!

My new 2014 Outback is getting much less than 0 miles to the gallon, my old Outback 2010 is getting much better mileage. The car does not seem to shift out of 1st gear. I don't know what is causing this. The dealer said neither of the cars change gears. Then why is the old one getting 5 miles a gallon better mileage?