I’m looking to buy a 2025 premium Outback on Thursday. Just trying to gather thoughts to make sure I won’t feel sorry about my choice. Could you share your experiences with this car and what issues you’ve noticed?
Does the stock engine seem weak to you? Can it handle driving up hills when there are a lot of passengers in the car?
I have a '22 Wilderness. The turbo models are definitely impressive, but I’ve also had the 2.5L in a 2019 Crosstrek, and I sometimes miss the better fuel efficiency and simpler feel of that engine. The 2.5 may seem a bit slow in the Outback since it’s heavier than a Crosstrek, but it isn’t bad at all.
Outbacks are really good cars – a pretty solid mix of practicality, safety, cargo space, fuel efficiency, winter driving, and reliability. I do wish the 11.5" touchscreen was more responsive because it has a tiny bit of lag, and the optional LED package really should have included puddle lights and cargo lights instead of those old incandescent bulbs. But honestly, I’d choose it again. I’ve had three Subarus so far, and I’ll keep going with them as long as they stay this good.
@Roux
One of the first things I did was swap out the cargo light. I just don’t get why it hasn’t been changed, it costs only $5 and takes about 5 minutes.
Ariya said: @Roux
One of the first things I did was swap out the cargo light. I just don’t get why it hasn’t been changed, it costs only $5 and takes about 5 minutes.
@Tom
I got a 2023 Onyx and totally agree. I really wish the climate controls were physical buttons, but other than that, I’m really happy with the car.
I just got a 2025 Onyx XT and my only regret is waiting so long to get it. If you do a lot of highway or mountain driving, the 2.4 turbo is the way to go. The 2.5 NA is okay, but….
I don’t like how loud the alerts are (lane departure, driver monitor, etc.). Even at the lowest setting, they feel too much.
I wish I could mute the beeping and just depend on the lights reflecting off the windshield, but that’s not possible. And on top of that, the lights on the dash indicating everything is off are annoyingly bright.
@Maris
I’ve got a 2024 Onyx and the seatbelt alert is crazy loud! I don’t mind the other alerts too much. The alert when getting out of the car bugs me, though. It should only beep when something is actually wrong. All that said, I really love my car; it’s the best one I’ve ever owned and driving it is enjoyable.
@Luchivya
It’s nuts, but check out the steps in this screenshot. A fellow Redditor shared this with me and my mind was blown when it actually worked! None of my seat belts beep anymore!
@Luchivya
My Doberman triggers the seatbelt alert in the backseat if she shifts around. It can go off nonstop during a drive based on her movements in her harness. It’s super annoying!
@Maris
I spent ages last night figuring out how to turn off the beeping in my (new to me) 2020 touring model. I find it really irritating, but I dislike the dashboard lights, too.
I have a 2025 Wilderness. My biggest complaint is the occasional fake shifting. Also, the pedal feel can be a bit jumpy. It’s not a major issue, though, and hasn’t changed my mind about getting it.
I don’t like how Subaru insists on oil changes every six months regardless of how many miles you’ve driven. I’m up to 8000 miles and I’ve changed the oil three times already. We have other vehicles and don’t drive them enough for that frequency. Not a huge deal, but I guess if Subaru requires it for warranty, I’ll just deal with it.
The stock engine isn’t weak; it doesn’t take off super fast but is way quicker when passing on the highway than starting from a stop. It has more power than my Camry, but the Camry feels faster off the line, and both get to speed about the same. What I love about my Outback is the XMode, cargo space, and ride quality. It really handles well in snow with the XMode.
@Ethan
I had a 2020 OBXT and now I have a 2022 OBXT. We really need winter tires up here… I’ve never even used XMode in the snow, it’s just not necessary. Just put the pedal down and go.