^®

why ads?

Popular at KBB.com

10 Best Used Cars Under $8,000

2010 Subaru Outback

change

Please enter a valid mileage

View all 7 photos

1

Select / Browse a Car
2

Configure Your Car
3

See Car Value

Overview

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. see your car's value

Buying this car?

2010 Subaru Outback Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

The 2010 Subaru Outback is the perfect anti-SUV. No larger than most mid-size cars, the all-wheel-drive Outback has become one of the best selling wagons in America; it is also a favorite of those needing the off-road capabilities of a large SUV, but not the accompanying lofty fuel bills and hard-to-park mass. New from the ground up, the fifth-generation Outback remains true to the original concept yet achieves major improvements in the areas of interior room, fuel economy and flexibility. As with all Subarus, the Outback comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, a proven system that allows this rugged wagon to conquer the toughest terrain and deepest snow.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for an economical wagon with an emphasis on safety, features, fuel-economy and true off-road capability, the Outback is pretty much your best bet.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you need a third-row seat, tow heavy loads or prefer the car-like styling of the Volvo XC70 or Toyota Venza, the new Outback probably won't be a good fit.

What's New for 2010

Not only does the 2010 Outback sport a rugged new look, it offers a host of improvements. Among the most notable is a new continuously-variable transmission (CVT) on four-cylinder models, a new 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, an additional four-inches of rear-seat legroom, a clever roof rack with pivoting cross rails and an available DVD navigation system allowing music streaming via Bluetooth connectivity.

Driving the Outback

Driving Impressions If maximum fuel economy takes precedence over quick acceleration, the 2.5-liter four with the CVT is your best bet. With 170 horsepower on tap the engine has to work a...

bit to move the Outback. Once up to speed the CVT finds and holds the engine's maximum torque and horsepower, providing the best acceleration and fuel economy mix. The CVT does take some getting used to as there are no discernable gear shifts such as are common to a traditional automatic. The standard steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, however, allow the driver to select and hold "gears" as with a manual transmission, thus making passing and merging maneuvers a bit quicker. With a projected 29 miles per gallon highway and a new 18-gallon fuel tank, the Outback can cruise over 500 miles before refueling. As for the Outback's driving characteristics, it demonstrates an impressive sedan-like feel, especially surprising considering the car's high center of gravity. The steering is precise and predictable and interior sound levels are much improved over the 2009 Outback.

Favorite Features

CVT Automatic
Subaru's take on this fuel-saving transmission uses a metal band as opposed to a rubber belt, which it claims will improve durability and longevity. The Subaru CVT includes a manual shift mode that mimics the shift points of a manual transmission without the need for a clutch pedal. Best of all, the CVT is expected to return an estimated 22 city and 29 highway, which is better than the six-speed manual.

Electronic Parking Brake with Hill Holder
Not only does this feature free up more space on the center console, it incorporates an electronic hill holder that, on inclines of more the five percent, holds the vehicle in place until the driver steps on the accelerator.

2010 Subaru Outback Details

Interior

One of the biggest complaints heard by previous Outback owners involved the car's tiny back seat. The new model addresses this concern by adding an additional four inches of legroom and nearly three inches of headroom. During our test drive, we comfortably fit three six-foot-tall adults in the back seat and still had space between their knees and the front seat backs. Wider front seats and a reclining rear seat further improve occupant comfort, while upscale models offer power driver's-side lumbar support and leather seating surfaces. The addition of a dash-mounted electronic parking brake allows Subaru engineers to remove the center-console handbrake handle, creating more space for water bottles and latte cups. Models equipped with automatic transmissions also feature steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Exterior

The all-new 2010 Outback is a radical departure from the model it replaces. Gone are the sleek lines, car-like styling and handsome two-tone wheel arches. What's in is a more SUV-like appearance, with thick plastic cladding on the doors, rocker panels and front bumper, as well as larger headlamps and pronounced fender arches. The 2010 Outback is nearly three inches taller and two inches wider than the 2009 model, yet overall length actually shrinks by one inch. Last year's frameless windows are replaced by fully-framed glass, a design that improves body rigidity and reduces wind noise. The rear door openings are much larger, allowing easier entry and exit. Up top is a clever new roof rack with folding cross rails that can be tucked away to reduce wind noise and drag, while down below 8.7-inches of ground clearance assures the new Outback can tackle just about any off-road condition.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The base Outback 2.5i features a six-speed manual transmission, anti-lock brakes (ABS), stability and traction control, six airbags – including front side-impact and front and rear side-curtain airbags – and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with single CD player, steering wheel controls for the audio and cruise control, rear wiper/washer, remote keyless entry, electronic parking brake with hill-holder feature and the swing-away cross-rail roof rack. The Premium model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a power driver's seat with power lumbar support, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and rear privacy glass. To this the Limited trim adds leather seating, four-way power passenger's seat, the All Weather Package (heated seats, side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icers), the Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission, dual-zone automatic temperature control, a 440-watt harman/kardon stereo with six-disc CD/WMA/MP3 changer and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. Six-cylinder models feature the same equipment, but replace the CVT with a traditional five-speed automatic.

Optional Equipment

Most options are offered according to trim. Base models offer a few dealer-installed items including Bluetooth phone connectivity, exterior puddle lights, cargo organizing systems and fog lights. The Premium models offer a power sunroof, the All-Weather Package (heated seats, mirrors and wiper de-icers) and the 440-watt harman/kardon audio system, while the Limited trims offer a power sunroof and a voice-activated navigation system featuring music streaming (streams music to the car's stereo from a compatible Bluetooth-enabled device), an eight-inch view screen and a rear backup camera. Other stand-alone options include Sirius/XM Satellite Radio, iPod integration system, Media Hub Kit that adds a USB connector, remote start (automatic transmission only), a trailer hitch and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with built-in compass.

Under the Hood

Subaru offers two horizontally-opposed boxer engines in the Outback. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers 170 horsepower, which may not be best in class but does generate enough muscle to provide satisfactory performance. Equipping this engine with the CVT automatic will produce the best fuel economy, but the six-speed manual is a better choice from a performance standpoint. If fuel economy is not a top priority, the best choice for the Legacy is the six-cylinder, which provides much better acceleration and passing power than the four while delivering slightly worse fuel economy (18/25 vs. 22/29).

2.5-liter Boxer four
170 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
170 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 (manual), 22/29 (automatic)

3.6-liter Boxer six
256 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
247 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/25

Trading in or Selling? Know where you stand with the most up-to-date Kelley Blue Book Value at your fingertips. see your car's value

Buying this car?

2010 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

4.5

Out of 5

Based on 89 Ratings for the 2010 - 2011 Subaru Outback models.

Review this car

Value

4.5/5

Quality

4.5/5
Reliability

4.6/5

Performance

4.4/5
Comfort

4.5/5

Styling

4.5/5

An able and reliable vehicle.

By Anonymourati (MD) on Wednesday, January 25, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 22,000

5 4.0

overall rating 4 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 4/5
Styling: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"I've owned over 30 cars in my lifetime, including several Mercedes and Jaguars. This is my first Subaru, and it does not compare unfavorably to those, or other high-end vehicles I've driven over the years. Overall, I quite like the car. It is solid, smooth and surprisingly powerful with the six cylinder, though I also drove the four cylinder and did not find it wanting. The AWD andtraction and stability control systems give the driver a impression the car is very sure-footed even in slippery conditions. Mileage somewhat exceeds EPA estimates both in city and highway driving. It produces little interior noise even at speeds well in excess of the maximum posted limits, and achieves those speeds effortlessly. It is equally at home on rough roads, producing a rattle-free ride that's mercifully forgiving in the kidney trauma department. The Harmon-Kardon sound system is quite good, and the Bluetooth interface is easy to program and operate. The rear view camera is handier than I had expected, though all-around visibility is quite good without it. I've very few complaints, none of which would deter me from buying another Outback, but they are as follows: The length of the front seat cushion is a bit too short to provide adequate thigh support if you are quite tall, but I am 6"6" and that is not an infrequent problem for me. The fuel economy gauge is not useful, and occupies space better devoted to more critical gauges like oil pressure and coolant temperature, which are sadly absent. I think I know that when I put my foot on the accelerator fuel consumption increases, and I resent a car trying to re-educate me about my driving habits nearly as much as I resent the government trying to re-educate me about my living habits. The day/night mirror automatically returns to the on position every time you restart the vehicle. Some drivers, including me, find the dimming effect of such mirrors distort distance, and prefer to have them turned off. It is annoying to have to search for the switch every time you start the car. There should be an auto-sensing setting on the windshield wipers. This is a $32,000 car. One should not have to adjust wiper speed manually every time the rain gets lighter or heavier. Paddle shifters? Seriously? The Outback handles quite well for a fairly tall SUV, benefiting from the lower center of gravity afforded by its horizontally-opposed engine, but only a lunatic would think of banging it through the gears on autocross. Maybe paddle shifters are helpful to those living in Maine, or Wyoming in the winter, where manual gear selection helps achieve and maintain traction. Maybe those who live in the Rockies prefer to downshift rather than brake on steep hills. But I'll guess most drivers will not have much occasion to use this option."

13 people out of 13 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

I love my Subie!

By Vinson (OK) on Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 16,000

5 5.0

overall rating 5 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Performance: 5/5
Styling: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5

Pros: "AWD, Gas, fun to drive!"

Cons: "none"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have done my research on several vehicles before I purchased my Subaru Outback 3.6r. I wanted something that was safe with great gas mileage and could go off-road. I researched for over a year and came to a choice of the forester or the outback without the navigation system since it was poorly done my Garmin works better than their system and saves me 2,000 dollars. I wish Subaru had more of a selection for black interior with the color of the car. I would also like to see Subaru bring a diesel engine to the United States. I haven’t had any problems with the steering vibrations like some post state. I have had my subie for a year and love it and can’t wait to try it in the snow. I had a Honda civic before my Subaru and was very limited I also had a Jeep Wrangler but that limited me to room in the vehicle and traveling with comfort and not great on gas. But it got the job done. The Subaru has tons of room the first day I had it I crammed all my horse stuff in the back and laid the back seat down and added more room. I would like to see Subaru add a bigger sunroof to the outback model since they do it with the forester. I am extremely happy with my purchase on this car and will not get anything else other than an outback ever again. I am a Subaru fan for life! I can’t wait till I can be one of the people who have 200,000 miles on their Subaru."

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

Was this review helpful to you? yes | no | report abuse

see all 89 reviews