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2016 Subaru Outback
SUV · 2015–2026
Trims and features
What changed for 2016
- Starting prices: +$100 to +$400 (3 trims; hover for each)
- Engine: 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER → 2.5-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Active Valve Control System (2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited)
- Headlights: Halogen → HID Projector (2.5i Limited)
- Engine: 3.6-liter SUBARU BOXER → 3.6-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Dual Active Valve Control System (3.6R Limited)
2016 Outback trims
| 2.5i | 2.5i Limited | 2.5i Premium | 3.6R Limited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ||||
| Starting MSRP | $24,995 | $30,395 | $27,395 | $33,395 |
| Powertrain | ||||
| Engine | 2.5-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Active Valve Control System | 2.5-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Active Valve Control System | 2.5-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Active Valve Control System | 3.6-liter DOHC SUBARU BOXER engine with Dual Active Valve Control System |
| Horsepower | 175 hp | 175 hp | 175 hp | 256 hp |
| Torque | 174 lb-ft | 174 lb-ft | 174 lb-ft | 247 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Lineartronic CVT | Lineartronic CVT | Lineartronic CVT | Lineartronic HCVT |
| Drivetrain | Awd | Awd | Awd | Awd |
| Fuel economy (combined) | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg |
| Size and capability | ||||
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Max towing | 2,700 lb | 2,700 lb | 2,700 lb | 3,000 lb |
| Cargo behind last row | 35.5 cu ft | 35.5 cu ft | 35.5 cu ft | 35.5 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 73.3 cu ft | 73.3 cu ft | 73.3 cu ft | 73.3 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | 8.7 in | 8.7 in |
| Length | 189.6 in | 189.6 in | 189.6 in | 189.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3,593 lb | 3,638 lb | 3,596 lb | 3,814 lb |
| Tech | ||||
| Touchscreen | 6.2 in | 7 in | 7 in | 7 in |
| Apple CarPlay | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Android Auto | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Audio | — | Harman Kardon | — | Harman Kardon |
| Speakers | — | 12 | — | 12 |
| Driver assistance | ||||
| Adaptive cruise control | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Lane keeping | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Blind-spot monitoring | — | Blind Spot Alert | Optional | Blind Spot Alert |
| Automatic emergency braking | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Rear cross-traffic | — | Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Optional | Rear Cross-Traffic Alert |
| Comfort | ||||
| Seats | Cloth + option | Leather + option | Cloth + option | Leather + option |
| Heated seats | — | Front, Second Row | Front | Front, Second Row |
| Driver seat memory | — | Driver Seat | — | Driver Seat |
| Climate zones | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Second row | Split Bench | Split Bench | Split Bench | Split Bench |
| Exterior | ||||
| Sunroof | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Power liftgate | — | Power Liftgate | Optional | Power Liftgate |
| Wheels | 17 in | 18 in | 17 in | 18 in |
| Headlights | Halogen | HID Projector | Halogen | HID Projector |
Packages and options (19)
| 2.5i | 2.5i Limited | 2.5i Premium | 3.6R Limited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EyeSight, Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Power Rear Gate Package | — | — | Optional | — |
| Keyless Access, Navigation, EyeSight and Power Moonroof Package | — | Optional | — | Optional |
| Keyless Access, Navigation and Power Moonroof Package $2,295 | — | Optional | — | — |
| Navigation, EyeSight, Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Power Rear Gate and Power Moonroof Package | — | — | Optional | — |
| Navigation, Power Rear Gate and Power Moonroof Package $2,295 | — | — | Optional | — |
| Power Rear Gate with Height Memory and Power Moonroof Package $1,695 | — | — | Optional | — |
| STARLINK Safety Plus and Security Plus Connected Services | — | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Carbide Gray Metallic | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Crystal Black Silica | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Crystal White Pearl | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Ice Silver Metallic | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Lapis Blue Pearl | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Twilight Blue Metallic | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Venetian Red Pearl | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Wilderness Green Metallic | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Slate Black Cloth | Optional | — | Optional | — |
| Slate Black Leather | — | Optional | — | Optional |
| Warm Ivory Cloth | Optional | — | Optional | — |
| Warm Ivory Leather | — | Optional | — | Optional |
Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure. Still partial for this year: model, trims, powertrain, fuel economy, chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, warranty, options, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Collision warning | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 23–27 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 27 | Standard | — |
| 2025 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 23–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 81 | Some versions | Yes |
| 2024 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 23–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 196 | Some versions | Yes |
| 2023 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 23–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 94 | Some versions | Yes |
| 2022 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 24–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 464 | Standard | Yes |
| 2021 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 26–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 296 | Standard | Yes |
| 2020 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.5L 4-cyl | AWD | 26–29 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 899 | Standard | Yes |
| 2019 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 1034 | Standard | Yes |
| 2018 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 812 | Optional | Yes |
| 2017 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 917 | Optional | No |
| 2016 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 642 | Optional | No |
| 2015 | 2.5L 4-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl | AWD | 22–28 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 509 | Optional | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA and aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so compare years of the same model: a tall bar marks a year owners had more trouble with. Collision warning: forward collision warning as NHTSA lists it ("Some versions": standard on some). Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Apple lists CarPlay for: Outback 2018–2025 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | SUBARU OUTBACK SUV N/A AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 0 | 16 |
| 2026 | SUBARU OUTBACK WILDERNESS SUV N/A AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 1 | 11 |
| 2025 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Standard & Optional | Standard | 0 | 81 |
| 2025 | Subaru Outback Wilderness SW AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 0 | 81 |
| 2024 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Standard & Optional | Standard | 0 | 101 |
| 2024 | Subaru Outback Wilderness SW AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 0 | 95 |
| 2023 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Standard & Optional | Standard | 2 | 89 |
| 2023 | Subaru Outback Wilderness SW AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 464 |
| 2021 | Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 4 | 296 |
| 2020 | Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 6 | 899 |
| 2019 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 1034 |
| 2018 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 812 |
| 2017 | Subaru Outback SW AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 4 | 917 |
| 2016 | Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 4 | 642 |
| 2015 | Subaru Outback SUV AWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 509 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
24–27 |
| 2026 | Outback Wilderness AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2025 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
25–28 |
| 2025 | Outback Wilderness AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2024 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
25–28 |
| 2024 | Outback Wilderness AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2023 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
25–28 |
| 2023 | Outback Wilderness AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo | 23 |
| 2022 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
26–29 |
| 2022 | Outback Wilderness AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo | 24 |
| 2021 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
26–29 |
| 2020 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo |
26–29 |
| 2019 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–28 |
| 2018 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–28 |
| 2017 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–28 |
| 2016 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–28 |
| 2015 | Outback AWD | Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AV-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L |
22–28 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.