What's new?

Planet-exclusive 2020 Outback gallery...click pictures to enlarge

Executive Summary

The first 2020 Outback is on sale NOW at Planet Subaru! Test drive one today.

Highlights:

New hands-free power gate;
Vegans delight! The Onyx Edition will offer a special non-leather washable interior, turbocharged engine to make it to the Humane Society in record time, and black wheels that make this trim level arguably the coolest Outback ever;
New more-rigid and crash-worthy "Global Platform" that will now underpin almost all of Subaru's vehicles;
A new 2.5 liter base engine with 182 horsepower, up from 175;
An optional 2.4 liter turbocharged engine with 260 horsepower that will likely rocket the Outback from 0-60 in less than seven seconds;
A huge tablet-style 11.6" infotainment system;
Improvements to the Subaru Eyesight system including DriverFocus distraction mitigation.

The styling is evolutionary, but don't be confused, the car is almost totally new from the ground up, with only a very small percentage of the parts from the last generation. Many more details follow below the introductory video.

Many more details...

The sixth-generation SUV comes standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and Subaru's award-winning EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. With an available tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK™ Multimedia system with integrated center information display, DriverFocus™ Distraction Mitigation System and new XT models with 260 horsepower, the 2020 Outback delivers greater technology, safety and performance than ever before.

Built on the Subaru Global Platform, which provides increased safety, dynamics and quietness as well as reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), the Outback will be available in the following models:

PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITY
The 2020 Outback delivers the optimal blend of SUV capability and car-like ride and handling with standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, Vehicle Dynamics Control and X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance for all Outback models is greater than that in many SUVs, yet the Outback maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.

For the first time since 2009, the Outback lineup offers a turbocharged engine. Standard on XT models, the 2.4-liter turbocharged BOXER engine delivers robust all-around performance with 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Meanwhile, the standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter BOXER, with direct injection and nearly 90 percent of its parts new, delivers 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.

All 2020 Outback models are paired with a Lineartronic CVT featuring an 8-speed manual mode function with steering wheel paddle shifters. The 2.4-liter turbo delivers a 3,500-lb. towing capacity, the most of any Outback in history, while the 2.5-liter provides more than a 600-mile range on a single tank. Manufacturer's estimated fuel economy is 26/33 mpg city/highway for the 2.5-liter and 23/30 mpg city/highway for the turbo.

Complementing the more refined powertrains is an all-new suspension that is lighter and more responsive. The front suspension utilizes MacPherson struts with new internal rebound spring, aluminum lower L-arms and new 23mm hollow stabilizer bar. The rear suspension renders a double-wishbone layout with subframe, coil springs and new 19mm hollow stabilizer bar.

STRUCTURE AND SAFETY
Introduced for 2017, the Subaru Global Platform has been optimized for the Outback, boasting a structure that is 70-percent stiffer in both torsional and front-suspension rigidity and 100-percent stiffer in both front lateral flexural and rear subframe rigidity compared to the previous Outback's platform. Crash protection is improved, as the new body absorbs over 40-percent more energy in front/side crashes than the current model. When a crash is unavoidable, the Outback protects with eight standard airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Subaru expects the Outback to achieve top safety scores when it is tested later this year, including a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Standard on all trims is Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology that now includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, which provides steering assist when the vehicle veers outside its lane, helping the driver maintain a direct path. Segment-exclusive DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System uses a dedicated infrared camera and facial recognition technology to identify signs of driver fatigue or distraction and provides audio and visual warnings to alert the driver and passengers. Additional available driver-assist technologies include LED Steering Responsive Headlamps; Reverse Automatic Braking; Blind Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert; and EyeSight Assist Monitor with head-up display.

In another Outback first, the 2020 model offers a Front View Monitor, which captures images within the driver's blind spots in front of the vehicle and displays a 180-degree view on the 11.6-inch display, providing safety and assistance when checking road conditions ahead or parking.

ONYX EDITION
The new 2020 Onyx Edition XT features black-finish exterior elements, 18-inch alloy wheels and badging, and an exclusive gray two-tone interior. Further, the seats are wrapped in a new water-repellant durable StarTex™ material. The Onyx Edition XT builds on the Premium trim and adds the 2.4-liter turbo BOXER, Hands-Free Power Gate, Front View Monitor and, for increased capability in a wider range of environmental conditions, exclusive Dual-Mode X-MODE and full-size spare tire.

COMFORT AND VERSATILITY
The 2020 Outback offers a peaceful cabin that is almost 3 dB quieter at highway speeds. Subaru engineers worked extensively to find ways to reduce unwanted noise coming into the cabin, fitting the Outback with new door weather strips that feature a baffle in the mid-section and dual lips on the roof side for improved quietness. Sound-insulated glass, which uses a sound-insulating inner film for the windshield and front-door glass, has been adopted, while glass thickness all around has been increased for quietness.

Limited and Touring models feature 10-way power front seats with lumbar support, adjustable cushion length (driver only) and heated front/rear seats. For 2020, seat heaters come with three levels of temperature adjustment as well as extended coverage up to the shoulders for improved comfort. Touring models add ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel to their roster of standard features. Comfort and convenience in the Outback have been optimized for passengers with increases in rear head, shoulder and leg room. For powering and pairing personal devices, up to four USB ports and two 12-volt DC power sockets are available.

With a cargo floor length of 78 inches with the rear seatbacks folded, the 2020 Outback offers up to 75.7 cu ft of cargo space. And with a wider rear gate opening, the Outback can comfortably accommodate long items such as camping gear, golf clubs or strollers. For added convenience while loading the vehicle, a new Hands-Free Power Gate allows the owner to open the rear gate by simply waving in front of the Subaru emblem (positioned in the center of the rear gate) as well as a new single-touch lifting cargo cover. Both features are a first for Subaru and are standard on most 2020 Outback models. For additional cargo versatility, the Outback offers standard roof rails with integrated and retractable cross bars and tie-downs.

BOLD DESIGN
Following a "Dynamic x Solid" philosophy, the all-new Outback is anchored to an "Active x Tough" concept. The result is a rugged and functional design that inspires wanderlust and enables active lifestyles. The 2020 Outback projects a large presence from thicker profile panel surfaces and raised rear gate as well as a sense of speed from its dynamic silhouette. Wider fenders, large hexagonal grille, front cladding and LED fog lights on the corners (standard on all trims except Base) emphasize the SUV's capability. Cladding on the side of the Outback is meant to resemble a hiking boot that further enhances this concept.

The interior design uses a widened windshield and long lines from the center of the instrument panel to the door panels to create an open environment. The Outback Touring leverages luxurious appointments inside and out, including Nappa leather, high-gloss black molding for the pillars, chrome plating decorated door handles and satin tone plated side mirrors.

SUBARU IN-VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
SUBARU STARLINK In-Vehicle Technology offers an integrated cockpit experience by allowing the driver to control entertainment and vehicle settings through a large touchscreen display. All STARLINK multimedia systems for the 2020 Outback feature a high-resolution touchscreen; new on-screen controls for audio, HVAC, X-MODE and vehicle features; combination meter integration; smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™, Android™ Auto and new STARLINK SmartDeviceLink™ apps; Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio streaming connectivity; AM/FM stereo; Rear Vision Camera; SiriusXM® All Access Radio (4-month free subscription) and SiriusXM Travel Link® (3-year free subscription); HD Radio® and over-the-air updates.

Front and center, and highlighting Outback's upscale interior, is an all-new tablet-style 11.6-inch Full HD multimedia display, the largest, most advanced infotainment screen ever in a Subaru. Standard on all but the Base trim, the 11.6-inch Multimedia display offers direct touch controls for multimedia, HVAC, X-MODE and vehicle settings, and includes Near Field Communication to its list of features. Like with a smartphone, app icons can be moved and configured based on personal preference. The 2020 Outback will be the first vehicle to offer the new Chimani app, which provides a comprehensive guide to more than 400 national parks in the U.S. and includes park history and highlights written by local traveler experts. The top-of-the-line 11.6-inch Multimedia with Navigation adds navigation powered by TomTom® and voice activated navigation.

For the first time in Outback, available in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot provides smooth internet access via high-speed LTE™ communications. Framing the large multimedia screen is a new multilayer instrument panel featuring a soft-touch wrapped surface with available real double-stitching for a high-quality appearance. The wrapped surface material and stitching employ the same color combination as the seats and door trim for a uniform look and feel. An available 12-speaker Harman Kardon® audio system, with Clari-Fi™ compressed audio restoration technology and GreenEdge™ high-efficiency speakers and amplifier, delivers premium sound.

Visit our Outback Center with pics, links, and pricing.

Search for your Outback or place a factory order:

Outbacks through the years:

Originally introduced in 1995, the first Outback was basically just a Legacy wagon with two tone paint and a little cosmetic differentiation. In 1996, Subaru produced the Outback that you would recognize today, with aggressive cladding, raised suspension, and bigger engine. 1997 saw the first Outback Sedan, a vehicle unlike anything sold at the time. It was available all the way through 2007.

2020+

You would hardly know if from the sheetmetal, which bears similarities to the previous generation, but nearly every part on the car changed, including the chassis or "frame." Built on Subaru's Global Platform that now underpins most of its vehicles, this latest generation is much more crash-absortive and it rides like it's hewn from a single hunk of very strong metal. Infotainment screen goes big time and new features, such as Driver Focus, abound.

2015 through 2019	This generation grew in every dimension, and the upscale interior abounds with technology and infotainment functions. Airbag count rises to eight with the addition of seat cushion airbags that deploy from the flat part of the seat to hold front occupants in place during an accident.
2010 through 2014	Sales went through the roof with the introduction of a larger Outback, close in size to traditional sport utility vehicles but a heckuva lot more economical and responsible. Continuously variable transmission debuts and causes steroidal fuel economy gains. Eyesight appears in 2013.
2005 through 2009	In 2005, we welcomed a quieter, more upscale Outback, even though the size remained pretty much the same. Six airbags were standard. Subaru offered a turbocharged XT model only on this generation.
2000 through 2004	This generation ironed out the wrinkles in the previous version, especially in the interior, formerly an expanse of hard plastic and curious ergonomics. Hood scoop from the Techno-Brutal era of Japanese auto styling goes away and no one misses it. First optional six cylinder arrived in 2001, along with Vehicle Dynamics Control.
1995 through 1999	Arguably, Subaru created the "crossover" segment by building a car with the sport utility capabilities of a truck. No wonder that "Subaru" comes quickly to mind when people think rugged, practical, and economical. This was a functional car, but not a pretty one. Dual sunroof model, also known as the "Double Bubble," appears in 1998.