Subaru Outback estate - MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions

A petrol engine with a CVT automatic gearbox is the only option in the Outback, so it’s not the best in terms of fuel economy versus some rivals. The car is reasonably cheap to insure, but you may need the money you've saved for servicing because, at the time of writing, Subaru doesn't offer a fixed-price servicing package.

Subaru Outback MPG & CO2

The petrol-only Outback is only available with the Lineartronic gearbox; a combination capable of 32.8mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 193g/km. That puts the Subaru Outback into the top 37% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bracket for company-car tax, meaning it’s unlikely to be a popular choice for company users, who will pay some of the highest rates around. Subaru’s all-electric Solterra is likely to be a better choice in this regard.

Subaru's 'boxer' engines have a reputation for being on the thirsty side, but with current numbers based on the more accurate WLTP ratings introduced around 2018, you should at least see numbers relatively close to the official figures.

Insurance

A Subaru Outback in Limited trim starts in insurance group 27 (out of 50), rising to group 29 for Field models and group 30 for the top-spec Touring.

Servicing

The Outback requires a service every 12 months or 9,000 miles. At the moment, Subaru doesn't offer any fixed-price service plans, which makes maintenance slightly more expensive than for many of its rivals.

The other problem is that Subaru dealers aren't as common as Ford or Vauxhall garages, so taking your car for a service might not be quite as convenient as you'd hope. If you do decide to go for the Outback, it's worth checking where you'd need to take the car for servicing first.

Warranty

Subaru currently offers a 3-year or 60,000 mile warranty on all its UK models, which isn’t bad but is far from the best on the market.