Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014) Review
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Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014) At A Glance
Capable and solidly built. Spacious interior. Works well with Lineartronic gearbox. Revised from late 2013 and much improved.
No petrol engines in UK models from late 2013. Expensive to buy. Material quality isn't as good as rivals.
The 5th generation Subaru Legacy and Outback was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2009 and went into production in May 2009, but did not reach the UK until October 2010 (leaving a bit of a hiatus while 2004-2009 model Legacys and Outbacks were sold off).
As with all Subaru models, the market for the Outback is niche but fairly dedicated. Introduced with a selection of petrol and diesel engines, the range was revised down from late 2013 to be much more simple, with a single, 2.0 boxer diesel engine and one trim level - SX. Additionally a Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission was added to the range. It works well and while the diesel engine isn't the most efficient it provides useful everday performance.
The Outback has a proper all-wheel drive system that isn't simply for helping out when there's a patch of snow on the drive - it offers useable off road traction for use in wet fields and over muddy, rutted terrain. Consequently it's ideal for rural buyers who tend to get trapped by snow and ice and who need to travel across fields. It's also a competent tow car.
It's not a pretentious vehicle - the interior is solidly finished and feels built to last, but it does without fancy embellishments like soft touch dashboard coverings. Instead it feels no nonsense and durable, which will appeal to some as much as it detracts others. There's a lot of space in the cabin with a cavernous boot and ample leg and headroom for rear seat passengers, making it a practical family choice.
It's likely to remain a niche, outside choice however, because it's simply too expensive to compete with the mainstream. Following the 2013 update the range starts at just under £30,000, which is more than the larger, more luxuriously appointed Skoda Superb 4x4. However for rural buyers who truly depend on their car every day, regardless of weather, the Outback should deliver.
Reviews for Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014)'s top 3 rivals
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Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.0 D to 3.6 R
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 30–58 mpg
Following revisions in 2013 the range has been simplified, meaning there's only one engine choice - a 2.0-litre boxer diesel with 150PS. It's a decent performer thanks to a healthy 350Nm torque output that's on tap from low rpms. Two transmissions are offered - a six-speed manual and a Lineartronic CVT automatic.
The big surprise is the Lineartronic. While most CVT transmissions are loud and feel almost disconnected from the engine the Lineatronic is smooth, quiet and relaxed unless tasked with a sudden full throttle burst. It's an impressive transmission that adds to the appeal of the Outback, but that comes with a £1500 premium over the manual.
Driving the Outback is easy - it's a large and heavy car, but it feels well-planted and safe with lots of traction even in wet, slippery conditions. Controls are comfortably well weighted and inspire confidence and the suspension offers a good compromise between ride comfort and handling capability, which makes the Outback an ideal car for rural roads.
The Outback rides fairly high and has all-wheel drive, which makes it a good car for farmers or game keepers who want something as sensible and practical as a traditional estate, but with the capability to deal with hills, fields, mud, snow and ice - and it should prove capable in those tough conditions.
Unfortunately that capability and the selection of a boxer engine come at the expense of fuel economy. The official combined cycle figure for the Outback 2.0D manual is 47.9mpg, while for the automatic it's 44.8mpg. On paper those figures aren't brilliant but on the plus side Subaru tends to score well in our Real MPG section, so they should be fairly realistic.
That said, the annual tax bill will be fairly expensive - the manual model emits 155g/km and falls into VED band G, while the automatic produces 166g/km and falls into band H. That's not very good going and is worth factoring in as an ownership cost, particularly if you're planning on buying for the long term as many Outback customers will.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 D | 48 mpg | 9.7 s | 155 g/km |
| 2.5i Lineartronic | 34 mpg | 10.4 s | 194 g/km |
| 3.6 R | 28 mpg | 7.5 s | 232 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
98%
Real MPG
30–58 mpg
MPGs submitted
111
Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014) interior
- Boot space is 526–1677 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4775 mm |
| Width | 1820 mm |
| Height | 1605 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745 mm |
One area in which the Outback lags a little behind rivals is the interior. The selection of plastics has clearly been chosen for its hardwearing nature and while that means the cabin should stand up to years of abuse it isn't exactly luxurious and plush - and for the price you would probably expect it to be. That said the facelifted car from late 2013 has a nicer selection of trim materials including some dark brushed aluminium effect inlays which help lift cabin ambience.
The minor controls and switches are all solid but they're not exactly a joy to use and the layout of the centre stack isn't great. For example the radio controls all feel about five years out of date and while there is a reversing camera it's hardly clear and crisp. Additionally there is no standard fit sat nav, although there is one on offer as a cost option. It'd be nice to see one as standard equipment at this price.
On the other hand there is a lot to like about the Outback's cabin, not least the practicality it offers. The seats are comfortable and there's space in the back row for adults, with loads of head and legroom. Add to that a cavernous boot with a flat floor and there's much to recommend for people who transport a lot of bulky stuff or who have a family to move around.
Standard equipment from 2013:
SX trim includes: 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, power folding door mirrors, roof rails, sun roof, HID headlights, fog lights, windscreen wiper de-icer, cruise control, heated front sports seats, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth, USB connectivity and reversing camera.
Subaru Legacy/Outback (2009 – 2014) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4775 mm |
| Width | 1820 mm |
| Height | 1605 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2745 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1534–1589 kg |
| Boot Space | 526–1677 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 12000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £28,870–£36,395 |
| Insurance Groups | 20–29 |
| Road Tax Bands | G–L |
| Official MPG | 28.2–47.8 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until April 2014
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.0D S 5dr | £28,870 | 47.8 mpg | 9.7 s |
| 2.0D SE 5dr | £30,070 | 47.8 mpg | 9.7 s |
| 2.5i S Lineartronic 5dr Auto | £28,875 | 33.6 mpg | 10.4 s |
| 2.5i SE Lineartronic 5dr Auto | £30,075 | 33.6 mpg | 10.4 s |
On sale until April 2012
| Estate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.6 R auto 5dr | £36,395 | 28.2 mpg | 7.5 s |
Model History
October 2010
Fourth generation Legacy and Outback launched in UK
More capable, more rewarding and more refined, both on- and off-road. Increased cabin space and longer wheelbase improves comfort and liberates more room for occupants and luggage. Choice of horizontally-opposed diesel or petrol engines and manual or automatic transmission. High-quality materials for the interior, and high levels of standard equipment. Five-model range on sale from October 2010 priced from £26,295 (OTR)
New Outback is longer, wider and taller than the model it replaces. It is also more capable and more engaging to drive on-and off-road, and offers increased space and comfort for all occupants. New ‘face’ with prominent grille which features Subaru’s now-trademark ‘wing’ motif. Three-dimensional headlamps. 'Muscular', flared wheel arches, standard-fit 17-inch alloys, and a chrome-framed glass-house.
On the inside, increased seat adjustability, softer cushioning and reductions in NVH levels. 2010 Subaru Outback comes with choice of three engines: a four-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel; a four-cylinder 2.5-litre petrol; and six-cylinder 3.6-litre petrol engine. All hoprizontally opposed 'boxers' that help maintain a low centre of gravity.
The 1,998cc diesel, which has a six-speed manual gearbox, produces a maximum of 150ps and a top torque figure of 350Nm. The 2.5-litre petrol engine with its standard ‘Lineartronic’ automatic transmission, develops 167ps and 229Nm, and the top-of-the-range 3.6-litre five-speed automatic R offers 260ps and 350Nm.
Lineartronic is the name of Subaru's all-new, in-house-developed fully automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT)-type transmission. Offered to buyers of the 2.5i petrol versions the unit enables the engine to operate continuously at the most efficient part of its rev-range – resulting in strong, linear, seamless acceleration and maximised fuel economy.
With completely re-engineered suspension and a new all-steel unitary structure, the Outback’s handling and stability have been greatly improved. New Legacy Tourer with which it shares its underpinnings has been awarded the maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP. The presence of the Japanese firm’s highly acclaimed AWD system will also reassure buyers that it is sure-footed in all weather conditions.
Generous levels of standard equipment to be found across the Outback range. Even the entry-level 2.0-litre D SE model boasts leather upholstery, electric windows fore and aft, Bluetooth connectivity, six-CD stereo, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, and automatic activation for wipers and headlights.
UK buyers will be offered five Outback models. The line-up starts with the £26,295 2.0-litre diesel SE and 2.5i SE petrol models, and is topped by the £33,295 petrol 3.6-litre R. It’s on sale now and available from your local Subaru dealer.
2010 Outback Prices and CO2
2.0D SE £26,295 167g/km VED BandH IG 12E/21E
2.0D SE NavPlus £28,295 167g/km VED Band H IG 12E/22E
2.5i SE* £26,295 194g/km VED Band J IG 12E/20E
2.5i SE NavPlus * £28,295 194g/km VED BandJ IG 12E/20E
3.6R £33,295 232g/km VED Band L IG 15E/29E
* Lineartronic gearbox fitted as standard
What to watch out for
Some 'Boxer' diesels up to 2009/59 reg have needed a new DMF and clutch within the warranty period because they had the same engine ECU computer programme for the clutch as original Boxer diesel in the Legacy, with 5-speed manual transmission. Apparently, this was allowing too much torque through the flywheel in 1st and 2nd, thus causing the problem. A new ECU software programme has been written, damping torque in 1st and 2nd to solve this.
06-02-2013:Crankshaft failure on 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.0 Boxer diesel at 44,000 miles. Apparently common on EE20 Engines (Subaru Boxer Diesel). Crankshafts snap in half under maximum torque load cruising at 60 - 70mph. New engines are quoted by IM Group at £11,000. Google Subaru Boxer Diesel Crankshaft Failures for more.
05-03-2013:If an injector fails on the diesel the entire engine has to come out to replace it, quoted by dealer at £647 just for removing and replacing the engine and cost of injector and fitting it.
16-10-2015:News from USA: Apparently new chain cam 2.5 litre FB engine in the Subaru Outback is prone to burning oil at a huge rate, due to "wrong spec piston oil ring". Not only have newly purchased Subarus been stripped down for the right spec piston ring but also a new short block of which many have the same problem after the installation. Apparently, now a class action by disgruntled Subaru owners in the USA. IM Group states that this problem does not affect UK cars.
08-06-2017:Report of clutch failure on a Subaru Legacy after 2 years and 11,000 miles.
17-11-2018:Report of Subaru Outback 3.0R in which, for no particular reason, the gearbox changes to Sports 1 mode, the engine and traction control lights come on and the cruise control light starts to flash. AIt will not come out of Sports mode. After a couple of days it corrects itself and all gearbox modes are available. Then it doesn’t happen again for a month or two.
29-01-2019:Report of failure of Pioneer touch-screen in 2014 Subaru Outback. No replacement parts available becuse Pioneed touch screens no longer used. Owner told would have to have the unit removed, sent to Pioneer and repaired. This will take a couple of weeks and Subaru will charge £150 (plus VAT) for removal and refitting as well as any (unquantified) Pioneer repair costs.
17-02-2019:Report of intermittent problem with powered tailgate of Subaru Outback 2.5 SE Premium. At times can be finicky and refuses to open properly and also makes a terribly loud knocking noise, also on opening. One dealer reset the sensors, however the problem persisted. Owner took it to another dealer who diagnosed that the motor needed replacing and charged me £666.04 for a new motor. Still the problem persists. Probably something to do with the anti-trap mechanism out of sequence.
13-05-2019:Report of car alarm going off repeatedly in 2019 Subaru Forester. "Super-helpful" mechanic at local Subaru dealer suggested that owner look to see if anything metallic had fallen into the cup holder in the central console. Turned out to be a 2p coin. Maybe the same problem might be solved by the same solution with Subaru Kegacys and Outbacks.
