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I Regret Buying This Subaru Outback

I purchased a 2014 Subaru Outback and would not buy this same trim level again. Here's my story about buying the wrong vehicle and having buyer's remorse. 
2014 Subaru Outback

Don't make this mistake.

Looking back at my purchase of a 2014 Subaru Outback, I've come to the realization that I should have chosen a different trim level. Let me share my story of making the wrong choice and the regret that followed.

The Subaru Outback is an excellent vehicle, so I purchased a low-mileage 2014 Outback midsize SUV. It's got everything I wanted in a 10-year-old model. At least that's what I thought when I bought it. 

This 2014 Outback Limited had 103,000 miles on the odometer, and it was clean. At first, I loved the new all-wheel-drive wagon. It came with the optional 3.6-liter Boxer engine and had plenty of power for mountain driving.

  • It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, so it's easy to get in and out of. 
  • It has an excellent safety score from the IIHS. It earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ award. 
  • Its standard Symmetrical all-wheel-drive technology is perfect for the Colorado winters, severe weather, and snowfall where I live. 
  • It has plenty of cargo-carrying ability with both seats folded flat. It holds much more than I expected. 
  • It came with standard roof rails, so I could carry more oversized cargo on the vehicle's top if needed. 
  • The Outback rides like a car, it's easy to live with, and it has the utility and versatility of an SUV. 

It sounds perfect, right? Ok, so what's wrong with the Outback?

It’s not THE Subaru Outback that’s the problem. It's This Outback 3.6R trim level that did not come with Subaru's EyeSight driver assist safety technology. My other vehicle, a Subaru Crosstrek, does have it, and I love it.

My wife and I took our "new" Outback on a road trip to Cypress, Texas, outside Houston, to visit our daughter and family. It's about 1,100 miles one way.  

The first part of the trip was uneventful, and the car rode well on the open highway. I set the cruise control, and we had an enjoyable time driving. 

Then I realized I did not have the adaptive cruise control my Crosstrek has with the EyeSight driver assist technology. Read my report here for more information.

That tech allows me to set the cruise control, and it will automatically slow the vehicle when I approach another slower car or semi-truck. When I get into the left lane to pass, the vehicle speeds back up to its original setting. 

This feature, known as adaptive cruise control, is part of Subaru's EyeSight technology, which also includes lane departure warning, pre-collision braking, and more.

I've driven the same route in my Crosstrek with EyeSight and barely touched the brake or gas pedals for the 1,100-mile trip. The adaptive cruise did all the work. 

Here's what I noticed. 

I was much more fatigued after getting to Cypress in the Outback without EyeSight than in my Crosstrek after the long trip. The Subaru EyeSight technology is worth every penny. 

I'm disappointed that I didn't get the Outback with EyeSight. 

One of my biggest disappointments with the Outback was the absence of the EyeSight technology. I found myself wishing I had made a different choice.

Another aspect that disappointed me was the fuel mileage. The best I could get was 25 mpg on the highway, and I averaged 22 mpg in city driving with the Outback's six-cylinder Boxer engine. Not bad for the larger 3.6-liter Boxer, but I want better fuel efficiency. 

I know what you're thinking.

Since you know Subaru vehicles so well, why did you buy this Outback and not look for a 2.5-liter with Eyesight? Great question. I knew the lady who owned this Outback and how it was driven, maintained, and serviced. And the price was right.

Ten-year-old, well-maintained low mileage Subaru Outback SUVs are not that easy to find. That's why I jumped on this one. 

Still, if given the chance, I would make a different choice and opt for the 2014 Subaru Outback with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine and the EyeSight safety tech feature. Hindsight is always 20-20. 

Tell us about your Outback experiences. Any regrets?

If you've had a similar experience with a Subaru vehicle, or if you have any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you. Click the red 'Add new comment' link below to share your thoughts and join the conversation.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl 

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Comments

Scott (not verified)    August 9, 2024 - 6:04AM

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I just read a story tha makes no sense....Eyesight was not on that car....and you bought it knowing that.... stupid click bait...

Geo (not verified)    August 9, 2024 - 3:04PM

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I got 2015 the same model, it has eyesight, adaptive cruise control, luxury package, everything. Cannot be happier and no intention to sell. Yes the mileage is not at par with 4 cylinder cars, but snow is white btw and I am not going to discuss whether it's good or not

Olojuolawe Rop… (not verified)    August 11, 2024 - 2:42AM

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I have never owned a Subaru brand, but you story reminded of a Subaru experience I had between 1987and 1998 in Nigeria.

I was in secondary school. An introductory technology teacher, who had just returned from overseas study, was posted to our school. He drove a vehicle which shape, compared other cars in school, appeared not very attractive. The name of the car was Subaru, but remember what trim or model: I was still very young then. As students, we didn't like the car's shape, we decided to name the teacher after the car, but we dared not make it known to either him or any of the other teachers.

However, we, students, soon realised that we had formed an impression based on shape, instead of quality, and our impression about the Subaru turned out to be very wrong.

There was a portion of the dusty road to our school that had a big put hole and was always filled water and mud during the rainy season. We students were always helping other teachers to push their cars out of the mud where they got stuck. But 'Mr. Subaru' as we named him, never one day gave us the stress of push his car; he would always drive through the mud conveniently.

Then our impression the teacher began to change. We began to hail his excellent driving skills. We thought his car was not getting stuck because he knew how to drive better than the other teachers. Although we observed that the four wheels in the car rolled in the mud, we didn't have any knowledge of four wheel drive.

The Subaru rarely had faults, and none of the faults warrant packing the car at home like some other teachers.

I made up my mind, young boy, that I would be buying Subaru car when I attain the level. Now I have been using cars, but not Subaru. The reason is simply that it Subaru does not have enough spare parts for its users in Nigeria. Because of the lack of enough spare parts, those using Subaru in many parts of the country are very few, and they spend big on maintenance.

When you talk about Subaru, Nigerians want it because of its functional qualities, rigidity of strength and durability, more so that the aesthetics has remarkably improved as one of the best in the world.

If Subaru can bring spare parts to the open market in Nigeria and work well on advertisements, the vehicle will share the big market with other automobile that have dominated the country.

I still dream of owning Subaru, but the lack of adequate spare parts is the issue. As people talk well about the car in Nigeria, I hope they, too, will like to go for it if there are enough spare parts.

Thank you.

Mike (not verified)    October 13, 2024 - 10:47AM

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Hi Denis,
I totally understand your disappointment. However, with all due respect you knew the vehicle did not have the "Eye Sight" safety features when you bought it. That is not the models fault it is all on you. Initially , to me , you make it seem as though there may be a mechanical issue with the Outback, possibly giving someone who is unfamiliar with the Subaru brand and the Outback in particular the wrong impression. Especially with all the hype we've had to deal with regarding the head gasket issues over the years. An impression and stigma which still exists to this very day, as you well know.
A better title may have been, " I screwed up and should have gotten Eye sight in my low mileage 10 year old well maintained Outback" sub title "Which is what I really wanted" or something to that end.
So you bought a really good used car that it didn't have all the features you wanted in it. Suck it up and move on or sell it. I'll buy it if the price is right that is!