Is Subaru Outback The G.O.A.T.? The Amazing Success Story Continues

The 2021 Subaru Outback is arguably the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) because no other automaker has been able to duplicate its success. The Outback is called a crossover, but the lifted vehicle is a wagon. The SUV-alternative Outback is different from all other wagons because it’s not only still around after 26 years, it’s thriving in the U.S. where most wagons are being discontinued. 


According to data from J.D. Power, the Outback had an overwhelming 85.7 percent of all wagon sales in the U.S. in 2019. All other wagon sales accounted for just 0.2 percent of all sales. Slow wagon sales are the reason automakers are pulling their wagons from the North American market. Consumers aren’t buying them.



Volkswagen discontinued the Golf SportWagen and Golf Alltrack wagon in 2019 because of dismal sales in North America. The Jaguar XF Sportbrake wagon has been discontinued for 2021. American brands don’t even make them anymore, as Buick ended production of the Regal TourX wagon in the U.S. last year. 


Consumers can only get a few wagons in North America, and the 2021 Subaru Outback is the only one still made in the U.S. (Lafayette, Indiana). The only other wagons still available are the Audi A4/A6 Allroad ($45,645 / $66,945), Volvo V60/V90 ($42,590 / $68,940), Mini Clubman ($30,750), Mercedes-Benz E-Class ($68,595), Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo ($99,350), and Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, if you can afford its $263,750 price tag.



The Outback could be getting new competition. Reports from Car and Driver say a new Ford Fusion Active wagon, set to hit Ford showrooms in 2021, will come with a lifted suspension, standard all-wheel-drive, and rugged body cladding mimicking the Outback.


The Outback is still the best-selling wagon in America. Subaru of America sold 153,294 Outback nameplates in 2020, a challenging year. 2021 Outback wagon sales are not slowing down. In January, Subaru delivered 11,784 Outback models to customers, up 3.6 percent from January 2020.  


The SUV-Alternative Outback is selling because of Subaru’s loyal following, and it’s affordable. It also offers standard all-wheel-drive, 8.7-inches of ground clearance, gets top safety crash scores and has the utility and cargo-carrying capability of an S.U.V., all with a car-like ride.  


What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Outback?


 The 2021 Outback comes in seven trim levels, base $27,845, Premium ($30,095), Limited ($34,645), Onyx Edition XT ($36,195), Limited XT ($38,545), Touring ($39,045), and Touring XT ($40,995). Pricing includes $1,050 destination.


Subaru improved the new sixth-generation Outback with significant safety and high-tech upgrades and a new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the Outback X.T. trim level. 


The SUV-alternative Outback is a fantastic success story and is arguably the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). There are only a handful of wagons left in the U.S., and the 2021 Subaru Outback sits at the top. 

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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