Top-10 SUVs In Owner Satisfaction - Subaru Outback Scores 3rd, Forester Is 6th Best

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The Subaru Outback and Forester score high in a new Top-10 customer satisfaction list. Outback is best, and Forester is next in Subaru's stable of all-wheel-drive vehicles. See where the two models rank with other cars.

Are the 2021 Subaru Forester and 2021 Subaru Outback cars you should have on your shopping list? A new study says the Subaru Forester makes the top-ten SUVs list for owner satisfaction. The Subaru Outback makes two top-ten lists; Top-10 Cars and Top-10 SUVs for owner satisfaction.

According to an iSeeCars analysis, 31.2 percent of Subaru Outback owners keep their vehicles 1.9 times longer than the average (16.8 percent). The Outback is number seven on the list and beats the Lexus ES 300h, Honda CR-V, and Toyota Prius.

The Subaru Outback is number three on the Top 10 SUVs list for owner satisfaction. Outback owners keep their vehicles 1.8 times longer compared to the average SUV owner (17.5 percent). Forester is number 6 on the top SUV list, with 29.6 percent of owners keeping their compact SUV 1.7 times longer than the average.

What makes the Subaru Outback an excellent vehicle to own?

The iSeeCars study says this about the Outback. "With standard all-wheel-drive, the Subaru Outback blends the practicality of a station wagon with the all-weather confidence and functionality of an SUV," said Brauer. "Additionally, Subaru has been steadily growing in popularity and attracts specific consumers with a passion for the brand's value and capabilities."

Why is Subaru Forester rated high in owner satisfaction?

The sixth-ranked Subaru Forester is also a standout in the new study. iSeeCars says, "The Subaru Forester (Mazda CX-5 ranked 9th), provide affordability, confident driving dynamics, and excellent passenger safety," said Brauer.

What about the Subaru brand and its other models?

In another owner satisfaction survey, Consumer Reports in their Annual Auto Survey found Subaru was the most loved by owners than any other mainstream automaker. Subaru received similar results in the American Customer Satisfaction Index report.

Consumer Reports says owners of the Subaru Forester and Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV most satisfied their owners in its latest survey. When asked, "Would you repurchase this car if you had to do it all over again," owners of the 2020 Subaru Forester and 2020 Subaru Crosstrek said they would rebuy the same car.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, 2021 Subaru Forester, and 2021 Subaru Crosstrek are the three best-selling models in the automaker's lineup. According to new studies, all three score high in owner satisfaction and are models you should put on your shopping list.

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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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Photo credit: Subaru, Competition Subaru of Smithtown

Submitted by Zach Mauch (not verified) on October 26, 2020 - 11:42AM

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I think it is important to note here that these studies were performed against the 2012-2013 model year. That is two generations back for both the Outback and the Forester. While it is good data for those older vehicles, Subaru has changed/improved a lot since then. Specifically the Forester is WAY improved. It is still slightly second fiddle to the outback, but I expect that to change with gen 6.

Heat & AC in my ‘16 Forester is horrid. My feet are usually freezing. Dealer says they’ve improved design, but mine “is fine you just have to keep on HI and blowing on high”. Not what I expected. Neither makes its way to back seats, which makes for uncomfortable riders during NH winters.

Submitted by Unhappy Subaru… (not verified) on October 27, 2020 - 12:56AM

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Oh, surprised to see that because the generations-long head gasket problem (a design flaw, not a component problem) and CVT transmission issues.

Weak competition, I guess. Maybe an undersampling of Toyota users.

My babied 2011 Outback only made it 94k miles before the head gasket failed. Because the transmission was questionable at best, I declined Subaru's offer for a discounted repair (doomed by bad design and the bad CVT) or a new Outback (which I had been given an extended test drive... It was technologically awful). I chose drive the '11 until it died and I'll get a Toyota when I need to buy another car.

My 98 Outback went over 330k miles with me and its subsequent owner. It was bullet proof until it was totaled in an accident.

Subaru - Never again.

Even newer models hitting 90k+ miles are starting to show HG problems... I've also talked to 2015 & 2016 owners who have gotten new transmissions under warranty. That's just me talking to people in the parking lot as I walk by their cars...

Had to put my Subaru down at 110,000 miles-cvt transmission failure-known to Subaru design problem that they won't fix or recall until a few people die. Repair fee was to be over $9,000. Bought a used Honda instead and junked the subaru. Wish I had done that 110,000 miles ago. Subaru ain't what she used to be and they don't care about reputation anymore.

Please remember this is a pro-Subaru column.
It even says Outbacks are best in the first paragraph, regardless of where it came in the survey.
Go Subaru!

Submitted by Bjorn (not verified) on October 27, 2020 - 11:18AM

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I thought from the headline that tis would be an article ranking the top 10 suv's by owner satisfaction. I like Subaru's our family has 3 and I was interested in learning about the other SUv's in the top 10.

Submitted by David (not verified) on October 27, 2020 - 12:56PM

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We are on our 3rd Forester (2005/2010/2015) and the 2015 has 120k miles with no problems except replacing a wheel bearing at about 90k miles. Visibility, safety, reliability and all-wheel-drive are a great combination. Next car for my wife? Forester...

Submitted by Anne (not verified) on October 27, 2020 - 1:34PM

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2012 outback had transmission problem after transmission problem until head gasket failure at 108,000. Never again.

Submitted by Scott (not verified) on October 28, 2020 - 1:47PM

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Consumer Reports also gave the Ascent the highest ranking of any car the year it came out, followed by a "not recommended" the next year due to the amount of issues. Now it's recommended again. No major changes have occurred on the Ascent, so I struggle to understand why it would all-of-the-sudden be recommended again. It's the same vehicle.